Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Encyclopedia
Bernhard VII of Anhalt-Zerbst (Dessau
, 17 March 1540 – Dessau
, 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
.
He was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
by his wife Margaret
, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.
and Joachim Ernest
according to the stipulations of the family law of the House of Ascania, which mandated no division of the territories of the principality.
Upon the deaths without issue of his uncles George III of Anhalt-Plötzkau
in 1553 and Joachim I of Anhalt-Dessau
in 1561, Bernhard and Joachim Ernest inherited their lands, which were merged into Anhalt-Zerbst (Karl only inherited Plötzkau, because he died before Joachim I). In 1562 Anhalt-Köthen
was also merged into Anhalt-Zerbst after the death without issue of its last prince, Wolfgang
. Bernhard made his residence in Dessau
.
on 28 May 1565 Bernhard married Clara (b. Gifhorn
, 1 January 1550 - d. Franzburg
, 26 January 1598), posthumous daughter of Francis, Duke of Gifhorn. They had only one son:
Bernhard died without surviving male heirs and was succeeded by his brother Joachim Ernest, who became sole ruler of all the Anhalt territories.
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
, 17 March 1540 – Dessau
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
, 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst was a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is bounded by the districts Potsdam-Mittelmark and Wittenberg, the city of Dessau and the districts of Köthen, Schönebeck and Jerichower Land.- History :...
.
He was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
John V of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
by his wife Margaret
Margaret of Brandenburg (1511–1577)
Margaret of Brandenburg was a Princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marrying first a Duchess of Pomerania and later a Princess of Anhalt.- Life :...
, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.
Life
Bernhard inherited Anhalt-Zerbst when his father died in 1551 along with his older brothers Karl IKarl I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Karl I of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst....
and Joachim Ernest
Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt
Joachim Ernest of Anhalt , was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, and from 1570 sole ruler of all the Anhalt lands....
according to the stipulations of the family law of the House of Ascania, which mandated no division of the territories of the principality.
Upon the deaths without issue of his uncles George III of Anhalt-Plötzkau
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
in 1553 and Joachim I of Anhalt-Dessau
Joachim I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Joachim I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
in 1561, Bernhard and Joachim Ernest inherited their lands, which were merged into Anhalt-Zerbst (Karl only inherited Plötzkau, because he died before Joachim I). In 1562 Anhalt-Köthen
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....
was also merged into Anhalt-Zerbst after the death without issue of its last prince, Wolfgang
Wolfgang, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Wolfgang, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen...
. Bernhard made his residence in Dessau
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
.
Marriage and issue
In DessauDessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
on 28 May 1565 Bernhard married Clara (b. Gifhorn
Gifhorn
Gifhorn is a town and capital of the district Gifhorn in the east of Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 42,000 and is mainly influenced by the small distance to the industrial and commercially important cities nearby, Brunswick and Wolfsburg...
, 1 January 1550 - d. Franzburg
Franzburg
Franzburg is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated 20 km southwest of Stralsund...
, 26 January 1598), posthumous daughter of Francis, Duke of Gifhorn. They had only one son:
- Franz George (b. 17 October 1567 - d. Zerbst, 7 September 1568).
Bernhard died without surviving male heirs and was succeeded by his brother Joachim Ernest, who became sole ruler of all the Anhalt territories.