Anhalt-Dessau

Principality (Duchy) of Anhalt-Dessau
Fürstentum (Herzogtum) Anhalt-Dessau  (German)
State of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806) State of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806–13) State of the German Confederation (from 1815)
1396–1561 1603–1863
19th century flag of Anhalt duchies 19th century arms of Anhalt duchies
Anhalt principalities, 1747-1793: Anhalt-Dessau in green
Capital		Dessau
Government		Principality
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Partitioned from Anhalt-Zerbst	1396
•	Partitioned to create A-Köthen	1471
•	Partitioned to create A-Plötzkau and A-Zerbst	1544
•	Annexed back to A-Zerbst (later: Anhalt)	1561–1603
•	Raised to duchy	1807
•	Merged with Anhalt-Köthen	1853
•	Duchy of Anhalt reunited	1863
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst Duchy of Anhalt
Today part of		Germany

Anhalt-Dessau was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and later a duchy of the German Confederation. Ruled by the House of Ascania, it was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, and finally merged into the re-united Duchy of Anhalt in 1863. The capital of the state was Dessau in present-day Saxony-Anhalt.

History

Johannbau, preserved west wing of Dessau Castle

The Principality of Anhalt arose in 1212 under its first ruler Henry I, son of the Saxon duke Bernhard III. Named after Anhalt Castle, the ancestral seat of the Ascanian dynasty near Harzgerode, the principality experienced a number of partitions throughout its centuries-long existence. Anhalt-Dessau emerged when the two surviving sons of late Prince John II of Anhalt-Zerbst divided their heritage and the elder, Prince Sigismund I, took his residence at Dessau.

Upon the death of Sigismund's son Prince George I of Anhalt-Dessau in 1474, the principality was again divided with Anhalt-Köthen. Anhalt-Dessau was partitioned for a second time in 1544 with Anhalt-Zerbst and Anhalt-Plötzkau being created. From 1561 until 1603 Anhalt-Dessau was under the rule of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and in 1603 Anhalt-Dessau was recreated, being raised to a duchy in 1807.

Anhalt-Köthen became extinct on the death of the Duke of Anhalt-Köthen, 23 November 1847, and its territories were united to Anhalt-Dessau by Patent of 22 May 1853.^[1] Following the death of the last Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg on 19 August 1863, all of the Anhalt lands came under the rule of the Duke of Anhalt-Dessau who then took the new title of Duke of Anhalt for the newly created Duchy of Anhalt.^[1]

Rulers of Anhalt-Dessau

Coat of arms of Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen according to Siebmachers Wappenbuch

Princes (1396–1561)

• Sigismund I 1396–1405
• George I 1405–1474
  • Waldemar IV 1405–1417 (co-regent)
  • Sigismund II 1405–1452 (co-regent)
  • Albert V 1405–1469 (co-regent)
• Ernest I 1474–1516
  • George II 1474–1509 (co-regent)
  • Sigismund III 1474–1487 (co-regent)
  • Rudolph IV 1474–1510 (co-regent)
• Joachim I 1516–1561
  • John V 1516–1544 (co-regent)
  • George III 1516–1544 (co-regent)

To Anhalt-Zerbst 1561.

Princes (1603–1807)

• John George I 1603–1618
• John Casimir 1618–1660
• John George II 1660–1693
• Leopold I 1693–1747
  • Countess Henriette Catherine of Nassau regent 1693–1697
• Leopold II 1747–1751
• Leopold III 1751–1807
  • Prince Dietrich regent 1751–1758

Raised to Duchy 1807.

Dukes (1807–1863)

• Leopold III 1807–1817
• Leopold IV 1817–1863

Renamed Duchy of Anhalt 1863.

Notes

1. Hertslet 1875, p. 245.

References

• Regnal chronology
• Hertslet, Edward (1875), The map of Europe by treaty; showing the various political and territorial changes which have taken place since the general peace of 1814, London: Butterworths