the 2 maps in the first page need to be updated
The administration of Johann Cicero I von Zweibrücken
Ahh, Johann Cicero I is a interesting subject to speak about, some may claim that he was nothing more than a tyrant because of his agressive policies regarding the centralization of the state of Brandenburg, but it should also be considered that his reforms greatly improved the fragile economy of the young margraviate, allowing for the expansion of Brandenburg, both inside and outside the holy roman empire, his reign is nothing close to peaceful, with many wars being fought during his reign.
the growing powers of Europe
of all his accomplishments the most notable are the agressive centralization of the state, the pro-innovative policies of the king, and the strong diplomacy that allowed for Brandenburg to establish strong alliances with the likes of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, England, and Austria, the latter dishonoured the alliance after Brandenburg attacked both Thuringia and Bohemia, in addition to the alliance with Castille that was established during the reign of his father.
He fough many wars, the most important can be considered to be the "War of Mecklenburgan sucession", the "War for the Thuringian throne", the "War of sucession of Pommerania", the "Polish conquest of Hungary" and the "Austrian-Bohemian war".
three of them direcly added to the power of Brandenburg, as it defeated the likes of Denmark, Bohemia, Thuringia and Pommerania with the help of its allies. Two of these wars were started with the objective of claiming the throne of other countries, and adding them in a personal union under Brandenburg, another one direcly annexed Pommerania.
A interesting thing to point out is how Brandenburg annexed territories in Hungary, jut to give them to Poland in exchange for (later) gaining their prussian territories, adding to Johann ambition of proclaiming himself king outside of the empire, in order to not anger (even more) the Bohemian king or destroy the balance of titles inside the empire, as only the rulers of Bohemia or Poland have the title of king.