Editing Albert, Duke of Prussia (section)

==Early life==
Albert was born in [[Ansbach]] in [[Franconia]] as the third son of [[Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach]].{{sfn|Ward|Prothero|Leathes|1934|p=table 37}} His mother was [[Sophia of Poland|Sophia]], daughter of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]],{{sfn|Ward|Prothero|Leathes|1934|p=table 37}} Grand Duke of [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] and king of [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Poland]], and his wife [[Elisabeth of Austria (d. 1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]]. His great-grandfather was [[Władysław II Jagiełło]], the last pagan ruler in Europe, who defeated the Teutonic Knights at the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410. He was raised for a career in the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church]] and spent some time at the court of [[Hermann IV of Hesse]], [[Electorate of Cologne|Elector of Cologne]], who appointed him canon of the [[Cologne Cathedral]].<ref name="EB1911"/>
Not only was he quite religious; he was also interested in mathematics and science and sometimes is claimed to have contradicted the teachings of the Church in favour of scientific theories. His career was forwarded by the Church, however, and institutions of the Catholic clerics supported his early advancement.

Turning to a more active life, Albert accompanied Emperor [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]] to [[Italy]] in 1508 and after his return spent some time in the [[Kingdom of Hungary]].<ref name="EB1911"/>