Principality (Duchy) of Anhalt-Dessau
Fürstentum (Herzogtum) Anhalt-Dessau  (German)
State of the Holy Roman Empire (to 1806) State of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806–13) State of the German Confederation (from 1815)
←   ← 1396–1561 1603–1863 →   →
19th century flag of Anhalt duchies 19th century arms of Anhalt duchies
Anhalt duchies, 1847–63: Anhalt-Dessau in red Anhalt-Köthen in blue Anhalt-Bernburg in yellow
Capital		Dessau
Government		Principality
Historical era		Middle Ages
-	Partitioned from Anhalt-Zerbst	1396
-	Partitioned to create A-Köthen	1471
-	Partitioned to create A-Plötzkau and A-Zerbst	1544
-	Annexed back to A-Zerbst (later: Anhalt)	1561–1603
-	Raised to duchy	1807
-	Merged with Anhalt-Köthen	1853
-	Duchy of Anhalt reunited	1863
Today part of		Germany

Coat of arms of Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen according to Siebmachers Wappenbuch

Anhalt-Dessau was a principality and later a duchy located in Germany. It was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. The capital of the state was Dessau. Anhalt-Dessau experienced a number of partitions throughout its existence with Anhalt-Köthen being created in 1471. The principality was partitioned for a second time in 1544 with Anhalt-Zerbst and Anhalt-Plötzkau being created. From 1561 until 1603 Anhalt-Dessau was under the rule of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and in 1603 Anhalt-Dessau was recreated, being raised to a duchy in 1807.

Anhalt-Köthen became extinct on the death of the Duke of Anhalt-Kothen, 23 November 1847, its territories were united to Anhalt-Dessau by Patent of 22 May 1853.^[1] Following the death of the last Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg on 19 August 1863, all of the Anhalt lands came under the rule of the Duke of Anhalt-Dessau who then took the new title of Duke of Anhalt for the newly created Duchy of Anhalt.^[1]

Rulers of Anhalt-Dessau[edit]

Princes (1396–1561)[edit]

• Sigismund I 1396–1405
• George I 1405–1474
  • Waldemar IV 1405–1417 (co-regent)
  • Sigismund II 1405–1452 (co-regent)
  • Albert V 1405–1469 (co-regent)
• Ernest I 1474–1516
  • George II 1474–1509 (co-regent)
  • Sigismund III 1474–1487 (co-regent)
  • Rudolph IV 1474–1510 (co-regent)
• Joachim I 1516–1561
  • John V 1516–1544 (co-regent)
  • George III 1516–1544 (co-regent)

To Anhalt-Zerbst 1561.

Princes (1603–1807)[edit]

• John George I 1603–1618
• John Casimir 1618–1660
• John George II 1660–1693
• Leopold I 1693–1747
  • Countess Henriette Catherine of Nassau regent 1693–1697
• Leopold II 1747–1751
• Leopold III 1751–1807
  • Prince Dietrich regent 1751–1758

Raised to Duchy 1807.

Dukes (1807–1863)[edit]

• Leopold III 1807–1817
• Leopold IV 1817–1863

Renamed Duchy of Anhalt 1863.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• Regnal chronology
• Hertslet, Edward (1875), The map of Europe by treaty; showing the various political and territorial changes which have taken place since the general peace of 1814, London: Butterworths 

v t e States of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806–13) Rank elevated by Napoleon Kingdoms Bavaria Saxony Württemberg Grand Duchies Baden Hesse Duchies Nassau States created Kingdoms Westphalia Grand Duchies Berg Frankfurt1 Würzburg Principalities Aschaffenburg2 Leyen Regensburg2 Pre-existing states Saxon duchies Coburg-Saalfeld Gotha-Altenburg Hildburghausen Meiningen Weimar3 Eisenach3 Weimar-Eisenach4 Other duchies Anhalt (Bernburg Dessau Köthen) Arenberg Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Strelitz Oldenburg Principalities Hohenzollern Hechingen Sigmaringen Isenburg-Birstein Liechtenstein Lippe-Detmold Reuss Ebersdorf Greiz Lobenstein Schleiz Salm5 Schaumburg-Lippe Schwarzburg Rudolstadt Sondershausen Waldeck 1 from 1810 2 until 1810 3 until 1809 4 from 1809 5 until 1811

v t e States of the German Confederation (1815–66) Empires Austria1 Kingdoms Prussia1 Bavaria Saxony Hanover Württemberg Electorates Hesse Grand Duchies Baden Hesse Luxembourg Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Strelitz Oldenburg Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Duchies Anhalt Bernburg2 Dessau2 Köthen3 Brunswick Holstein Limburg4 Nassau Saxe-Lauenburg Saxony Altenburg5 Coburg-Saalfeld6 Coburg-Gotha5 Gotha-Altenburg6 Hildburghausen6 Meiningen Principalities Hesse-Homburg Hohenzollern Hechingen7 Sigmaringen7 Liechtenstein Lippe Reuss Elder Junior Schaumburg-Lippe Schwarzburg Rudolstadt Sondershausen Waldeck and Pyrmont City-states Bremen Frankfurt Hamburg Lübeck Unrecognized 1 w/o areas listed under other territories 2 Merged with Anhalt from 1863 3 until 1847 4 from 1839 5 from 1826 6 until 1826 7 until 1850 8 1849–60 9 as of 1849 10 until 1837 11 until 1829 12 until 1848/57 13 until 1848 14 as of 1848 15 as of 1829 16 as of 1864