Frederick Hohenzollern, by his many services as Burggraf (count) of Nuremberg, has earned the gratitude of the German king Sigismund of Luxembourg, who had rewarded in 1411 him with the office of administrator of Brandenburg, then in 1417 makes him hereditary elector of Brandenburg.

Ruling from Berlin, his primary tasks are to curb the fractious nobility, restore order, repel external foes, and recover alienated properties.