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George William of Brandenburg (German: Georg Wilhelm) (November 13, 1595 – December 1, 1640), was margrave and elector of Brandenburg and duke of Prussia (1619–1640). His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' War. George William sought to maintain neutrality, but was forced into joining the Protestant cause by his brother-in-law, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. After Gustavus' death, George William stayed with Sweden another two years before he made a separate peace with Ferdinand II. From 1637 until his death, he lived in self-imposed exile in Prussia.
George William in 1632[]
Despite their relationship, George William was hesitant to ally with Gustavus Adolphus, and so did nothing to aid, relieve, or otherwise prevent Count Tilly's sack of Magdeburg. When Gustavus learned of the fate of Magdeburg, he blasphemously condemned George William as well as John George I, Elector of Saxony. After venting, Gustavus resolved to bring George William into an alliance by threat of force, sending Lennart Torstensson and his artillery to Berlin.
George William resented the side effects of the Ring of Fire, and refused to allow airstrips to be constructed in Brandenburg.[1]
In September, 1635, it was discovered that, rather than meet Gustavus on the battlefield, he had left Berlin with his entourage and army to seek refuge in Poland.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1635: The Eastern Front, ch. 41
- ↑ 1635: The Eastern Front, ch. 21. As of the events in 1636: The Saxon Uprising, his whereabouts appear to be unknown.