ALBERT (1490-1568). The last Grand Mas ter of the Teutonic Order and first Duke of Prus sia. He was the son of the Margrave Frederic of .Ansbach, who wished him to enter the Church. He was educated under the care of Archbishop Hermann, of Cologne. where he became a canon. Ile did not, however, neglect knightly exercises. He accompanied the Emperor Maximilian 1. in his expedition against Venice, and was present at. the siege of Pavia. In 1511, when scarcely twenty-one years old, he was chosen Grand Mas ter of the Teutonic Order, the knights expecting their feudal allegiance to Poland to be abolished, on account of his near relationship to Sigismund, the monarch of that country, while they also hoped for protection against the Poles from his friends in Germany. He was consecrated at Mergentheim with his father's consent. In 1512 he removed to Konigsberg, having been acknowl edged by Poland likewise; but refusing to take the oath of allegiance, he was plunged into a »kir with Sigismund in 1520. The year after, a four years' truce was agreed to at Thorn. Albert next made his appearance at the Imperial Diet at Nuremberg as a German prince of the Empire, to induce the other princes to assist him against the Poles. But Germany could at that time grant no assistance to any one. Disappointed in his hopes, Albert threw himself into the cause of the Reformation, which had rapidly spread into Prussia and broken the last strength of the declining order, whose possessions now appeared a certain prey to Poland. He still hoped to pre
serve these by acting upon Luther's advice to declare himself secular Duke of Prussia and place his land under the sovereignty of SigiS mund. This was clone with great pomp at Cra cow in April, 1525, the duchy being secured to him and his' descendants. During the remainder of his life Albert zealously sought to further the welfare of his duchy. He regulated the adminis tration of all affairs, both secular and ecclesias tical, established the ducal library, founded in 1544 the University of Kiinigsberg, gathered many literary men around him, and caused their works to be 'printed. In 1527 he married Do•o thea, daughter of Frederick. King of Denmark. Albert earnestly desired peace. but found himself entangled in conflicts with the nobles and in theo logical disputes, which, along with other troubles of a more personal character, saddened the close of his life. Consult: Lohmeyer, Herzog Albrecht roe Preussen (Dantzie, 1890) : and for the part played by Albert in the Reformation. Tschakert, Herzog' Albrecht on Preussen (Halle, 1894).