Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (d. Coswig, 24 November 1423), was a German prince of the

House of Ascania The House of Ascania (german: Askanier) was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ''Schloss ...

and ruler of the principality of

Anhalt-Zerbst Anhalt-Zerbst was a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts Potsdam-Mittelmark (Brandenburg) and Wittenberg, the city of Dessau and the districts of Köthen, Schönebeck and Jerichower L ...

until 1396, when he became the first ruler of the principality of

Anhalt-Köthen Anhalt-Köthen was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the House of Ascania. It was created in 1396 when the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. The first creation lasted until 1562 ...

. He was the second son of

John II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst John II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (died 11 April 1382) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was the youngest son of Albert II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, by his second wife Beatrix, daughter o ...

, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of

John I, Count of Henneberg-Schleusingen John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

Life

In 1382, after the death of his father, Albert inherited the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst jointly with his brothers Sigismund I and Waldemar III. After the death of Waldemar in 1391, Albert and Sigismund became sole co-rulers. Destined for the church at a very young age, Albert was made canon of

Magdeburg Cathedral Magdeburg Cathedral (german: Magdeburger Dom), officially called the Cathedral of Saints Maurice and Catherine (german: Dom zu Magdeburg St. Mauritius und Katharina), is a Protestant cathedral in Germany and the oldest Gothic cathedral in the cou ...

in 1392. Five years later, in 1396, the brothers Sigismund and Albert decided to settle on a formal division of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. As "Lord of Köthen," Albert took possession of the town of Köthen as his main residence and capital of his newly created principality. Shortly after, he resigned all of his ecclesiastic posts in order to marry and produce heirs to his lands.

Marriages and Issue

Bef. 1398 Albert married Elisabeth (d. aft. 6 June 1403), daughter of Gebhard III, Count of Mansfeld. They had six children: #

Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (died Zerbst, 28 August 1473), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the eldest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his first wife Elisa ...

(d. Zerbst, 28 August 1473). #Anna (d. bef. 13 June 1426), married in 1422 to William, Prince of Wenden and Lord of Werle. #Lutrud (d. 4 June 1465), married on 14 October 1430 to

John III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard John III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard (1389 – after 11 November 1438) was from 1416 to 1438 Duke of Mecklenburg, Lord of Stargard, Sternberg, Friedland, Fürstenberg, and Lychen. To distinguish him from John V, Duke of Mecklenburg, he i ...

. #William (d. young). #Albert (d. 18 March 1413). #

Waldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen Waldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (died 1436) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the second son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his first wife Elisabeth, daughter of ...

(d. 1436). Bef. 4 February 1419 Albert married for a second time to Elisabeth (d. 1452), daughter of

Gebhard XI, Count of Querfurt Gebhard (''Gebhart'') is a German given name, recorded at least from the 9th century. It is composed of the Old High German elements ''geb'' "gift" and ''hard'' "brave, hardy". People with the surname *Heinrich Gebhard (1878-1963), pianist, comp ...

and widow of Conrad (Kurt) of Hadmersleben, Lord of Egeln. They had three children: #

Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (died 9 January 1475) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the youngest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, but the eldest child of his se ...

(d. 9 January 1475). #Sophie, married to Gunther VI of Barby, Count of Mühlingen. #Dietburg (d. young). , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Albert Iv, Prince Of Anhalt-Kothen Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst Albert 04 Albert 04 1423 deaths Year of birth unknown People from Saxony-Anhalt 14th-century German nobility