Victor Frederick of Anhalt-Bernburg (20 September 1700–18 May 1765), was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

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 ' ...

. He was Reigning prince of the

principality A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...

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 ...

from 1721 to 1765.

Life

Victor Frederick was born on 20 September 1700 in

Bernburg Bernburg (Saale) () is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, capital of the Salzlandkreis district. The former residence of the Anhalt-Bernburg princes is known for its Renaissance castle. Geography The town centre is situated in the fertile Magdeb ...

as the second (but eldest and only surviving) son of

Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg Karl Frederick of Anhalt-Bernburg (13 July 1668 – 22 April 1721) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg. He was born in Bernburg, the eldest son of Victor Amadeus, Prince of Anhalt-Ber ...

, by his first wife Sophie Albertine, daughter of George Frederick, Count of Solms-Sonnenwalde. After the death of his father in 1721, Victor Frederick succeeded him in Anhalt-Bernburg. As a ''Rittmeister'' and Capitan of the Prussian army, he was made a knight of the

Order of the Black Eagle The Order of the Black Eagle () was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I of Prussia, Friedrich I, King in Prussia, the ...

in 1722. Victor Frederick showed a special interest for mining and metallurgy and often visited the mines in the

Harz The Harz (), also called the Harz Mountains, is a highland area in northern Germany. It has the highest elevations for that region, and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The name ''Harz'' der ...

. He died on May 18, 1765 in Bernburg, leaving behind 7 children, including Frederick Albert, who succeeded him. Frederick Albert reigned until 1796.

Marriages and issue

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 ...

on 25 November 1724 Victor Frederick married Princess Louise of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 21 August 1709 - d. Bernburg, 29 July 1732), daughter of

Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (3 July 1676 – 7 April 1747) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1693 to 1747. He was also a ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Prussian Army. Nicknam ...

. They had one daughter: #Sophie Louise (b. Bernburg, 29 June 1732 - d. Schloss Baruth, 6 October 1786), married on 20 May 1753 to Frederick, Count of

Solms-Baruth Solms-Baruth was a Lower Lusatian state country, from 16th century until 1945, ruled by the Baruth branch of the House of Solms. History The House of Solms had its origins at Solms, Hesse, and ruled several of the many minor states of the Holy R ...

Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and largest city of the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the Havel, River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...

on 22 May 1733 Victor Frederick married for a second time to Albertine of Brandenburg-Schwedt (b.

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

, 21 April 1712 - d. Bernburg, 7 September 1750), daughter of

Margrave Albert Frederick of Brandenburg-Schwedt Albert Frederick, Prince of Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (24 January 1672 – 21 June 1731), was a Lieutenant General in the army of the Electorate of Brandenburg-Prussia (later Kingdom of Prussia) and Grand Master of the Order of ...

. They had five children: #

Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg Frederick Albert of Anhalt-Bernburg (15 August 1735 – 9 April 1796), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and reigning prince of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg from 1765 to 1796. Life Frederick Albert was born in Bernburg on 15 ...

(b. Bernburg, 15 August 1735 - d.

Ballenstedt Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Geography It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipal area comprises the vi ...

, 9 April 1796). #Charlotte Wilhelmine (b. Bernburg, 25 August 1737 - d.

Sondershausen Sondershausen () is a town in Thuringia, central Germany, capital of the Kyffhäuserkreis district, situated about 50 km (30 mi) north of Erfurt. On 1 December 2007, the former municipality Schernberg was merged with Sondershausen. Until 1918 i ...

, 26 April 1777), married on 4 February 1760 to

Christian Günther III, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Christian Günther III of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (24 June 1736 – 14 October 1794) was the ruling Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen from 1758 until his death. Some authors call him Prince Christian Günther I, because he was the first ruler ...

. #Marie Karoline (b. Bernburg, 9 June 1739 - d. Bernburg, 11 June 1739). # Fredericka Auguste Sophie (b. Ballenstedt, 28 August 1744 - d. Coswig, 12 April 1827), married on 27 May 1764 to

Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (8 August 1734 in Stettin, Alt Stettin – 3 March 1793 in Luxembourg), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst before the family line went ...

. # Christine Elisabeth Albertine (b. Bernburg, 14 November 1746 - d. Coswig, 18 May 1823), married on 27 April 1762 to Augustus II, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. In

on 13 November 1750 Victor Frederick married

morganatically Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spouse ...

for a third time to Konstanze Fredericka Schmidt, a commoner. She was ennobled and obtain the title of Baroness of Bähr (German: ''Frau von Bähr'') in 1752, shortly before the birth of their only daughter: #Louise Fredericka Wilhelmine of Bähr (b. 4 May 1752 - d. 6 July 1820), married on 12 November 1768 to Otto Henry Louis, Count of Solms-Tecklenburg. {{DEFAULTSORT:Victor Frederick 1700 births 1765 deaths People from Bernburg People from Anhalt-Bernburg House of Ascania Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg Burials at Schlosskirche St. Aegidien (Bernburg)