Charles William, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (16 October 1652, in

Zerbst Zerbst () is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until an administrative reform in 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the former Anhalt-Zerbst district. Geography Zerbst is situated in the Anhalt-Wittenberg regio ...

– 3 November 1718, in Zerbst), 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 ...

. He was the third (but eldest surviving) son of

John VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst John VI of Anhalt-Zerbst (Zerbst, 24 March 1621 – Zerbst, 4 July 1667), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was the only son of Rudolph, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, by his second wife Mag ...

, and Sophie Auguste, daughter of Frederick III, Duke of

Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp Holstein-Gottorp or Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp () is the Historiography, historiographical name, as well as contemporary shorthand name, for the parts of the duchies of Duchy of Schleswig, Schleswig and Duchy of Holstein, Holstein, also known as ...

. His two older brothers died before his birth.

Life

Charles William succeeded his father in Anhalt-Zerbst in 1667 at the age of fifteen. During his minority, which lasted until 1674, his mother, the Dowager Princess Sophie Auguste, acted as regent. He ordered the building of

Zerbst Castle Zerbst Castle (German: ''Schloss Zerbst'') in the town of Zerbst, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany was the residence of the Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst from the late 17th century until the line died out in 1793. It later served as a museum and archive. The bu ...

(which was made his official residence) and the St. Trinitatis Church of Zerbst, which were both inaugurated in 1696. Also, he lived many years in

Jever Jever () is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer, Jever Pilsener, which is produced there. The city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted c ...

Marriage and issue

In Halle on 18 June 1676 Charles William married

Sophie Sophie is a version of the female given name Sophia, meaning "wise". People with the name Born in the Middle Ages * Sophie, Countess of Bar (c. 1004 or 1018–1093), sovereign Countess of Bar and lady of Mousson * Sophie of Thuringia, Duchess o ...

(b. Halle, 23 June 1654 – d. Zerbst, 31 March 1724), daughter of

August, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels Augustus of Saxe-Weissenfels (Dresden, 13 August 1614 – 4 June 1680, Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Halle), was a Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt of the House of Wettin and administrator of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg. He was the fourth (but secon ...

. They had three children : #

John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (29 July 1677 in Zerbst – 7 November 1742 in Zerbst), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was the eldest son of Karl William, Prince of Anhalt-Z ...

(b. Zerbst, 29 July 1677 – d. Zerbst, 7 November 1742). #Karl Frederick (b. Zerbst, 2 July 1678 – d. Zerbst, 1 September 1693). # Magdalene Auguste (b. Zerbst, 23 October 1679 – d.

Altenburg Altenburg () is a city in Thuringia, Germany, located south of Leipzig, west of Dresden and east of Erfurt. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district and part of a polycentric old-industrial textile and metal production region betw ...

, 11 October 1740), married on 17 June 1696 to

Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (28 July 1676 – 23 March 1732), was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He was born in Gotha, the fifth child and first son of Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalena Sibylle of Saxe-We ...

; she was the grandmother of King

George III of Great Britain George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...

References

* Ferdinand Siebigk: '' Karl Wilhelm''. In:

Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, german: Universal German Biography) is one of the most important and comprehensive biographical reference works in the German language. It was published by the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Aca ...

(ADB). Band 15, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1882, S. 226 f.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karl, Prince Of Anhalt-Zerbst

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

Rulers of Anhalt 1652 births 1718 deaths House of Ascania Royal reburials