Principality of Anhalt

The Principality of Anhalt (German: Fürstentum Anhalt) was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, located in Central Germany, in what is today part of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.

County (Principality) of Anhalt
Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Anhalt
1218–1806
Lesser arms of Anhalt of Anhalt
Lesser arms of Anhalt
Map of Anhalt (Zerbst, Dessau, Köthen, Bernburg) in 1793
Map of Anhalt (Zerbst, Dessau, Köthen, Bernburg) in 1793
StatusPrincipality
CapitalDessau (when united)
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince of Anhalt 
 1218–1252
Henry I
Historical eraMiddle Ages
 Partitioned from Saxony
1212
 Elevated to principality
1218
 Partitioned¹
1252–1570
 Joined Council of Princes
1582
 Partitioned²
1603–1863
 Principalities³ raised to duchies
1806
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Duchy of Saxony Duchy of Saxony
Duchy of Anhalt
Today part ofGermany

Under the rule of the House of Ascania, the Anhalt territory was split off the German stem duchy of Saxony in 1212 and granted to Count Henry I, who was raised to the rank of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1218. Ruled by Ascanian princes from the High Middle Ages to the Early modern period, Anhalt was divided several times amongst various lines of the dynasty until the dissolution of the Empire in 1806, when Napoleon elevated the remaining states of Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen to duchies.

Geography

The Anhalt territory stretched from the Harz mountain range in the west to the Elbe River and beyond to the Fläming Heath in the east. Upon the 1315 loss of Anhalt-Aschersleben, the lands around Ballenstedt formed a western exclave. The area of the later duchy was 906 sq mi (2,300 km2).

In the west, the land is undulating and in the extreme northwest, where it forms part of the Harz mountains, hilly, with the Ramberg (Harz) peak as the tallest point at 1,900 ft (579 m). From the Harz the country gently shelves down to the Saale; the land between this river and the Elbe is particularly fertile. East of the Elbe, the land is mostly a flat sandy plain, with extensive pine forests, interspersed with bog-land and rich pastures. The Elbe is the chief river, intersecting the eastern portion of the former duchy, from east to west, and at Rosslau is met by the Mulde. The navigable Saale takes a northerly direction through the central portion of the territory and receives, on the right, the Fuhne and, on the left, the Wipper and the Bode.

The climate is generally mild, less so in the higher Harz regions to the south-west.

History

From the 9th century onward, the western parts of the later Anhalt territory up to the Elbe and Saale rivers were included in the Schwabengau region of Eastphalia, the eastern part of the medieval Duchy of Saxony. In the 11th century, it came under the rule of Count Esico of Ballenstedt (died 1059 or 1060), mentioned in a 1036 deed issued by Emperor Conrad II at Tilleda. Possibly a descendant of the Saxon margrave Odo, he owned large allodial lands around Ballenstedt in the Schwabengau as well as in the adjacent Gau Serimunt in the former Saxon Eastern March.

Ballenstedt Castle

Count Esico was succeeded by his son Adalbert II of Ballenstedt, who also appeared as a count in the Saxon Nordthüringgau and further territories in the Eastern March. Adalbert joined the Saxon Rebellion against King Henry IV and was slain in a feud with Egeno II of Konradsburg in 1080. His son Count Otto the Rich appeared as a "Count of Ballenstedt" from 1106. When Emperor Henry V temporarily deprived Lothair of Supplinburg of the Saxon ducal title in 1112, Otto was enfeoffed with the Duchy of Saxony, which, however, he had to renounce shortly afterwards, as Lothair and Henry had reconciled. On the eve of the 1115 Battle of Welfesholz, Otto campaigned the lands of the Polabian Slavs, gaining large estates around Zerbst up to the Hevelli lands ruled by the Hevelli princes.

County of Anhalt

Until his death in 1123, Count Otto had Anhalt Castle built in the Harz mountains near Harzgerode and appears to have been among the first to assume the title of a "Count of Anhalt". He was the father of Albert the Bear, who temporarily was appointed Margrave of the Saxon Eastern March (or March of Lusatia) by the Saxon duke Lothair of Supplinburg and struggled for the ducal title himself. Albert could not prevail against the Welf duke Henry the Lion, nevertheless he conquered the eastern territories of the former Northern March, which had been lost in the 983 Great Slav Rising, where he established the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1157. When he died in 1170, his younger son Count Bernhard inherited the Ascanian home territories around Anhalt Castle and after the deposition of Henry the Lion by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa finally became Duke of Saxony in 1180. However, he effectively only ruled over the Eastphalian territories, while the Westphalian and Engern parts of Saxony fell under the control of the Prince-Archbishops of Cologne.

The County of Anhalt finally arose upon the death of Duke Bernhard in 1212, when his sons divided their heritage. The younger Albert I became Duke of Saxony, while the elder Henry I went on to rule the Ascanian lands, now definitely separated from Saxony, as Count of Anhalt. In 1218, Henry I assumed the title of a prince and thereby was the real founder of the princely House of Anhalt.

Princes of Anhalt

Der Herzoge von Anhalte., Codex Manesse, c. 1305/15

On Henry's death in 1252, his three sons partitioned the principality and founded, respectively, the lines of Aschersleben, Bernburg and Zerbst. The family ruling in Aschersleben became extinct in 1315, and this district was subsequently incorporated in the neighboring Bishopric of Halberstadt, thus dividing the territory of Anhalt-Bernburg in two separate pieces. The last prince of the original line of Anhalt-Bernburg died in 1468 and his lands were inherited by the princes of the sole remaining line, that of Anhalt-Zerbst. The territory belonging to this branch of the family had been divided in 1396, and after the acquisition of Bernburg Prince George I made a further partition of Zerbst (Zerbst and Dessau). Early in the 16th century, however, owing to the death or abdication of several princes, the family had become narrowed down to the two branches of Anhalt-Köthen and Anhalt-Dessau (issued both from Anhalt-Dessau in 1471).

Wolfgang of Anhalt, called the Confessor, who became prince of Anhalt-Köthen in 1508, was the second ruler in the world to introduce the Reformation to his country. He was a co-signer of the Augsburg Confession in 1530, and after the Battle of Mühlberg in 1547 was placed under Imperial ban and deprived of his lands by Emperor Charles V. After the peace of Passau in 1552 he bought back his principality, but as he was childless he surrendered it in 1562 to his kinsmen the princes of Anhalt-Dessau. Ernest I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (d. 1516) left three sons, John V, George III, and Joachim, who ruled their lands together for many years, and who favoured the Lutheran doctrine, which thus became dominant in Anhalt. About 1546 the three brothers divided their principality and founded the lines of Zerbst, Plötzkau and Dessau. This division, however, was only temporary, as the acquisition of Köthen, and a series of deaths among the ruling princes, enabled Joachim Ernest, a son of John V, to unite the whole of Anhalt under his rule in 1570.

The first united principality of Anhalt was short-lived, and in 1603 it was split up into the mini states of Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Köthen, Anhalt-Zerbst and Anhalt-Plötzkau.

Joachim Ernest died in 1586, and his five sons ruled the land in common until 1603, when owing to the lack of primogeniture, Anhalt was again divided, and the lines of Dessau, Bernburg, Plötzkau, Zerbst and Köthen were re-founded. The principality was ravaged during the Thirty Years' War, and in the earlier part of this struggle Christian I of Anhalt-Bernburg took an important part. In 1635 an arrangement was made by the various princes of Anhalt, which gave a certain authority to the eldest member of the family, who was thus able to represent the principality as a whole. This proceeding was probably due to the necessity of maintaining an appearance of unity in view of the disturbed state of European politics.

Anhalt partitions 1747-1793

In 1665, the branch of Anhalt-Köthen became extinct, and according to a family compact this district was inherited by Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau, who surrendered Plötzkau to Bernburg, and took the title of prince of Anhalt-Köthen. In the same year the princes of Anhalt decided that if any branch of the family became extinct its lands should be equally divided between the remaining branches. This arrangement was carried out after the death of Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst in 1793, and Zerbst was divided between the three remaining princes. During these years the policy of the different princes was marked, perhaps intentionally, by considerable uniformity. Once or twice Calvinism was favoured by a prince, but in general the house was loyal to the doctrines of Martin Luther. The growth of Prussia provided Anhalt with a formidable neighbour, and the long-delayed establishment of primogeniture by all branches of the family prevented further divisions of the principality.

Dukes of Anhalt

Coat of arms of the 19th-century Duchy of Anhalt.

In 1806, Napoleon elevated the remaining states of Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen to duchies; in the meantime, Anhalt-Plötzkau and Anhalt-Zerbst had ceased to exist. With the Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire the duchies became fully independent. The extinction of the Köthen line in 1853 and the Bernburg line in 1863, resulted in those states merging with Anhalt-Dessau to form the united Duchy of Anhalt.

Rulers of Anhalt

Partitions of Anhalt under Ascanian rule

County of Anhalt
(1030-1212)
Raised to:
Principality of Anhalt
(1212-1252)
Zerbst
(1st creation)
(1252-1396)
Bernburg
(1st creation)
(1252-1468)
Aschersleben
(1252-1315)
Annexed to
Bishopric of Halberstadt
Köthen
(1st creation)
(1396-1562)
Dessau
(1st creation)
(1396-1561)
      
       Zerbst
(2nd creation)
(1544-1562)
Plotzkau
(1st creation)
(1544-1553)
             
      
Principality of Anhalt
(Anhalt-Zerbst line)
(1562-1603)
Köthen
(2nd creation)
(1603-1847)
Plotzkau
(2nd creation)
(1603-1665)
Dessau
(2nd creation)
(1603-1863)
Zerbst
(3rd creation)
(1603-1793)
Bernburg
(2nd creation)
(1603-1863)
      
      
      
Duchy of Anhalt
(from Anhalt-Dessau line)
(1863-1918)

Table of rulers

RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
Albert I the Bearc.11001123-117018 November 1170AnhaltSophie of Winzenburg
1125
thirteen children
Also Count of Ballenstedt, Duke of Saxony and Margrave of Brandenburg.
Bernard Ic.11341170-12122 February 1212AnhaltBrigitte of Denmark
six children

Sophia of Thuringia
one child

Judith of Poland
c.1173
no children
Also Count of Ballenstedt and Duke of Saxony
Henry I11701212-12521252AnhaltIrmgard of Thuringia
1211
eleven children
First independent ruler of Anhalt. In 1218 becomes Prince of Anhalt. After his death his sons divided the Principality.
Henry II the Fat12151252-126612 June 1266Anhalt-AscherslebenMatilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg
1245
two children
Children of Henry I, divided their rule.
Bernard I12181252-12871287Anhalt-BernburgSophia of Denmark
3 February 1258
Hamburg
six children
Siegfried I12301252-129825 March 1298Anhalt-ZerbstCatherine of Sweden
17 October 1259
ten children
Regency of Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1266-1270) Children of Henry II, ruled jointly, first under their mother, who was elected Abbess of Gernrode in 1275. In 1283, Henry renounced his rights in Otto's favor.
Otto I c.12451266-130425 June 1304Anhalt-AscherslebenHedwig of Wrocław
1283
three children
Henry IIIc.12451266-128312 June 1266Anhalt-AscherslebenUnmarried
Bernard II12601287-1323After 26 December 1323Anhalt-BernburgHelena of Rügen
27 December 1302
three children
Ruled jointly. After the death of John, Bernard ruled alone.
John I1258/601287-12915 June 1291Anhalt-BernburgUnmarried
Albert Ic.12601298-131617 August 1316Anhalt-ZerbstLiutgard of Holstein-Itzehoe
after 1277
two children

Agnes of Brandenburg-Stendal
1300
five children
Otto IIc.12601304-131524 July 1315Anhalt-AscherslebenElisabeth of Meissen
24 August 1309
two children
After his death in 1315 without male heirs, the Principality was annexed by the Bishopric of Halberstadt.
Definitively annexed by the Bishopric of Halberstadt
Albert IIafter 12771316-136217 July 1362Anhalt-ZerbstAgnes of Rügen
2 September 1324
no children

Beatrix of Saxe-Wittenberg
c.1337
five children
Albert III and Valdemar I ruled jointly, as sons of Albert II. In 1359 Albert III associated his eldest son, Albert IV, but he predeceased him. In 1362, after Albert III's death, is brother Valdemar continued the co-ruling with his nephew John II. Valdemar II, Valdemar I's son, joined John II after his father's death.
Valdemar Iafter 12771316-13687 January 1368Anhalt-ZerbstElisabeth of Saxe-Wittenberg
22 June 1344
six children

Beatrice d'Este
1365
no children
Albert IIIc.133713591 August 1359Anhalt-ZerbstUnmarried
John IIafter 13371362-138211 April 1382Anhalt-ZerbstElisabeth of Henneberg-Schleusingen
1366
four children
Valdemar IIc.13371368-1371before 24 August 1371Anhalt-ZerbstUnmarried
Bernard III13001323-134820 August 1348Anhalt-BernburgAgnes of Saxe-Wittenberg
1328
five children

Matilda of Anhalt-Zerbst
1339
no children

Matilda of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
1343
two children
Bernard IVBefore 13391348-135428 June 1354Anhalt-BernburgUnmarried
Henry IVBefore 13391354-13747 July 1374Anhalt-BernburgSophia of Stolberg
before 1348
three children
Bypassed by his older brother Bernard IV as ruler of Anhalt-Bernburg, he only assumed rule of the principality when Bernhard died in 1354.
Otto IIIBefore 13481374-140427 February 1404Anhalt-BernburgUnknown
two children

Lutrudis
before 1391
one child
Bypassed his nephew Bernard.
Sigismund IAfter 13661382-140519 January 1405Anhalt-Dessau
(in Zerbst until 1396)
Judith of Querfurt
1386
eleven children
Sons of John II. Ruled jointly. In 1396 divided the land. Sigismund received Anhalt-Dessau and Albert Anhalt-Köthen.
Albert IVAfter 13661382-142324 November 1423Anhalt-Köthen
(in Zerbst until 1396)
Elisabeth of Mansfeld I
before 1398
six children

Elisabeth of Querfurt
before 4 January 1419
three children
Valdemar IIIAfter 13661382-13911391Anhalt-ZerbstUnmarried
Bernard VBefore 13741404-142024 June 1420Anhalt-BernburgElisabeth of Hohnstein-Kelbra
8 September 1396
one child
Succeeded in reaching the pwer jointly with his eldest cousin, Otto. As he left no male heirs, the land was inherited by his other cousin, Bernard.
Otto IVBefore 13911404-14157 July 1374Anhalt-BernburgUnmarriedRuled jointly with his cousin. Left no descendants.
George I the Elder13901405-147421 September 1474Anhalt-DessauMatilda of Anhalt-Bernburg I
after 1413
no children

Euphemia of Oleśnica
1432
six children

Sophia of Hohnstein
after 1442
three children

Anna of Lindow-Ruppin
7 September 1453
nine children
Sons of Sigismund I, ruled jointly. In 1468 inherited Anhalt-Bernburg.
Albert VAfter 13901405-14691469Anhalt-DessauSophie of Hadmersleben
no children
Valdemar IVc.13861405-1417After 22 July 1417Anhalt-DessauUnmarried
Sigismund IIAfter 13901405-1452After 22 May 1452Anhalt-DessauMatilda of Anhalt-Bernburg II
no children
Bernard VIBefore 13911420-14682 February 1468Anhalt-BernburgMatilda of Querfurt-Burgscheidungen
21 October 1419
two children

Hedwig of Żagań
11 March 1434
no children
His children predeceased him, which left him no heirs at his death in 1468. Bernburg was inherited by Anhalt-Dessau line.
Anhalt-Bernburg was annexed to Anhalt-Dessau
Adolph IAfter 1398?1423-147328 August 1473Anhalt-KöthenCordula of Lindow-Ruppin
2 November 1442
Ruppin
seven children
Ruled jointly. Adolph ruled with his brother Valdemar V until 1436 and then with Valdemar's son John. In 1471, Adolph concluded a succession contract with George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, which would put his youngest son in Köthen's throne, as Valdemar VI.
Valdemar VAfter 1398?1423-143628 August 1473Anhalt-KöthenSophie of Hadmersleben
1420
no children
John III1436-14631463Anhalt-KöthenUnmarried
Valdemar VI
(from Anhalt-Dessau line)
14501473-15081 November 1508Anhalt-KöthenMargaret of Schwarzburg
24 January 1485
Köthen
four children
After the contract established with Dessau, this line of princes dominated in Köthen. After the death of Adolph in 1473, George I of Dessau's sons, Valdemar VI and Albert VI, ascended to the principality. After Albert's death, Valdemar co-ruled with his nephews. In 1508, all his co-rulers abdicated to Valdemar VI's son, Wolfgang.
Albert VIAfter 1419?1473-14759 January 1475Anhalt-KöthenElisabeth of Mansfeld II
27 March 1454
Alsleben
seven children
Philip31 May 14681475-150013 November 1500Anhalt-KöthenUnmarried
Magnus1455 1475-150829 October 1524Anhalt-KöthenUnmarried
Adolph II16 October 145824 March 1526Anhalt-KöthenUnmarried
Ernest I14541474-151612 June 1516Anhalt-DessauMargaret of Münsterberg
20 January 1494
Cottbus
four children
Sons of George I, ruled jointly.
George II the Strong14541474-150925 April 1509Anhalt-DessauAgnes of Pomerania-Barth
1478
no children
Sigismund III14561474-148727 November 1487Anhalt-DessauUnmarried
Rudolph I the Valiant14661474-15107 September 1510Anhalt-DessauUnmarried
Wolfgang the Confessor1 August 14921508-156223 March 1566Anhalt-KöthenUnmarriedSole ruler of Köthen. After his abdication without descendants, the Principality was incorporated in the recreated Anhalt-Zerbst.
Regency of Margaret of Münsterberg (1516-1524) Children of Ernest I, ruled jointly, firstly under their mother. In 1544, the brothers divided the land. Joachim mainteined Dessau to himself; John took Zerbst and refounded Anhalt-Zerbst; George took Plotzkau. After George and Joachim's deaths without descendants, their lands were inherited by their nephews, sons of John III.
Joachim I7 August 15091516-15616 December 1561Anhalt-DessauUnmarried
John IV4 September 15041516-15514 February 1551Anhalt-Dessau-Zerbst
(in Dessau until 1544)
Margaret of Brandenburg
15 February 1534
Dessau
six children
George III the God-Blessed15 August 15071516-155317 October 1553Anhalt-Plotzkau
(in Dessau until 1544)
Unmarried
Charles I17 November 15341551-15614 May 1561Anhalt-ZerbstAnna of Pomerania
16 May 1557
Zerbst
no children
Sons of John IV. In 1553 inherited Plotzkau from their uncle George III. In 1561 inherited Dessau and Bernburg from their uncle Joachim. In the next year inherited Kothen. From 1570 Joachim Ernest was the sole owner of all Anhalt.
Joachim Ernest 21 October 1536 1551-1562 6 December 1586 Anhalt-Zerbst Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen
3 March 1560
Barby
six children

Eleonore of Württemberg
9 January 1571
Stuttgart
ten children
1562-1586Anhalt
Bernard VII 17 March 1540 1551-1562 1 March 1570 Anhalt-Zerbst Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Gifhorn
28 May 1565
Dessau
one child
1562-1570Anhalt
John George I 9 May 1567 1586-1603 24 May 1618 Anhalt Dorothea of Mansfeld-Arnstein
22 February 1588
Hedersleben
five children

Dorothea of Palatinate-Simmern
21 February 1595
Heidelberg
eleven children
Sons of Joachim Ernest, ruled jointly. In 1603 divided the land again: John George received Dessau; Christian received Bernburg; Augustus received Plötzkau; Rudolph received Zerbst; Louis received Köthen. Augustus served also as regent for his minor nephews in Anhalt-Kothen and Anhalt-Zerbst.
1603-1618Anhalt-Dessau
Christian I 11 May 1568 1586-1603 17 April 1630 Anhalt Anna of Bentheim-Steinfurt-Tecklenburg-Limburg
2 July 1595
Lorbach
sixteen children
1603-1630Anhalt-Bernburg
Rudolph II 28 October 1576 1586-1603 30 July 1621 Anhalt Dorothea Hedwig of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
29 December 1605
Wolfenbüttel
four children
1603-1621Anhalt-Zerbst
Louis I 17 June 1579 1586-1603 7 January 1650 Anhalt Amöena Amalie of Bentheim-Steinfurt-Tecklenburg-Limburg
31 October 1606
Rheda
two children

Sophia of Lippe
12 September 1626
Detmold
two children
1603-1650Anhalt-Köthen
Augustus 14 July 1575 1586-1603 22 August 1653 Anhalt Sibylle of Solms-Laubach
25 January 1618
Ansbach
eight children
1603-1653Anhalt-Plötzkau
John Casimir17 December 1596 1618-166015 September 1660Anhalt-DessauAgnes of Hesse-Kassel
18 May 1623
Dessau
six children

Sophie Margaret of Anhalt-Bernburg
14 July 1651
Dessau
no children
Regency of Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau (1621-1642)
John V24 March 16211621-1667 4 July 1667Anhalt-ZerbstSophie Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp
16 September 1649
Gottorp
fourteen children
Christian II11 August 15991630-1656 22 September 1656Anhalt-BernburgEleonore Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
28 February 1625
Ahrensbök
fifteen children
Frederick16 November 16131630-167030 June 1670Anhalt-Bernburg
(at Harzgerode)
Johanna Elisabeth of Nassau-Hadamar
10 August 1642
Bückeburg
three children

Anna Katharina of Lippe-Detmold
(31 July 1612 – 15 October 1659)
26 May 1657
Harzgerode
no children
Regency of Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau, Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen and Emmanuel, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (1650-1653) After his death without descendants, his previous regents took over the principality for themselves.
William Louis3 August 16381650-1665 13 April 1665Anhalt-KöthenElisabeth Charlotte of Anhalt-Harzgerode
25 August 1663
Köthen
no children
Lebrecht I 8 April 1622 1653-1665 7 November 1669 Anhalt-Plötzkau Sophie Ursula Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode
18 January 1655
Plötzkau
no children
Cousins of William Louis, and princes of Anhalt-Plötzkau, they served as regents for their cousin alongside their uncle, Augustus. After William Louis' death in 1665, they took the principality of Köthen for themselves, giving away their inheritance in Plötzkau to Anhalt-Bernburg.
1665-1669Anhalt-Köthen
Emmanuel 6 October 1631 1653-1665 8 November 1670 Anhalt-Plötzkau Anna Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode
23 March 1670
Ilsenburg
one child
1665-1670Anhalt-Köthen
Plotzkau definitively annexed to the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg
Victor Amadeus6 October 16341656-171814 February 1718Anhalt-BernburgElisabeth of Palatinate-Zweibrücken
16 October 1667
Meisenheim
six children
Annexed Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1665.
John George II17 November 16271660-16937 August 1693Anhalt-DessauHenriette Catherine of Nassau
9 September 1659
Groningen
five children
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, he also served as regent for his cousin, Emmanuel Lebrecht of Anhalt-Kothen, together with the prince's mother, Anna Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode.
Regency of Sophie Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp (1667-1674) Children of John V, divided the rule.
Charles William16 October 16521667-17183 November 1718Anhalt-ZerbstSophia of Saxe-Weissenfels
18 June 1676
Halle
three children
John Louis I4 May 16561667-17041 November 1704Anhalt-Zerbst
(at Dornburg)
Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch
(5 June 1666 – 17 May 1699)
23 July 1687
Halle
seven children
Regencies of Anna Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1670-1690) and John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (1690-1692)
Emmanuel Lebrecht20 May 16711670-170430 May 1704Anhalt-KöthenGisela Agnes of Rath
30 September 1692
Nienburg
(morganatic)
ten children
William Louis18 August 16431670-170914 October 1709Anhalt-Bernburg
(at Harzgerode)
Elisabeth Juliana of Solms-Laubach
(6 March 1631 – 2 January 1693)25 July 1671
Laubach
no children

Sophie Auguste of Nassau-Dillenburg
(28 April 1666 – 14 January 1733)
20 October 1695
Frederiksborg
no children
After his death, Harzgerode merged again in Bernburg.
Regency of Henriette Catherine of Nassau (1693-1698)
Leopold I3 July 16761693-17477 April 1747Anhalt-DessauAnna Louise Föhse
8 September 1698
Dessau
(morganatic)
ten children
Regency of Gisela Agnes of Rath (1704-1715) With no male heirs, he was succeeded by his brother.
Leopold29 November 16941704-172819 November 1728Anhalt-KöthenFrederica Henriette of Anhalt-Bernburg
11 December 1721
Bernburg
one child

Charlotte Frederike of Nassau-Siegen
27 June 1725
Weimar
two children
Charles Frederick13 July 16681718-172122 April 1721Anhalt-BernburgSophie Albertine of Solms-Sonnenwalde
25 June 1692
Bernburg
six children

Wilhelmine Charlotte Nüssler
1 May 1715
Bernburg
Children of Victor Amadeus, divided their rule.
Lebrecht28 June 16691718-172717 May 1727Anhalt-Bernburg
(in Zeitz-Hoym)
Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg
Schaumburg Castle
12 April 1692
five children

Eberhardine of Weede
(9 August 1685 – 13 February 1724)
27 June 1702
Grave
six children

Sophie Sibylla of Ingersleben
(18 March 1684 – 31 March 1726)
14 September 1725
(morganatic)
no children
John Augustus29 July 16771718-17427 November 1742Anhalt-ZerbstFredericka of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
25 May 1702
Zerbst
no children
Died without issue. Zerbst was inherited by his cousins from Dornburg.
Victor Frederick20 September 17001721-176518 May 1765Anhalt-BernburgLouise of Anhalt-Dessau
25 November 1724
Dessau
one child

Sophie Albertine Fredericka of Brandenburg-Schwedt
22 May 1733
Potsdam
five children

Konstanze Fredericka Schmidt
13 November 1750
Bernburg
(morganatic)
one child
Victor I Amadeus7 September 16931727-177215 April 1772Anhalt-Bernburg
(in Zeitz-Hoym in 1727;
in Schaumburg-Hoym from 1727)
Charlotte Louise of Isenburg-Birstein
(31 July 1680 – 2 January 1739)
22 November 1714
Birstein
six children

Hedwig Sophie Henckel of Donnersmarck
14 February 1740
Pölzig
six children
Augustus Louis9 June 16971728-17556 August 1755Anhalt-KöthenAgnes Wilhelmine von Wuthenau
23 January 1722
Dresden
(morganatic)
two children

Christine Johanna Emilie of Promnitz-Pless
14 January 1726
Sorau
five children

Anna Fredericka of Promnitz-Pless
21 November 1732
Sorau
two children
John Louis23 June 16881704-1746

1742-1746
5 November 1746Anhalt-Zerbst
(in Dornburg)

Anhalt-Zerbst
Unmarried First cousins of their predecessor, they were Princes of Dornburg, until its ending by joining it with the inherited Principality of Zerbst. Ruled jointly. after John Louis' death, Christian ruled alone.
Christian August29 November 16901704-1747

1742-1747
16 March 1747Anhalt-Zerbst
(in Dornburg)

Anhalt-Zerbst
Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp
8 November 1727
Vechelde
five children
Christian Louis5 November 16911704-171020 October 1710Anhalt-Zerbst
(in Dornburg)
Unmarried
John Frederick14 July 16951704-174211 May 1742Anhalt-Zerbst
(in Dornburg)
Cajetana of Sperling
(d.17 December 1742)
no children
Leopold II Maximilian25 December 17001747-175116 December 1751Anhalt-DessauGisela Agnes of Anhalt-Köthen
25 May 1737
Bernburg
seven children
Regency of Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp (1747-1752)
Frederick August8 August 17341747-17933 March 1793Anhalt-ZerbstCaroline Wilhelmina Sophia of Hesse-Kassel
17 November 1753
Zerbst
no children

Friederike Auguste Sophie of Anhalt-Bernburg
22 May 1764
Ballenstedt
no children
Definitively annexed by the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
Regency of Dietrich of Anhalt-Dessau (1751-1758) Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, also served as regent for his cousin, Louis Augustus Karl Frederick Emil of Anhalt-Kothen. After his death the regency in Anhalt-Kothen passed together with the principality of Anhalt-Dessau to his son.
Leopold III Frederick Franz10 August 17401751-18179 August 1817Anhalt-DessauLouise Henriette Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Schwedt
25 July 1767
Charlottenburg
two children
Charles George Lebrecht15 August 17301755-178917 October 1789Anhalt-KöthenLouise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
26 July 1763
Glücksburg
six children
Frederick Albert15 August 17351765-17969 April 1796Anhalt-BernburgLouise Albertine of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
25 November 1724
Augustenburg
two children
Charles Louis16 May 17231772-180620 August 1806Anhalt-Bernburg
(in Schaumburg-Hoym)
Benjamine Gertrude Keiser
(1 January 1729 – 6 January 1787)
25 March 1748
Stevensweert
(morganatic)

Amalia Eleonora of Solms-Braunfels
(22 November 1734 – 19 April 1811)
12 December 1765
Braunfels
five children
Augustus Christian Frederick18 November 17691789-18125 May 1812Anhalt-KöthenFredericka of Nassau-Usingen
9 February 1792
Frankfurt-am-Main
no children
In 1806 became Duke of Anhalt-Köthen. Left no descendants, and was succeeded by his nephew.
Alexius Frederick Christian12 June 17671796-183424 March 1834Anhalt-BernburgMarie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel
29 November 1794
Kassel
(annulled 1817)
four children

Dorothea Fredericka of Sonnenberg
11 January 1818
Ballenstedt
(morganatic)
no children

Ernestine Charlotte of Sonnenberg
2 May 1819
Bernburg
(morganatic)
no children
In 1803 became Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg.
Victor II Charles2 November 17671806-181222 April 1812Anhalt-Bernburg
(in Schaumburg-Hoym)
Amelia of Nassau-Weilburg
29 October 1793
Weilburg
four children
Regencies of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau (1812-1817) and Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt (1817-1818) Died as a minor, never ruled by his own.
Louis Augustus Karl20 September 18021812-181818 December 1818Anhalt-KöthenLouise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
26 July 1763
Glücksburg
six children
Frederick29 November 1741181224 December 1812Anhalt-Bernburg
(in Schaumburg-Hoym)
UnmarriedSon of Victor I. AFter his childless death, Hoym and Holzappel were inherited by his niece Hermine (daughter of Victor II), while Hoym merged in Bernburg again.
Hermine2 December 17971812-181714 September 1817Anhalt-Bernburg
(in Schaumburg and Holzappel)
Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary
30 August 1815
Schaumburg Castle
two children
Daughter of Victor II. After her death her lands probably merged again in Bernburg.
Frederick Ferdinand25 June 17691818-183023 August 1830Anhalt-KöthenMaria Dorothea Henriette Louise of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
26 July 1763
Lindenau bei Heiligenbeil
no children

Julie of Brandenburg
20 May 1816
Berlin
no children
From the Anhalt-Pless line, cousin of his predecessor. Attempted, with no success, to reinstall Catholicism in his duchy.
Henry30 July 17781830-184723 November 1847Anhalt-KöthenAuguste Fredericka Espérance Reuss of Köstritz
18 May 1819
Trebschen
no children
Left no descendants. His lands were inherited by Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau.
Definitively annexed to the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
Alexander Charles2 March 18051834-186319 August 1863Anhalt-BernburgFriederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
30 October 1834
Gottorp
no children
Left no male descendants. Bernburg reverted to Anhalt-Dessau.
Definitively annexed to the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold IV Frederick 1 October 1794 1817-1863 22 May 1871 Anhalt-Dessau Frederica Wilhelmina of Prussia
18 April 1818
Berlin
six children
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, ended the regency in Kothen after his cousin's death (1818). In 1863 he reunites Anhalt under his rule, and becomes its first duke.
1863-1871Anhalt
Frederick I29 April 18311871-190424 January 1904AnhaltAntoinette of Saxe-Altenburg
22 April 1854
Altenburg
six children
Frederick II19 August 18561904-191821 April 1918AnhaltMarie of Baden
2 July 1889
Karlsruhe
no children
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Edward18 April 1861191813 September 1918AnhaltLouise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg
6 February 1895
Altenburg
(annulled 26 January 1918)
six children
Brother of his predecessor. Ruled 18 April to 13 September.
Joachim Ernest II11 January 1901191818 February 1947AnhaltElisabeth Strickrodt
3 March 1927
Ballenstedt
(morganatic, annulled 1929)
no children

Edda-Charlotte von Stephani-Marwitz
15 October 1929
Ballenstedt
(morganatic)
five children
Ruled 13 September to 12 November. Monarchy abolished in that year.
Coat of arms of the duchy 1703[1]

Notes

  1. Siebmacher, Johann (1703). Erneuertes und vermehrtes Wappenbuch... Nürnberg: Adolph Johann Helmers. pp. Part I Table 8.

References

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