Sigismund I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (died Coswig, 19 January 1405), 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-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 ...

. He was the eldest 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, Sigismund inherited the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst jointly with his brothers Albert IV and Waldemar III. After the death of Waldemar in 1391, Sigismund and Albert became the sole co-rulers. Five years later, in 1396, both brothers decided to settle upon a formal division of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. Sigismund assumed the title "Lord of Zerbst," but established the town of

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 ...

as his main residence and capital of his newly created principality of Anhalt-Dessau.

Marriage and issue

In 1386, Sigismund married Judith (d. aft. 1411), daughter of Gebhard XI, Count of Querfurt. They had eleven children: #Sophie (d. 1419), married bef. 6 June 1415 to Burkhard IV of Barby, Count of Mühlingen. #Elisabeth (d. aft. 19 November 1413), married bef. 1402 to Albert IV, Count of Mansfeld. #Anna (d. young) #Margareta (d. young) # Waldemar IV, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (d. aft. 22 July 1417). # George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (b. ca. 1390 – d. Dessau, 21 September 1474). # Matilda (b. 1392 – d. 1463), Abbess of

Gernrode Gernrode () is a historic town and former municipality in the Harz (district), Harz District, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2014, it has been part of Quedlinburg.Merseburg Merseburg () is a town in central Germany in southern Saxony-Anhalt, situated on the river Saale, and approximately 14 km south of Halle (Saale) and 30 km west of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese ...

, Provost of Merseburg. #

Sigismund II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Sigismund II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (died aft. 22 May 1452) 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 posse ...

(d. 22 May 1452). # Albert V, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (d. ca. 1469). #Ernest (d. aft. 22 October 1405). , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Sigismund 01, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau 14th-century births 1405 deaths Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst Princes of Anhalt-Dessau Year of birth unknown