Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst

Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst Fürstentum Anhalt-Zerbst (German)
1252–1396 1544–1796
18th century arms of Anhalt-Zerbst
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital	Zerbst
Government	Principality
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from Anhalt	1252
• Partitioned into A-Dessau and A-Köthen	1396
• Partitioned from Anhalt-Dessau	1544
• Partitioned1	1603
• Partitioned2	1667
• Annexed by A-Dessau	1796
• Duchy of Anhalt reunited	1863
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Anhalt Anhalt-Dessau Anhalt-Dessau Anhalt-Köthen Anhalt-Dessau
1: In 1603, Anhalt-Zerbst lost territory to Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Plötzkau and Anhalt-Köthen. 2: In 1667, Anhalt-Zerbst lost territory to create Anhalt-Mühlingen and Anhalt-Dornburg.

Coat of arms of Principality according to Siebmachers Wappenbuch, 1857

Anhalt-Zerbst was a principality located in Germany. It was established for the first time in 1252 following the partition of the principality of Anhalt. The capital of the state was located at Zerbst. Anhalt-Zerbst ceased to exist in 1396 when it was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen.

It was recreated in 1544 when Anhalt-Dessau was partitioned. The second incarnation lost a lot of territory in 1603 when it was partitioned for a second time with some of its territory being given to Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Plötzkau and Anhalt-Köthen. Anhalt-Zerbst lost more of its territory in 1667 with Anhalt-Mühlingen and Anhalt-Dornburg being created. In 1796, the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst came to an end with its territory being annexed by Anhalt-Dessau.

Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst

Princes, 1252–1396

• Siegfried I 1252–1298
• Albert I 1298–1316
• Albert II 1316–1362
  • Albert III 1359 (co-regent)
• Waldemar I 1316–1368 (co-regent)
• Johann II 1362–1382
  • Waldemar II 1368–1371 (co-regent)
• Waldemar III 1382–1391 (co-regent)
• Sigismund I 1382–1396 (co-regent)
• Albert IV 1382–1396 (co-regent)

Partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen in 1396.

Princes, 1544–1796

• Johann V 1544–1551
• Karl I 1551–1561
  • Bernhard VII 1551–1570 (co-regent)
  • Joachim Ernest 1551–1586 (co-regent, later sole ruler; he unified all the Anhalt lands); later, his sons divided again Anhalt.
• Rudolph 1603–1621
• Johann VI 1621–1667
  • Augustus of Anhalt-Plötzkau regent 1621–1642
• Karl William 1667–1718
  • Sophie Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp regent 1667–1674
• Johann August 1718–1742
• Johann Ludwig II 1742–1746
  • Christian Augustus 1742–1747 (co-regent)
• Friedrich August 1747–1793
  • Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp regent 1747–1752
• Sophie Auguste Fredericke (Empress Catherine II of Russia) 1793–1796 (only in Jever)

To Anhalt-Dessau 1796.

See also

• Anhalt-Zerbst

References

• Regnal chronology