After depleting the finances of the margraviate with his lavish lifestyle, Frederick I was deposed by his two elder sons, Casimir and George, in 1515.

He was then locked up at Plassenburg Castle by his eldest son Casimir in a tower room from which he could not escape for 12 years.

However, the overthrow of Frederick did outrage his other younger sons and led to far-reaching political countermeasures.

When Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg visited Kulmbach during his journey to Augsburg, and wanted to plead for Frederick's release, he was nevertheless denied entry to Plassenburg Castle.

The dispute was finally cleared when an agreement was reached in 1522, in which the demands of the younger sons of Frederick were met.