Augustus Christian Frederick of Anhalt-Köthen ( Köthen, 18 November 1769 – Schloss Geuz, 5 May 1812), 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 ...

, 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 ...

, and from 1806 the first "Duke of Anhalt-Köthen." He was the eldest son of

Karl George Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen Karl George Lebrecht of Anhalt-Köthen ( Köthen, 15 August 1730 – Semlin, 17 October 1789), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the second (but eldest surviving) son of Aug ...

, by his wife Louise Charlotte, daughter of Frederick,

Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranke ...

Life

After the death of his father in 1789, Augustus Christian Frederick inherited the throne of

. Like him, he pursued a military career in the

Prussian army The Royal Prussian Army (1701–1919, german: Königlich Preußische Armee) served as the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It became vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power. The Prussian Army had its roots in the co ...

, where he became a ''

Generalmajor is the Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and Royal Danish Air Force. As a two-star ...

''. On 15 May 1803 he was appointed ''Generalfeldmarschallleutnant'' and on 31 January 1805 made a knight of the

Order of the Black Eagle The Order of the Black Eagle (german: Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler) was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I, King ...

. In

Frankfurt-am-Main Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian dialects, Hessian: , "Franks, Frank ford (crossing), ford on the Main (river), Main"), is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as o ...

on 9 February 1792 Augustus Christian Frederick married Princess Karoline Friederike of

Nassau-Usingen Nassau-Usingen was a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the Upper Rhenish Circle that became a principality in 1688. The origin of the county lies in the medieval county of Weilnau that was acquired by the counts of Nassau-Weilburg in 1602. Tha ...

(b.

Usingen Usingen is a small town in the Hochtaunuskreis in Hessen, Germany. Until 1972, this residential and school town was the seat of the former district of Usingen. Coat of arms The earliest seal whose appearance is known – there had been earlier on ...

, 30 August 1777 - d. Hochheim, 28 August 1821), daughter of Frederick Augustus, Prince of Nassau-Usingen and later (1806) Duke of Nassau. After eleven years of an unhappy and childless marriage, they were divorced in 1803. On 18 April 1806

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

granted him the title "Monsieur d'Anhalt" and with this officially elevated him to the Ducal dignity. At his death six years later without male issue, Augustus Christian Frederick was succeeded by his infant nephew Louis Augustus Karl Frederick Emil, the son of his deceased younger brother Louis. {{DEFAULTSORT:Augustus Christian Frederick, Duke Of Anhalt-Kothen 1769 births 1812 deaths People from Köthen (Anhalt) Princes of Anhalt-Köthen Generals of the Holy Roman Empire Dukes of Anhalt-Köthen Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)