Bernhard II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Encyclopedia
Bernhard II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. ca. 1260 - d. aft. 26 December 1323), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg
.
He was the third son of Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
, by his wife Princess Sophie, daughter of King Abel of Denmark
.
without division of their patrimony. John died four years later (1291) and Bernhard became the sole ruler.
In the year 1300 Bernhard adopted the title "Count of Bernburg". His princely title was confirmed the next year.
After the Anhalt-Aschersleben line became extinct in 1315, Bernhard inherited the senior princely title of Ascania as well as the title prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben. However, he could not take actual possession of his cousin Otto
's lands Anhalt-Aschersleben or retain title to this fief, because the territory was lawfully expropriated by the Bishopric of Halberstadt
as payment for the debts of the late Prince Otto. Bernhard agreed to this arrangement in writing in 1316, however his descendants continued to dispute the loss of the principality for centuries. Aschersleben was finally awarded to Brandenburg-Prussia
in the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
In Frankfurt-am-Main on 27 September 1320, Bernhard was created Count palatine
of Saxony
and Count of Brehna
. He died three years later.
Anhalt-Bernburg
Anhalt-Bernburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt...
.
He was the third son of Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
, by his wife Princess Sophie, daughter of King Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark was Duke of Schleswig from 1232 to 1252 and King of Denmark from 1250 until his death in 1252. He was the son of Valdemar II by his second wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to Eric IV and Christopher I....
.
Life
After the death of his father in 1287, Bernhard inherited the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg. In accordance with the family law of the House of Ascania, he was obliged to rule jointly with his older brother John IJohn I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
John I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
without division of their patrimony. John died four years later (1291) and Bernhard became the sole ruler.
In the year 1300 Bernhard adopted the title "Count of Bernburg". His princely title was confirmed the next year.
After the Anhalt-Aschersleben line became extinct in 1315, Bernhard inherited the senior princely title of Ascania as well as the title prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben. However, he could not take actual possession of his cousin Otto
Otto II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben
Otto II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....
's lands Anhalt-Aschersleben or retain title to this fief, because the territory was lawfully expropriated by the Bishopric of Halberstadt
Bishopric of Halberstadt
The Bishopric of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese from 804 until 1648 and an ecclesiastical state of the Holy Roman Empire from the late Middle Ages...
as payment for the debts of the late Prince Otto. Bernhard agreed to this arrangement in writing in 1316, however his descendants continued to dispute the loss of the principality for centuries. Aschersleben was finally awarded to Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia is the historiographic denomination for the Early Modern realm of the Brandenburgian Hohenzollerns between 1618 and 1701. Based in the Electorate of Brandenburg, the main branch of the Hohenzollern intermarried with the branch ruling the Duchy of Prussia, and secured succession...
in the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
In Frankfurt-am-Main on 27 September 1320, Bernhard was created Count palatine
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
and Count of Brehna
Brehna
Brehna is a town and a former municipality in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 July 2009, it is part of the town Sandersdorf-Brehna.It is situated southwest of Bitterfeld. Important in this city is the church...
. He died three years later.
Marriage and issue
In 27 December 1302 Bernhard married Helene (b. 1270 - d. 9 August 1315), daughter of Wizlaw II, Prince of Rügen and widow of John III, Lord of Mecklenburg. They had three sons:- Bernhard III, Prince of Anhalt-BernburgBernhard III, Prince of Anhalt-BernburgBernhard III, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
(d. 20 August 1348). - Henry (d. aft. 19 August 1337), a Dominican monk at HalberstadtHalberstadtHalberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
(1330). - Otto, a Franciscan monk at MagdeburgMagdeburgMagdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
(1323).