Magnus, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (1455 – 29 October 1524) 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-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 third (but eldest surviving) son of

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 Elisab ...

, by his wife Cordula, daughter of

Albert III, Count of Lindau-Ruppin Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert Computers, Inc., a computer manufacturer in the 1980s * Albert Czech Republic, a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street mar ...

Life

By 1471 Magnus had made clear his intention to become a priest along with his younger brothers

William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...

(who renounced his rights of succession) and Adolph II. This forced their father into a succession agreement with the

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 ...

branch of the House of Ascania, headed at that time by

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 ...

. Adolph I died in 1473 and was succeeded by his half-brother Albert VI and Waldemar VI of Anhalt-Dessau. Fifteen months later Albert died to be succeeded by his only son

Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Macedonian Old Koine language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominen ...

. Magnus (already a

Canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the material accepted as officially written by an author or an ascribed author * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western canon, th ...

Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...

) and his brother Adolph II also inherited Köthen; both used the title of "Lord of Zerbst" in allusion to the portion of the principality that was under their charge. Without any interest in the government of the principality, Magnus' reign was nominal, but it was only in 1508 that he formally abdicated along with his brother Adolph II. {{DEFAULTSORT:Magnus, Prince of Anhalt-Kothen Princes of Anhalt-Köthen 1455 births 1524 deaths