The
Principality of Bayreuth or
Margraviate of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (
Markgraftum Brandenburg-Bayreuth) was an
immediate territory of the
Holy Roman Empire, ruled by a
Franconian branch of the
Hohenzollern dynasty. Since Burgrave
Frederick VI of Nuremberg was enfeoffed with the
Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1415/17, the Hohenzollern princes transferred the
margravial title to their Franconian possessions, though the principality never had been a
march. Until 1604 they used
Plassenburg Castle in
Kulmbach as their residence, hence their territory was officially called the
Principality of Kulmbach or
Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach until the Empire's dissolution in 1806.