Talk:Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst

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Early time

The initial phrase: "It (the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst) emerged as a subdivision of the Principality of Anhalt from 1252 until 1396, when it was divided into the principalities of Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. Recreated in 1544, Anhalt-Zerbst finally was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen, and Anhalt-Bernburg in 1796 upon the extinction of the line" seems to be incorrect.

Zerbst was initially a property of the ascanian Margraves of Brandenburg who gave it as a fief to the Lords of Barby. This fief was acquired by Albert I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst up until 1307 from the Barbys, still as a Brandenburg fief. So the above cited year 1252 seems to be a mistake. However, it also seems incorrect to name Albert I a "Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst" since his main residence at the time was at Köthen. He, as well as his successors, all resided there. Therefore, the following phrase: "In the course of the partition, Prince Siegfried I, the youngest son of Henry I, received the lands around Köthen, Dessau, and Zerbst" doesn't make much sense either if only Siegfried I's son Albert I acquired Zerbst. From 1396 it was a territory of the principality of Anhalt, as a sovereign state within the Holy Roman Empire, however mostly reigned in personal union with other subdivisions of the latter.

The following generations are all called "Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst", although they all resided in Köthen: Albert II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, Albert III, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, Waldemar I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, John II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, Waldemar II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst. In the German Wikipedia, they are all correctly referred to as princes of Anhalt-Köthen. Only the following generation saw a prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, indeed for the first time: Sigismund I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau who at first reigned as co-regent of Anhalt-Köthen, together with his brothers, until the partition of 1396 made him prince of Dessau and Zerbst. He and the following generations should indeed be called "princes of Anhalt-Dessau and Zerbst". But it doesn't seem to be wrong altogether to call them "princes of Anhalt-Dessau", as they mostly resided there. It was not until 1544 that the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst emerged as a distinct state, when John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, received it in another partition. From 1570 it merged again with other provinces, forming a united principality of Anhalt, under the leadership of Anhalt-Dessau. In 1603 this entity split up again, into Anhalt-Zerbst, Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen, Anhalt-Bernburg and Anhalt-Plötzkau.--Equord 02:42, 17 Aug 2017 (CEST)