Frederick of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (
Schaumburg, 29 November 1741 –
Homburg vor der Höhe, 24 December 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 ''Schlo ...
from the
Anhalt-Bernburg branch and the last ruler of the principality of
Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (originally Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym) was a German principality and member of the Holy Roman Empire. The death of Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg in 1718 resulted in the partition of his land, with his second so ...
.
He was the fifth (but fourth surviving) son of
Victor I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
, father = Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym
, mother = Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg
, spouse = Charlotte Louise of Isenburg-Büdingen-BirsteinHedwig Sophie Henckel of Donnersmarck
, issue = Victoria Charlotte, Margravine of Brandenburg- ...
, but the first-born by his second wife, Countess Hedwig Sophie
Henckel von Donnersmarck
The House of Henckel von Donnersmarck is an old Austro-German noble family that originated in the former region of Spiš in Upper Hungary, now in Slovakia. The founder of the family was Henckel de Quintoforo in the 14/15th century. The original ...
.
Life
After the death of his father in 1772, Frederick and his brothers were excluded from the government of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym by their older brother,
Prince Karl Louis, until his death in 1806.
At the time of Karl Louis's death, Frederick was his only surviving brother and reclaimed the government from his nephew
Prince Victor II. Frederick claimed that the
primogeniture was never formally installed in Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and, according to the traditional laws of the House of Ascania, he had the right to share the government with Victor II. The dispute ended with the death of Victor II without male heirs on 22 April 1812, who left Frederick as the only living
agnate
Patrilineality, also known as the male line, the spear side or agnatic kinship, is a common kinship system in which an individual's family membership derives from and is recorded through their father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritanc ...
of the branch and, in consequence, heir to the principality.
Reign
Frederick's rule lasted only eight months until his death. Because he never married or had children, the line of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym became extinct with him.
Succession
His kinsman
Duke Alexius of Anhalt-Bernburg inherited
Hoym
Hoym () is a town and former municipality in the district of Salzlandkreis in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 15 July 2009, it is part of the town Seeland. Hoym is located on the river Selke, between the towns Aschersleben and Quedlinb ...
and the other lands obtained from the main branch of
Anhalt-Bernburg in 1718 when the line was created; but the Counties of
Holzappel and
Schaumburg were inherited by his eldest grandniece,
Hermine, by marriage Archduchess of Austria, as the senior heir of
Elisabeth Charlotte Melander
Elisabeth Charlotte Melander (29 February 1640 – 17 March 1707), was Countess of Holzappel from 1648 to 1707 and Schaumburg from 1656 to 1707.
Early life and background
Elisabeth Charlotte was the only child of Peter Melander, Count of Holza ...
, who by treaty in 1690 gave her counties as a dowry to her youngest daughter, Princess Charlotte of Nassau-Dillenburg, then betrothed to
Prince Lebrecht of Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym. Hermine's son
Archduke Stephen of Austria, Palatine of Hungary eventually inherited the Counties.
The Holzappel Case
/ref>
References
Bibliography
* Ferdinand Siebigk: ''Das Herzogthum Anhalt'', p. 243, Desbarats, 1867
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
1741 births
1812 deaths
People from Schaumburg
House of Ascania