Albert III Achilles, margrave of Brandenburg, had received the Principality of Ansbach on the division of territory that followed his father's death in 1440.

Although possessed of meager resources, he had soon taken a leading place among the German princes and is especially prominent in resisting the attempts of the towns to obtain self-government.

Albert had formed a league in 1443 directed mainly against Nuremberg, over which members of his family had formerly exercised the rights of burgrave.

It was not until 1448, however, that he had found a pretext for attack.

On August 13, 1449, Albert captures Castle Lichtenau, a Nuremberger possession, in the course of what will later be known as the First Margrave War.