Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (d.
Coswig, 24 November 1423), was a German prince of the
House of Ascania
The House of Ascania () was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Principality of Anhalt, Anhalt.
The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ' ...
and ruler of the principality of
Anhalt-Zerbst until 1396, when he became the first ruler of the principality of
Anhalt-Köthen
Anhalt-Köthen was a Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, 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. T ...
.
He was the second son of
John II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
John II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (died 11 April 1382) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst.
He was the youngest son of Albert II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, by his second wife Beatrix, daughter ...
, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of
John I, Count of Henneberg-Schleusingen.
Life
In 1382, after the death of his father, Albert inherited the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst jointly with his brothers
Sigismund I and
Waldemar III. After the death of Waldemar in 1391, Albert and Sigismund became sole co-rulers. Destined for the church at a very young age, Albert was made canon of
Magdeburg Cathedral
Magdeburg Cathedral (), officially called the Cathedral of Saints Maurice and Catherine (), is a Protestant Church in Germany, Lutheran cathedral in Germany and the oldest Gothic architecture, Gothic cathedral in the country. It is the proto-cat ...
in 1392.
Five years later, in 1396, the brothers Sigismund and Albert decided to settle on a formal division of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. As "Lord of Köthen," Albert took possession of the town of
Köthen as his main residence and capital of his newly created principality. Shortly after, he resigned all of his ecclesiastic posts in order to marry and produce heirs to his lands.
Marriages and Issue
Bef. 1398 Albert married Elisabeth (d. aft. 6 June 1403), daughter of
Gebhard III, Count of Mansfeld. They had six children:
#
Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (d. Zerbst, 28 August 1473).
#Anna (d. bef. 13 June 1426), married in 1422 to
William, Prince of Wenden and Lord of Werle.
#Lutrud (d. 4 June 1465), married on 14 October 1430 to
John III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard.
#William (d. young).
#Albert (d. 18 March 1413).
#
Waldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (d. 1436).
Bef. 4 February 1419 Albert married for a second time to Elisabeth (d. 1452), daughter of
Gebhard XI, Count of Querfurt and widow of Conrad (Kurt) of Hadmersleben, Lord of Egeln. They had three children:
#
Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (d. 9 January 1475).
#Sophie, married to Gunther VI of Barby, Count of Mühlingen.
#Dietburg (d. young).
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Albert Iv, Prince Of Anhalt-Kothen
Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst
Albert 04
Albert 04
1423 deaths
Year of birth unknown
14th-century German nobility