Bernhard V, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (died 24 June 1420) 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-Bernburg Anhalt-Bernburg was a Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subd ...

. He was the eldest son of Henry IV, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, by his wife Sophie, a possible member of the

House of Stolberg The House of Stolberg is an old and large German dynasty of the former Holy Roman Empire's Uradel, high aristocracy (''German nobility#Hochadel, Hoher Adel''). Members of the family held the title of ''Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Fürst'' an ...

Life

After the death of his father in 1374, Bernhard was bypassed as heir during the rule of his uncle

Otto III Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was the Holy Roman emperor and King of Italy from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu. Otto III was c ...

. When Otto died in 1404, Bernhard finally took possession of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg, but he was compelled to rule jointly with his youngest cousin

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 ...

until the latter's death in 1415. Bernhard's sole rule lasted only five years. On his death without male issue, Bernhard was succeeded by his cousin Bernhard VI, eldest son of Otto III.

Marriage and issue

On 8 September 1396, Bernhard married Elisabeth (d. 1426), daughter of Ulrich III, Count of Honstein-Kelbra. Both spouses were great-great-grandchildren of

Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (–1287) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg. He was the second son of Henry I, Count of Anhalt (who was elevated to the rank of prince in 1218), by ...

, through his children Sophie and Bernhard II. This marriage only produced one daughter: * Adelheid (d. aft. 1434), married Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Osterode and, after his death, Maurice IV, Count of Spiegelberg. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernhard 05, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg 1420 deaths Year of birth unknown