Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau (1 May 1665 – 5 October 1706), was a German noblewoman by birth Princess of

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 ...

as member 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 by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby. Born in Cölln an der Spree, she was the fourth of ten children born from the marriage of

John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau John George II (17 November 1627 – 7 August 1693) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1660 to 1693. A member of the Fruitbearing Society, he also served as a field marshal of Brandenbu ...

and Henriette Catherine of Orange-Nassau. From her nine older and younger siblings, five survive adulthood: Henriette Amalie (by marriage Princess of Nassau-Dietz), Marie Eleonore (by marriage Princess Radziwiłł and Duchess of Olyka), Henriette Agnes,

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 ...

and Johanna Charlotte (by marriage Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt).

Life

In 1680, and thanks to her father's instigation, Elisabeth Albertine was chosen Princess-Abbess of

Herford Abbey Herford Abbey (german: Frauenstift Herford) was the oldest women's religious house in the Duchy of Saxony. It was founded as a house of secular canonesses in 789, initially in Müdehorst (near the modern Bielefeld) by a nobleman called Waltger, wh ...

as Elisabeth IV, securing with this the support of the Rhenish Imperial College prelate (German: ''Reichsprälatenkollegiums''). She remained in the post for six years, until her marriage was arranged and moved to Barby; however, several Herford artists and merchants followed her. 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 ...

on 30 March 1686, Elisabeth Albertine married Henry, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby. Elisabeth Albertine's paternal great-great grandmother was Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen; this give to Henry some blood ties to the extinct House of Barby. The marriage produced eight children, of whom only three survive adulthood: #John August, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 28 July 1687 – Dessau, 22 January 1688). #John August, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 24 July 1689 – Dessau, 21 October 1689). #Stillborn twin sons (Dessau, 1690). #Frederick Henry, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 2 July 1692 –

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

, 21 November 1711). # George Albert, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 19 April 1695 – Barby, 12 June 1739). #Henriette Marie (Dessau, 1 March 1697 – Weissenfels, 10 August 1719). #Stillborn daughter (Dessau, 5 October 1706). Elisabeth Albertine died in

aged 41, following complications in her last childbirth. She was buried in the ''Familiengruft'', Barby.Anhalt-Dessau line in: Royaltyguide.nl
etrieved 11 October 2014

References

, - {{Authority control Elisabeth Elisabeth Albertine 1665 births 1706 deaths Elisabeth Calvinist abbesses Abbesses of Herford ⚭Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau Deaths in childbirth