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 . It emerged as a subdivision from the Principality of Anhalt from 1252 to 1468 and again from 1603 until the re-unification in 1863.
It was created in 1252, when the Principality of Anhalt was partitioned among the sons of Henry I into Anhalt-Aschersleben , Anhalt-Bernburg and Anhalt-Zerbst . Bernburg was allotted to Henry's second son Bernhard I . When the line of Anhalt-Aschersleben became extinct in 1315, Prince Bernhard II of Anhalt-Bernburg claimed their territory, he could however not prevail against his cousin Albert, Bishop of Halberstadt . After the ruling family became extinct upon the death of Prince Bernhard VI in 1468, Anhalt-Bernburg was inherited by Prince George I of Anhalt-Dessau . With Anhalt-Dessau it was inherited by Prince Joachim Ernest of Anhalt-Zerbst in 1561, who unified all Anhalt lands under his rule in 1570.
Re-united Anhalt was again divided in 1603 among Prince Joachim Ernest's sons into the lines of Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen , Anhalt-Plötzkau , Anhalt-Bernburg and Anhalt-Zerbst . His second son Prince Christian I took his residence at Bernburg. Christian's younger son Frederick established the separate Principality of Anhalt-Harzgerode in 1635, which existed until 1709. Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg inherited Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1665. Upon his death in 1718 his lands were further divided and the Principality of Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym was created for his second son Lebrecht , which was reunited with Anhalt-Bernburg in 1812.
In 1803 Prince Alexius Frederick Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg was elevated to the rank of a duke by Emperor Francis II of Habsburg . His son Duke Alexander Karl however died without issue in 1863, whereafter Anhalt-Bernburg was inherited by Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau , re-uniting all Anhalt lands under his rule.
Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg, 1252–1468 [ edit ]
1252–1287 Bernhard I
1287–1291 John I , son, co-regent with his brother
1323–1348 Bernhard III , son of Bernhard II
1348–1354 Bernhard IV , son
1354–1374 Henry IV , brother
1374–1404 Otto III , brother
1404–1420 Bernhard V , son of Henry IV, co-regent with his cousin
1420–1468 Bernhard VI , brother of Otto IV, left no male heirs
To Anhalt-Dessau
Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg, 1603–1807 [ edit ]
Raised to duchy
Dukes of Anhalt-Bernburg, 1803–1863 [ edit ]
To re-united Anhalt
References [ edit ]
Rank elevated
by Napoleon
Kingdoms
Grand Duchies
Duchies
States created
Kingdoms
Grand Duchies
Principalities
Pre-existing
states
Other duchies
Principalities
1 from 1810
2 until 1810
3 until 1809
4 from 1809
5 until 1811
Empires
Kingdoms
Electorates
Grand Duchies
Duchies
Principalities
City-states
Unrecognized
1 w/o areas listed under other territories
2 Merged with Anhalt from 1863
3 until 1847
4 from 1839
5 from 1826
6 until 1826
7 until 1850
8 1849–60
9 as of 1849
10 until 1837
11 until 1829
12 until 1848/57
13 until 1848
14 as of 1848
15 as of 1829
16 as of 1864