Dorothea was born in
Berlin, a daughter of the Elector
Frederick I of Brandenburg (1371–1440) from his marriage to
Elisabeth (1383–1442), daughter of Duke
Frederick of Bayern-Landshut. Dorothea's brothers were Electors
Frederick II and
Albert Achilles, who successively ruled Brandenburg. In May 1432, Dorothea married Duke
Henry IV of Mecklenburg (1417–1477). She received as dowry
Dömitz and
Gorlosen, which her sister
Margaret had also received when she married into the House of Mecklenburg. Margaret's husband,
Albet V, however, had died shortly after the marriage. When a dispute arose later between Brandenburg and Mecklenburg about the inheritance of the principality of Wenden, the family ties between Duke Henry and Elector Frederick made it easier to reach a settlement. Henry IV died in 1477 and after 1485 Dorothea lived as a
nun in the Rehna convent. She died at the
Benedictine monastery at
Rehna in 1491 and was buried in the City Church of St. James' Church and St. Dionysius in
Gadebusch. Her grave stone is marked with an incised drawing of the Duchess as a nun, crowned by a canopy. == Issue ==