Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (1450 – Köthen, 1 November 1508), 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 ...

and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the eldest son of

George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau ( – 21 September 1474), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau. He was the second son of Sigismund I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, by his wife Judith, daughter ...

, by his second wife Sophie, possibly a member of the House of

Hohnstein Hohnstein () is a town located in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district of Saxony, Germany. As of 2020, its population numbered a total of 3,262. Geography It is situated in Saxon Switzerland, 12 km east of Pirna, and 28 km so ...

Life

In 1471, his father concluded a succession contract with

Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (died Zerbst, 28 August 1473), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the eldest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his first wife Elisa ...

. Under the terms of this contract,

, took over the government of half the principality of Anhalt-Köthen and became co-ruler with Adolf as "Mitherr." Shortly after, George renounced his rights in favor of Waldemar, who became the new co-ruler with Adolph I. Adolph I died two years later, in 1473, and Waldemar then had to rule jointly with his half-brother and heir, Albert VI. The new Prince Albert died fifteen months later and was succeeded by his infant son Philip. Upon the death of Albert VI, two sons of Adolph I,

Magnus Magnus, meaning "Great" in Latin, was used as cognomen of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus in the first century BC. The best-known use of the name during the Roman Empire is for the fourth-century Western Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus. The name gained wid ...

and Adolph II, were included in the government of the principality. During his lifetime, Waldemar also assumed the following titles: "Lord of Köthen" (in 1480), "Lord of Hoym" (in 1492), and "Lord of Burgscheidungen" (in 1496). Philip died without issue in 1500 and Adolph I's sons formally renounced their rights to rule the principality eight years later. In consequence, Waldemar became the sole ruler of Anhalt-Köthen, but enjoyed this status for only a few months during the year 1508. On his death, he was succeeded by his only surviving son, Wolfgang.

Marriage and issue

In Köthen on 24 January 1485 Waldemar married Margarete (b. Rudolstadt, 16 June 1464 – d. Köthen, 1 August 1539), daughter of Günther XXXVI, Count of Schwarzburg and Lord of Arnstedt. They had four children: #Barbara (b. 1486 – d. 10 August 1532), married on 25 November 1503 to Henry IV, Count of Plauen and Burggrave of Meissen, and secondly ca. 1521 to Jan Maštovský z Kolowrat (they separated on 10 June 1528). #Waldemar (b. 1490 – d. young). #

Wolfgang, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen Wolfgang, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (1 August 1492, in Köthen – 23 March 1566, in Zerbst), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. He was one of the earliest Protestant rulers in the Holy Ro ...

(b. Köthen, 1 August 1492 – d. Zerbst, 23 March 1566). # Margaret (b. Köthen, 12 November 1494 – d. Weimar, 7 October 1521), married on 13 November 1513 to

John, Elector of Saxony Johann (30 June 146816 August 1532), known as Johann the Steadfast or Johann the Constant (''Johann, der Beständige''), was Elector of Saxony from 1525 until 1532 from the House of Wettin. He is notable for organising the Lutheran Church in th ...

References

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Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waldemar 06, Prince 0f Anhalt-Kothen 1450 births 1508 deaths Princes of Anhalt-Köthen