Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Encyclopedia
Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (died 9 January 1475) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen
.
He was the youngest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
, but the eldest child of his second wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gebhard XI, Count of Querfurt.
and Waldemar V
. After Waldemar's death in 1436, Adolph became the sole ruler of Anhalt-Köthen. Albert had to wait until the succession of the Köthen line was in jeopardy (almost 37 years) before he could assert his right of inheritance.
By 1471, Adolph's three sons had all acted on their intention to become priests; in consequence, they could not produce further heirs. The only two other living agnates of the family were Albert and his infant son. Adolph made a contract with his cousin George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
, by which his oldest son Waldemar VI
was made Adolph's co-ruler ("Mitherr") in half of the principality. But under the terms of the contract, Adolph's half-brother Albert VI would inherit his part of Köthen upon Adolph's death and become the new co-ruler with Waldemar.
Adolph died in 1473 and Albert finally became one of the rulers of the principality with the title of "Lord of Köthen," but his reign lasted only fifteen months. On his death, he was succeeded by his only son Philip
, who co-ruled with his cousins, the sons of Adolph I.
on 27 March 1454 Albert married with Elisabeth (d. Querfurt, 18 September 1482), daughter of Günther II, Count of Mansfeld. They had seven children:
Anhalt-Köthen
Anhalt-Köthen has existed on two separate occasions. The first state was created in 1396 when the Anhalt-Zerbst was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. The first creation lasted until 1552 when it was inherited by Anhalt-Dessau....
.
He was the youngest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst until 1396, when he became the first ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
, but the eldest child of his second wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gebhard XI, Count of Querfurt.
Life
Still a minor when his father died in 1423, Albert was bypassed as heir to Anhalt-Köthen by his older half-brothers, Adolph IAdolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
and Waldemar V
Waldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Waldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen.He was the second son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his first wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gebhard III, Count of Mansfeld.-Life:Under the terms of the family...
. After Waldemar's death in 1436, Adolph became the sole ruler of Anhalt-Köthen. Albert had to wait until the succession of the Köthen line was in jeopardy (almost 37 years) before he could assert his right of inheritance.
By 1471, Adolph's three sons had all acted on their intention to become priests; in consequence, they could not produce further heirs. The only two other living agnates of the family were Albert and his infant son. Adolph made a contract with his cousin George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau....
, by which his oldest son Waldemar VI
Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
was made Adolph's co-ruler ("Mitherr") in half of the principality. But under the terms of the contract, Adolph's half-brother Albert VI would inherit his part of Köthen upon Adolph's death and become the new co-ruler with Waldemar.
Adolph died in 1473 and Albert finally became one of the rulers of the principality with the title of "Lord of Köthen," but his reign lasted only fifteen months. On his death, he was succeeded by his only son Philip
Philip, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Philip, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
, who co-ruled with his cousins, the sons of Adolph I.
Marriage and issue
In AlslebenAlsleben
Alsleben is a town in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, south of Bernburg. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Saale-Wipper....
on 27 March 1454 Albert married with Elisabeth (d. Querfurt, 18 September 1482), daughter of Günther II, Count of Mansfeld. They had seven children:
- Anna (d. young).
- Marie (d. aft. 1495), a nun at GernrodeGernrodeGernrode is a town and a former municipality in Germany, in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt. The town was first mentioned in 961 and became a city in 1539. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Quedlinburg...
, later Canoness. - Magdalena (d. Gandersheim, 2 October 1515), Abbess of GandersheimGandersheim AbbeyGandersheim Abbey is a former house of secular canonesses in the present town of Bad Gandersheim in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was founded in 852 by Duke Liudolf of Saxony, progenitor of the Liudolfing or Ottonian dynasty, whose rich endowments ensured its stability and prosperity.The "Imperial...
(1511). - Margarete (d. young).
- Philip, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenPhilip, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenPhilip, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
(b. 31 May 1468 - d. 13 November 1500). - Dorothea (d. 3 August 1505), married on 28 May 1496 to Joachim, Count of Oettingen-Oettingen-Spielberg-Wallerstein.
- Scholastica (d. 1504), Abbess of Gernrode.