Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Encyclopedia
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (Alt Stettin, 8 August 1734 – Luxembourg
, 3 March 1793), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
.
He was the second and sole surviving son of Christian Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
(since 1742 of all Anhalt-Zerbst
) by his wife Johanna Elisabeth, daughter of Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
.
He was one of the sovereigns who supported Britain
in the American Revolutionary War
with soldiers. For this, he received a substantial monetary compensation.
In 1776 he granted religious tolerance in his lands.
Due to a quarrel with the Kingdom of Prussia
, he was forced to flee into exile in Basel
and later Luxembourg
, where he died.
on 17 November 1753 Frederick Augustus married firstly with Caroline (b. Kassel 10 May 1732 - d. Zerbst, 22 May 1759), daughter of Prince Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel
and granddaughter of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
. The marriage was childless.
In Ballenstedt
on 27 May 1764 Frederick Augustus married secondly with Fredericka Auguste Sophie
(b. Ballenstedt, 28 August 1744 - d. Coswig, 12 April 1827), daughter of Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
. Like the first marriage, this union was childless.
On his death the line of Anhalt-Zerbst became extinct and the succession to the principality was disputed between the other branches of Anhalt-Bernburg
, Anhalt-Köthen
and Anhalt-Dessau
; finally, in 1796 Anhalt-Zerbst was divided and ceased to exist.
The dominion of Jever
(which was anexed to Zerbst by the marriage of Prince Rudolph with Magdalene of Oldenburg, heiress of that land) was ruled under the Semi-Salic Law; for this, was given to the Empress Catherine II of Russia, born Princess Sophie Auguste Fredericka of Anhalt-Zerbst and Frederick Augustus's only surviving sibling.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, 3 March 1793), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last 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 second and sole surviving son of Christian Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst was a German prince of the House of Ascania. He was a ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg, then, from 1742, a ruler of the entire Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst...
(since 1742 of all 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 :...
) by his wife Johanna Elisabeth, daughter of Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
Prince Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp was Duke of Slesvig-Holstein, prince regent of Eutin, prince-bishop of Lübeck and regent of the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp....
.
Life
Frederick Augustus succeeded his father in Anhalt-Zerbst in 1747, at the age of thirteen. His mother, the Dowager Princess Johanna Elisabeth, acted as regent on his behalf until 1752.He was one of the sovereigns who supported Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
with soldiers. For this, he received a substantial monetary compensation.
In 1776 he granted religious tolerance in his lands.
Due to a quarrel with the Kingdom of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, he was forced to flee into exile in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and later Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, where he died.
Marriages and Succession
In ZerbstZerbst
Zerbst is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.It is not clear when was it founded;...
on 17 November 1753 Frederick Augustus married firstly with Caroline (b. Kassel 10 May 1732 - d. Zerbst, 22 May 1759), daughter of Prince Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel
Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel
Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel was a prince of Hesse-Kassel and a Generalfeldzeugmeister, Generalfeldmarschall and finally Reichsgeneralfeldmarschall in the army of the Holy Roman Empire.-Life:...
and granddaughter of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Karl I was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1670 till his death.Born at Kassel, he was the son of Wilhelm VI of Hesse-Kassel and Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg, daughter of Georg Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg. After the early death of his father, his mother ruled as regent until 1675...
. The marriage was childless.
In Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipality includes the villages of Badeborn and Oppenrode...
on 27 May 1764 Frederick Augustus married secondly with Fredericka Auguste Sophie
Friederike Auguste Sophie of Anhalt-Bernburg
Friederike Auguste Sophie of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a princess consort of Anhalt-Zerbst. She was married to Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and sister-in-law to the Russian Empress Catherine the Great...
(b. Ballenstedt, 28 August 1744 - d. Coswig, 12 April 1827), daughter of Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Victor Frederick of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
. Like the first marriage, this union was childless.
On his death the line of Anhalt-Zerbst became extinct and the succession to the principality was disputed between the other branches of Anhalt-Bernburg
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...
, 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....
and Anhalt-Dessau
Anhalt-Dessau
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...
; finally, in 1796 Anhalt-Zerbst was divided and ceased to exist.
The dominion of Jever
Jever
Jever is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer which is produced here, the city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted city status in 1536. Unofficially Jever is sometimes referred to as...
(which was anexed to Zerbst by the marriage of Prince Rudolph with Magdalene of Oldenburg, heiress of that land) was ruled under the Semi-Salic Law; for this, was given to the Empress Catherine II of Russia, born Princess Sophie Auguste Fredericka of Anhalt-Zerbst and Frederick Augustus's only surviving sibling.