John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Encyclopedia
John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (Dessau
, 7 September 1596 – Dessau, 15 September 1660), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau
.
He was the third (but second surviving) son of John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
, and the first-born child from his second marriage to Dorothea, daughter of John Casimir of Simmern
.
in Geneva
from 1608 to 1609. His tutors there were the "Hofmeisters" Markus Friedrich Wendelin and Peter von Sebottendorf.
The death of his older brother Joachim Ernest in 1615 made him the new heir of Dessau. Two years later, in 1617, his uncle Louis of Anhalt-Köthen
, made him a member of the Fruitbearing Society
.
In 1618, after the death of his father, John Casimir succeeded him in Anhalt-Dessau, but the tasks of government were carried out by a committee of court officials, because the new prince devoted much of his time to hunting.
A hunting accident on 4 October 1652 left him confined to bed for several years. During this time, in order to distract him, the famous poet and writer Philipp von Zesen
was employed in his household.
on 18 May 1623 John Casimir married Agnes (b. Kassel, 13 April 1606 - d. Dessau, 28 May 1650), daughter of Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
. They had six children:
In Dessau
on 14 July 1651 John Casimir married for a second time to his cousin Sophie Margarete (b. Amberg, 16 September 1615 - d. Dessau, 27 December 1673), daughter of Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg. The union was childless.
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:...
, 7 September 1596 – Dessau, 15 September 1660), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of 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...
.
He was the third (but second surviving) son of John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George I of Anhalt-Dessau was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the unified principality of Anhalt...
, and the first-born child from his second marriage to Dorothea, daughter of John Casimir of Simmern
Johann Casimir of Simmern
John Casimir of the Palatinate-Simmern was a German prince and a younger son of Elector Frederick III, Count Palatine of the Rhine. A firm Calvinist, he was a leader of mercenary troops in the religious wars of the time, including the Dutch Revolt...
.
Life
After instruction with local tutors during his early years, John Casimir studied with his cousin Christian II of Anhalt-BernburgChristian II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Christian II of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
from 1608 to 1609. His tutors there were the "Hofmeisters" Markus Friedrich Wendelin and Peter von Sebottendorf.
The death of his older brother Joachim Ernest in 1615 made him the new heir of Dessau. Two years later, in 1617, his uncle Louis of Anhalt-Köthen
Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Louis I of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the unified principality of Anhalt. From 1603, he was ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen...
, made him a member of the Fruitbearing Society
Fruitbearing Society
The Fruitbearing Society was a German literary society founded in 1617 in Weimar by German scholars and nobility to emulate the idea of the Accademia della Crusca in Florence and similar groups already thriving in Italy, to be followed in later years also in France and Britain...
.
In 1618, after the death of his father, John Casimir succeeded him in Anhalt-Dessau, but the tasks of government were carried out by a committee of court officials, because the new prince devoted much of his time to hunting.
A hunting accident on 4 October 1652 left him confined to bed for several years. During this time, in order to distract him, the famous poet and writer Philipp von Zesen
Philipp von Zesen
Philipp von Zesen, also Filip Cösius or Caesius was a German poet, hymnist and writer. Some of his works are published under his pen name Ritterhold von Blauen.-Biography:Von Zesen was born in Priorau near Dessau...
was employed in his household.
Marriages 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 18 May 1623 John Casimir married Agnes (b. Kassel, 13 April 1606 - d. Dessau, 28 May 1650), daughter of Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
-External links:...
. They had six children:
- Maurice, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 7 November 1624 - d. Dessau, 30 December 1624).
- Dorothea (b. Dessau, 24 October 1625 - d. Dessau, 21 July 1626).
- Juliane (b. Dessau, 17 September 1626 - d. Dessau, 30 November 1652).
- John George II, Prince of Anhalt-DessauJohn George II, Prince of Anhalt-DessauJohn George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
(b. Dessau, 7 November 1627 - d. Berlin, 17 August 1693). - LouiseLouise of Anhalt-DessauLouise of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German princess of the House of Ascania in the branch of Anhalt-Dessau and by marriage Duchess of Legnica-Brzeg-Wołów-Oława....
(b. Dessau, 10 February 1631 - d. Oława, 25 April 1680), married on 24 November 1648 to Christian, Duke of Brieg. - Agnes (b. Dessau, 12 March 1644 - d. Dessau, 13 May 1644).
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:...
on 14 July 1651 John Casimir married for a second time to his cousin Sophie Margarete (b. Amberg, 16 September 1615 - d. Dessau, 27 December 1673), daughter of Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg. The union was childless.