Anhalt-Bernburg was a
principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) can either be a monarchical feudatory or a sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a regnant-monarch with the title of prince and/or princess, or by a monarch with another title considered to fall under ...
of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
and a duchy of the
German Confederation
The German Confederation (german: Deutscher Bund, ) was an association of 39 predominantly German-speaking sovereign states in Central Europe. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as a replacement of the former Holy Roman Empire, w ...
ruled by 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 ...
with its residence at
Bernburg
Bernburg (Saale) is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, capital of the Salzlandkreis district. The former residence of the Anhalt-Bernburg princes is known for its Renaissance architecture, Renaissance castle.
Geography
The town centre is situated ...
in present-day
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt ; nds, Sassen-Anholt) is a state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of
and has a population of 2.18 million inhabitants, making it the ...
. It emerged as a subdivision from the
Principality of Anhalt
The Principality of Anhalt (german: Fürstentum Anhalt) was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, located in Central Germany, in what is today part of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Under the rule of the House of Ascania, the Anhalt territory ...
from 1252 until 1468, when it fell to the Ascanian principality 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 ...
. Recreated in 1603, Anhalt-Bernburg finally merged into the re-unified
Duchy of Anhalt
The Duchy of Anhalt (german: Herzogtum Anhalt) was a historical German duchy. The duchy was located between the Harz Mountains in the west and the river Elbe and beyond to the Fläming Heath in the east. The territory was once ruled by the House ...
upon the extinction of the line in 1863.
History
It was created in 1252, when the Principality of Anhalt was partitioned among the sons of
Henry I Henry I may refer to:
876–1366
* Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936)
* Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955)
* Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018)
* Henry I of France (1008–1060)
* Henry I the Long, Margrave of the No ...
into
Anhalt-Aschersleben
Anhalt-Aschersleben was a short-lived principality of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Aschersleben in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subdivision from the Principality of Anhalt from 1252 to 131 ...
, Anhalt-Bernburg and
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 ...
. Bernburg was allotted to Henry's second son
Bernhard I. When the line of Anhalt-Aschersleben became extinct in 1315, Prince
Bernhard II of Anhalt-Bernburg claimed their territory, he could however not prevail against his cousin Albert,
Bishop of Halberstadt
The Diocese of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese (german: Bistum Halberstadt) from 804 until 1648. .
After the ruling family became extinct upon the death of Prince
Bernhard VI in 1468, Anhalt-Bernburg was inherited by Prince
George I of Anhalt-Dessau. With
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 ...
it was inherited by Prince
Joachim Ernest of Anhalt-Zerbst in 1561, who unified all Anhalt lands under his rule in 1570.
Re-united Anhalt was again divided in 1603 among Prince Joachim Ernest's sons into the lines of Anhalt-Dessau,
Anhalt-Köthen
Anhalt-Köthen was a 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. The first creation lasted until 1562 ...
,
Anhalt-Plötzkau, Anhalt-Bernburg and
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 ...
. His second son Prince
Christian I
Christian I (February 1426 – 21 May 1481) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was king of Denmark (1448–1481), Norway (1450–1481) and Sweden (1457–1464). From 1460 to 1481, he was also duke of Schleswig (within ...
took his residence at Bernburg. Christian's younger son
Frederick Frederick may refer to:
People
* Frederick (given name), the name
Nobility
Anhalt-Harzgerode
*Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670)
Austria
* Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198
* Frederick ...
established the separate Principality of
Anhalt-Harzgerode
{{Infobox former country
, native_name = {{native name, de, Fürstentum Anhalt-Harzgerode
, conventional_long_name = Principality of Anhalt-Harzgerode
, common_name = Anhalt-Harzgerode
,
, image_flag =
, image_co ...
in 1635, which existed until 1709. Prince
Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg inherited Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1665. Upon his death in 1718 his lands were further divided and the Principality of
Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym was created for his second son
Lebrecht, which was reunited with Anhalt-Bernburg in 1812.
In 1803 Prince
Alexius Frederick Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg was elevated to the rank of a duke by Emperor
Francis II of Habsburg. His son Duke
Alexander Karl however died without issue in 1863, whereafter Anhalt-Bernburg was inherited by
Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold IV Frederick, Duke of Anhalt (1 October 1794 – 22 May 1871) was a German prince of the House of Ascania.
From 1817 until 1853 he was ruler of the duchy of Anhalt-Dessau and from 1847 until 1853 also ruler of the duchy of Anhalt-Köthen. ...
, re-uniting all Anhalt lands under his rule.
Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg, 1252–1468
* 1252–1287
Bernhard I
* 1287–1291
John I John I may refer to:
People
* John I (bishop of Jerusalem)
* John Chrysostom (349 – c. 407), Patriarch of Constantinople
* John of Antioch (died 441)
* Pope John I, Pope from 523 to 526
* John I (exarch) (died 615), Exarch of Ravenna
* John I o ...
, son, co-regent with his brother
** 1287–1323
Bernhard II
* 1323–1348
Bernhard III, son of Bernhard II
* 1348–1354
Bernhard IV, son
* 1354–1374
Henry IV, brother
* 1374–1404
Otto III
Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was Holy Roman Emperor from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of the Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu.
Otto III was crowned as King of ...
, brother
* 1404–1420
Bernhard V, son of Henry IV, co-regent with his cousin
** 1404–1415
Otto IV
Otto IV (1175 – 19 May 1218) was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1209 until his death in 1218.
Otto spent most of his early life in England and France. He was a follower of his uncle Richard the Lionheart, who made him Count of Poitou in 1196 ...
, son of Otto III
* 1420–1468
Bernhard VI, brother of Otto IV, left no male heirs
: ''To
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 ...
''
Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg, 1603–1803
* 1603–1630
Christian I
Christian I (February 1426 – 21 May 1481) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was king of Denmark (1448–1481), Norway (1450–1481) and Sweden (1457–1464). From 1460 to 1481, he was also duke of Schleswig (within ...
, second son of Prince
Joachim Ernest of Anhalt
* 1630–1656
Christian II
Christian II (1 July 1481 – 25 January 1559) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union who reigned as King of Denmark and Norway, from 1513 until 1523, and Sweden from 1520 until 1521. From 1513 to 1523, he was concurrently Duke ...
, son
* 1656–1718
Victor Amadeus, son
* 1718–1721
Karl Frederick, son
* 1721–1765
Victor Frederick, son
* 1765–1796
Frederick Albert, son
* 1796–1803
Alexius Frederick Christian, son
: ''Raised to duchy''
Dukes of Anhalt-Bernburg, 1803–1863
* 1803–1834
Alexius Frederick Christian
* 1834–1863
Alexander Karl, son, died without issue
: ''To re-united
Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt ; nds, Sassen-Anholt) is a state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of
and has a population of 2.18 million inhabitants, making it the ...
''
Notes
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anhalt-Bernburg, 1252 Duchy
1250s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
1252 establishments in Europe
1863 disestablishments in Europe
States and territories established in 1252
States of the Confederation of the Rhine
States of the German Confederation
House of Ascania
Lists of princes
History of Anhalt
Bernburg
Former states and territories of Saxony-Anhalt
Principalities of the Holy Roman Empire