Anna Sophie of Anhalt (15 June 1584 – 9 June 1652) was by birth a member of the House of Ascania and princess of Anhalt. After her marriage, she became Countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

Anna Sophie of Anhalt
Countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Tenure1613–1652
Born(1584-06-15)15 June 1584
Dessau
Died9 June 1652(1652-06-09) (aged 67)
Oberkranichfeld
SpouseCharles Günther, Count of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
HouseAscania
FatherJoachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt
MotherEleonore of Württemberg

Anna Sophie was born in Dessau, the eighth and youngest daughter of Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt, but fourth-born daughter of his second wife Eleonore, daughter of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg.

Life

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In Rudolstadt on 13 June 1613 she married Charles Günther, Count of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. Their union was childless.[1][better source needed]

Anna Sophie was considered as one of the most educated women of her time. After the death of her husband in 1630 she moved her residence to Kranichfeld and founded there a society that admitted only women, following the example of her brother Louis of Anhalt-Köthen, who was one of the co-founders of the Fruitbearing Society. At the same time, she took the famous educational reformer Wolfgang Ratke under her protection.[citation needed]

Anna Sophie died in Oberkranichfeld.

References

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  1. ^ Marek, Miroslav. "Complete Genealogy of the House of Schwarzburg". Genealogy.EU.[self-published source]