Leopold II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau

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Leopold II Maximilian, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 25 December 1700 - d. Dessau, 16 December 1751), was a German prince member of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau; also he was a Prussian general.

He was the second son of Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, called the "Old Dessauer" (der alte Dessauer) by his morganatic wife Anna Louise Föse, created Imperial Princess of Anhalt in 1701.

[edit] Life

With only nine-years-old, Leopold accompanied his father in his military duties in the Prussian army. In 1715 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in Chief of the Infantry Regiment No 27 of Stendal. In 1733 he led the prussian forces settled in the city of Mühlhausen in Thuringia during the First Silesian War.

The death of his elder brother, the Hereditary Prince William Gustav in 1737, made him the new heir of Dessau. The late prince was already married and had nine children, but the wife was a non-noble lady and for this, the issue of the marriage was barred of the succession. After the death of his father in 1747, he inherited Anhalt-Dessau.

Leopold was one of the best of Frederick II's subordinate generals, and distinguished himself by the capture of Glogau in 1741, and his generalship in the battles of Mollwitz, Chotusitz (where he was made Generalfeldmarschall on the field of battle), Hohenfriedberg, and Soor.

[edit] Marriage and Issue

In Bernburg on 25 May 1737 Leopold married with Gisela Agnes (b. Köthen, 21 September 1722 - d. Dessau, 20 April 1751), daughter of Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen. They had seven children:

1. Leopold III Frederick Franz, Prince and since 1806 Duke of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 10 August 1740 - d. Luisium bei Dessau, 9 August 1817).
2. Louise Agnes Margarete (b. Dessau, 15 August 1742 - d. Dessau, 11 July 1743).
3. Henrietta Katharina Agnes (b. Dessau, 5 June 1744 - d. Dessau, 15 December 1799), married on 26 October 1779 to John Justus, Freiherr von Loën.
4. Marie Leopoldine (b. Dessau, 18 November 1746 - d. Detmold, 15 April 1769), married on 4 August 1765 to Simon August, Prince of Lippe-Detmold.
5. John George (b. Dessau, 28 January 1748 - d. Vienna, 1 April 1811).
6. Casimire (b. Dessau, 19 January 1749 - d. Detmold, 8 November 1778), married on 9 November 1769 to Simon August, Prince of Lippe-Detmold, widow of her sister.
7. Albert Frederick (b. Dessau, 22 April 1750 - d. Dessau, 31 October 1811), married on 25 October 1774 to Henriette of Lippe-Weissenfeld. The union was childless. [He had an illegitimate son by one Anna Luise Franke: Gustav Adolf von Heideck].

Leopold II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau House of Ascania Born: December 25 1700 Died: December 16 1751
Regnal titles
Preceded by Leopold I	Prince of Anhalt-Dessau 1747-1751	Succeeded by Leopold III