This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Bernard VII
Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Reign1551–1570
PredecessorJohn V
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau
Reign1553–1570
PredecessorGeorge III
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Reign1561–1570
PredecessorJoachim I
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Reign1562–1570
PredecessorWolfgang
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Born17 March 1540
Dessau, Germany
Died1 March 1570(1570-03-01) (aged 29)
Dessau, Germany
Spouse
Clara of Gifhorn
​
(m. 1565)​
IssueFranz George
HouseHouse of Ascania
FatherJohn V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
MotherMargaret of Brandenburg

Bernhard VII of Anhalt-Zerbst (17 March 1540 – 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst.

He was born and died in Dessau, and 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.

Life

Bernhard inherited Anhalt-Zerbst when his father died in 1551 along with his older brothers Karl I 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.[1]

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.

Marriage and issue

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:

  1. 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.

References

  1. ^ Swaffham.), George Fisher (of (1832). A Companion and Key to the History of England: Consisting of Copious Genealogical Details of the British Sovereigns ... with an Appendix, Exhibiting a Chronological Epitome of the Successive Holders of the Several Titles of the British, Saxon, and English Nobility ... with ... Their Armorial Bearings ... Simpkin and Marshall.
Preceded byJohn V Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst with Karl I (until 1561) and Joachim Ernest 1551–1570 Succeeded byJoachim Ernest Preceded byGeorge III Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau with Karl I (until 1561) and Joachim Ernest 1553–1570 Preceded byJoachim I Prince of Anhalt-Dessau with Joachim Ernest 1561–1570 Preceded byWolfgang Prince of Anhalt-Köthen with Joachim Ernest 1562–1570
Categories