Sigismund III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (1456 –

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 ...

, 27 November 1487), 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 ...

. He was the fourth son of

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 ...

, as third-born child of his fourth wife Anna, daughter of Albert VIII, Count of Lindau-Ruppin.

Life

In 1474 Sigismund succeeded his father in the principality of Anhalt-Dessau, but, by virtue of the family law of the House of Ascania, he had to rule jointly with his older brother Ernest I and his younger brothers George II and Rudolph IV. Sigismund never married or had children; on his death, he was succeeded by his brothers and co-rulers. Princes of Anhalt-Dessau House of Ascania 1456 births 1487 deaths {{Germany-noble-stub