Bernhard VII of Anhalt-Zerbst (17 March 1540 – 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the

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

and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was born and died in

Dessau Dessau is a district of the independent city of Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt at the confluence of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the ''States of Germany, Bundesland'' (Federal State) of Saxony-Anhalt. Until 1 July 2007, it was an independent ...

, and was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst by his wife

Margaret Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Iranian languages, Old Iranian. It has been an English language, English name since the 11th century, and remained popular thro ...

, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.

Life

Bernhard inherited Anhalt-Zerbst when his father died in 1551 along with his older brothers Karl I and Joachim Ernest according to the stipulations of the family law of the

, which mandated no division of the territories of the principality. Upon the deaths without issue of his uncles George III of Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1553 and Joachim I of Anhalt-Dessau in 1561, Bernhard and Joachim Ernest inherited their lands, which were merged into Anhalt-Zerbst (Karl only inherited Plötzkau, because he died before Joachim I). In 1562

Anhalt-Köthen Anhalt-Köthen was a Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, 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. T ...

was also merged into Anhalt-Zerbst after the death without issue of its last prince, Wolfgang. Bernhard made his residence in

Marriage and issue

on 28 May 1565 Bernhard married Clara (b. Gifhorn, 1 January 1550 – d. Franzburg, 26 January 1598), posthumous daughter of Francis, Duke of Gifhorn. They had only one son: #Franz George (b. 17 October 1567 – d. Zerbst, 7 September 1568). Bernhard died without surviving male heirs and was succeeded by his brother Joachim Ernest, who became sole ruler of all the Anhalt territories.

References

, - , width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1", Preceded by
John V , width="40%" align="center" , Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
''with Karl I (until 1561) and Joachim Ernest''
1551–1570 , width="30%" align="center" rowspan="4" , Succeeded by
Joachim Ernest , - , width="30%" align="center" , Preceded by

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

, width="40%" align="center" , Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau
''with Karl I (until 1561) and Joachim Ernest''
1553–1570 , - , width="30%" align="center" , Preceded by
Joachim I , width="40%" align="center" , Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
''with Joachim Ernest''
1561–1570 , - , width="30%" align="center" , Preceded by
Wolfgang , width="40%" align="center" , Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
''with Joachim Ernest''
1562–1570 , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernhard Vii, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Rulers of Anhalt House of Ascania 1540 births 1570 deaths 16th-century people from the Holy Roman Empire