John V of Anhalt-Zerbst (

Dessau Dessau is a district of the independent city of Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt at the confluence of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the ''States of Germany, Bundesland'' (Federal State) of Saxony-Anhalt. Until 1 July 2007, it was an independent ...

, 4 September 1504 –

Zerbst Zerbst () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until an administrative reform in 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the former Anhalt-Zerbst district. Geography Zerbst is sit ...

, 4 February 1551), 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-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 ...

. From 1544, he assumed rule of the re-created principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. John was the second (but eldest surviving) son of

Ernest I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Ernest I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (died Dessau, 12 June 1516), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau. He was the second son of George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, yet the first born by his four ...

, by his wife

Margarete Margarete is a German feminine given name. It is derived from Ancient Greek ''margarites'' (μαργαρίτης), meaning "the pearl". Via the Latin ''margarita'', it arrived in the German sprachraum. Related names in English include Daisy, ...

, daughter of Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels, and granddaughter of

George of Poděbrady George of Kunštát and Poděbrady (23 April 1420 – 22 March 1471), also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad (; ), was the sixteenth King of Bohemia, who ruled in 1458–1471. He was a leader of the Hussites, but moderate and tolerant toward the ...

, King of

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...

Life

Upon the death of his father in 1516, John and his brothers

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

and Joachim I inherited Anhalt-Dessau as co-rulers according to the family law of the House of Ascania. During their first years of rule, their mother Margarete served as regent. The brothers shared the government of the principality for almost twenty-eight years, until 1544, when they decided to divide up their territories. John received

, thereby reviving the old principality of Anhalt-Zerbst that became extinct in 1396 with the creation of Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen.

Marriage and issue

on 15 February 1534, John married

(b. 29 September 1511 – d. aft. 3 December 1577), daughter of

Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg Joachim I Nestor (21 February 1484 – 11 July 1535) was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1499–1535), the fifth member of the House of Hohenzollern. His nickname was taken from King Nestor of Greek mythology. Biography Th ...

, and widow of George I, Duke of Pomerania. Margarete's stepson, the new Duke of Pomerania,

Philip I Philip(p) I may refer to: * Philip I of Macedon (7th century BC) * Philip I Philadelphus (between 124 and 109 BC–83 or 75 BC) * Philip the Arab (c. 204–249), Roman Emperor * Philip I of France (1052–1108) * Philip I (archbishop of Cologne) ( ...

, had to pay her a lifetime annuity of 1200 guilders from his personal treasure in order to cover the cost of her dowry. From her marriage to George I, Margarete had a posthumous daughter, Georgia, who followed her mother to Anhalt; however, was decided that when she reached her eighth birthday (in 1539) she must be returned to Pomerania under the custody of her half-brother Philip I. Despite this, Margaret was able to have kept her daughter with her until May 1543, when she was finally sent to her homeland. The union with the widowed daughter of the Elector of Brandenburg was a high honor for John, and he decided to celebrate the wedding with great pomp. But by that time, he was in poor health; finally, in 1544, he suffered a stroke. His relations with Margarete worsened during the following years; in 1550 John ordered the temporary arrest of his wife, but she fled. John and Margarete had six children: #

Karl I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Karl I of Anhalt-Zerbst (17 November 1534 – 4 May 1561), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was the eldest son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, by his wife Margaret, daughter ...

(b. Dessau, 17 November 1534 – d. Zerbst, 4 May 1561). #

Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt Joachim Ernest of Anhalt (21 October 1536 – 6 December 1586), was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst from 1551, and from 1570 sole ruler of all the Anhalt lands. Life Early life Joachim Ernes ...

(b. Dessau, 21 October 1536 – d. Dessau, 6 December 1586). #Marie (b. Dessau, 1 December 1538 – d. Rosslau, 25 April 1563), married on 25 August 1559 to Albert X, Count of Barby-Mühlingen. #

Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Bernhard VII of Anhalt-Zerbst (17 March 1540 – 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was born and died in Dessau, and was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince o ...

(b. Dessau, 17 March 1540 – d. Dessau, 1 March 1570). #Margarete (b. Dessau, 18 August 1541 – d. Zerbst, 25 July 1547). # Elisabeth (b. Dessau, 15 October 1545 – d. Barby, 26 September 1574), married on 19 July 1570 to Wolfgang II, Count of Barby-Mühlingen.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Princes of Anhalt-Dessau Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst 16th-century people from the Holy Roman Empire 1504 births 1551 deaths