Albert, Duke of Prussia

Albert of Prussia was a German prince who was the 37th grand master of the Teutonic Knights and, after converting to Lutheranism, became the first ruler of the Duchy of Prussia, the secularized state that emerged from the former Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights. Albert was the first European ruler to establish Lutheranism, and thus Protestantism, as the official state religion of his lands. He proved instrumental in the political spread of Protestantism in its early stage, ruling the Prussian lands for nearly six decades (1510–1568).

17 May 1490

Born on the same birth day (17 May): Abigail Raye • Branko Zebec • Caroline of Brunswick • Dave Sim • David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie • Dorothy Richardson • Edmund, Earl of Rutland • Hubert Davis • Jean Rédélé • Lim Jeong-hee • Lou DiBella • Magdalena Zděnovcová • Marcia Freedman • Marie-Anne Desmarest • Saul Adler • Sirajuddin of Perlis • Tessa Virtue • Todd Redmond