Second Margrave War

An initial siege attempt was unsuccessful, so Brandenburg-Kulmbach forces relentlessly raided Nuremberg's hinterland, in the process capturing Forchheim and its fortress.

Albert entered extortive treaties with the Prince-Bishoprics of Würzburg and Bamberg, requiring them to make him large payments and surrender land to avoid conquest.

The Peace of Passau, which provided a conclusion to the Second Schmalkaldic war in August 1553, failed to validate Albert's territorial ambitions, motivating him to continue fighting.

Brunswick and Saxony won a decisive victory, but at the cost of thousands of lives: Maurice himself was killed in the battle, while Henry lost both of his sons.

Albert attempted to save his home and marched his troops into Franconia once more, but was again defeated in battle at Schwarzach, after which he was forced to surrender the Plassenburg, which was slighted.

[2] [3] Albert initially fled to France, then finding refuge with the family of his sister Kunigunde, whose husband was Charles II, Margrave of Baden-Durlach.

His possessions underwent imperial sequestration under the administration of the Bohemian chancellor Count von Schlick, and after Albert's death they passed to his cousin, George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, who oversaw a rebirth of the war-weary territories.