ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the relationship between the bailiwick of Brandenburg and the Prussian monarchy in the eighteenth century with regard to the changing relations between monarchy and aristocracy and between the governmental administration and the estates. The changing political, economic and social situation and the impact of the Thirty Years' War profoundly affected the bailiwick of Brandenburg in the first half of the seventeenth century. Since most of the commanderies and properties had been devastated or occupied by foreign troops the bailiwick was reduced to the verge of ruin. An analysis of the commanders' professions again shows the predominance of officers in the Order with about 45 per cent, whereas the proportion of courtiers was 11 per cent and that of officials 12 per cent. According to the printed sources available, the total number of knights' receptions between 1550 and 1764 was 521.
