Anna Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Dessau (13 June 1715, in

Dessau Dessau is a town and former municipality in Germany at the confluence of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the '' Bundesland'' (Federal State) of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it has been part of the newly created municipality of Dessau-Roßlau ...

– 2 April 1780, in Dessau), was a German princess 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 ...

from the

Anhalt-Dessau 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 th ...

branch. She was the third (but second surviving) daughter of

Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (3 July 1676 – 7 April 1747) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1693 to 1747. He was also a ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Prussian army. Nickname ...

, by his morganatic wife

Anna Louise Föhse Anna Louise Föhse, Princess of the Holy Roman Empire (22 March 1677 in Dessau – 5 February 1745) was a German imperial princess. Born as a commoner to Rudolf Föhse (d. 1698), the court pharmacist in Dessau, and his wife, Agnes Ohme (d. 170 ...

Life

As the favorite child of her father, Anna Wilhelmine was given the ''Mosigkau'' Manor near

for her residence in 1742. The princess, who remained unmarried all her life, began renovations on her new home with an architect from the Saxon school. From 1757 she spent her summers in the new Mosigkau Palace. Her talent in finances became renowned when her brother

Maurice Maurice may refer to: People * Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr * Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor *Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and ...

allowed her control over the administration of his household and possessions during the period of his fatal war injury in 1759. In the year of her death, Anna Wilhelmine ordered the establishment of a "Noble lady's convent" (German: ''Das Hochadelige Fräuleinstift Mosigkau'') in Mosigkau Castle. The convent existed until 1945. Since then the Castle has been accessible as a museum. {{DEFAULTSORT:Anna Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Dessau House of Ascania 1715 births 1780 deaths Anna Wilhelmine People from Dessau-Roßlau Royal reburials Daughters of monarchs