House of Ascania

The House of Ascania (German: Askanier) was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Anhalt.

House of Ascania
Country	Duchy of Saxony (804–1036) Duchy of Saxony (1036–1296) Russian Empire
Founded	1036
Founder	Esiko, Count of Ballenstedt
Current head	Eduard, Prince of Anhalt
Final ruler	Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt
Titles	Count/Prince/Duke of Anhalt Duke of Saxony Margrave of Brandenburg Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg Elector of Saxony Prince of Lüneburg Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias Empress consort of All the Russias
Deposition	1918 (Duchy of Anhalt)

The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as Schloss Askanien in German, which was located near and named after Aschersleben. The castle was the seat of the County of Ascania, a title that was later subsumed into the titles of the princes of Anhalt.

History

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  Ballenstedt Castle

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  First coat of arms of the family

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  Map of Anhalt (1747–1793)

The earliest known member of the house, Esiko, Count of Ballenstedt, first appears in a document of 1036. He is assumed to have been a grandson (through his mother) of Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark. From Odo, the Ascanians inherited large properties in the Saxon Eastern March.

Esiko's grandson was Otto, Count of Ballenstedt, who died in 1123. By Otto's marriage to Eilika, daughter of Magnus, Duke of Saxony, the Ascanians became heirs to half of the property of the House of Billung, former dukes of Saxony.

Otto's son, Albert the Bear, became, with the help of his mother's inheritance, the first Ascanian duke of Saxony in 1139. However, he soon lost control of Saxony to the rival House of Guelph.

Albert inherited the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1157 from its last Wendish ruler, Pribislav, and he became the first Ascanian margrave. Albert, and his descendants of the House of Ascania, then made considerable progress in Christianizing and Germanizing the lands. As a borderland between German and Slavic cultures, the country was known as a march.

In 1237 and 1244, two towns, Cölln and Berlin, were founded during the rule of Otto and Johann, grandsons of Margrave Albert the Bear. Later, they were united into one city, Berlin. The emblem of the House of Ascania, a red eagle and bear, became the heraldic emblems of Berlin. In 1320, the Brandenburg Ascanian line came to an end.

After the Emperor had deposed the Guelph rulers of Saxony in 1180, Ascanians returned to rule the Duchy of Saxony, which had been reduced to its eastern half by the Emperor. However, even in eastern Saxony, the Ascanians could establish control only in limited areas, mostly near the River Elbe.

In the 13th century, the Principality of Anhalt was split off from the Duchy of Saxony. Later, the remaining state was split into Saxe-Lauenburg and Saxe-Wittenberg. The Ascanian dynasties in the two Saxon states became extinct in 1689 and in 1422, respectively, but Ascanians continued to rule in the smaller state of Anhalt and its various subdivisions until the monarchy was abolished in 1918.

Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, was a member of the House of Ascania, herself the daughter of Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst.

Rulers of the House of Ascania

House of Ascania

Partitions of the House of Ascania

County of Weimar-Orlamunde (1113–1247)

County of Ballenstedt (1030–1170)

Duchy of Saxony (1180–1296)

Margraviate of Brandenburg (1157-1266/67)

County of Anhalt (1123–1212) Raised to: Principality of Anhalt (1212–1252)

Weimar (1247–1372)

Orlamunde (from 1354 in Schauenforst) (1247–1420)

Zerbst (1st creation) (1252–1396)

Bernburg (1st creation) (1252–1468)

Aschersleben (1252–1315)

Stendal (1266–1318) Split in: Krossen (1266–1308) Neumark (1266–1318)

Salzwedel (1267–1317)

Stargard (1267–1316)

Plassenburg (1285–1340)

Lauenstein (1285–1460)

Wittenberg (1296–1356) Raised to: Electorate of Saxe-Wittenberg (1356–1422)

Lauenburg (1296–1303)

Mölln (1303–1401)

Ratzeburg (1303–15)

Margraviate of Brandenburg (Neumark then Stendal lines) (1318–20)

Annexed to the Duchy of Mecklenburg

Bergdorf (1303–15) Renamed as Ratzeburg (1315–1401)

Annexed to the House of Wittelsbach

Annexed to Bishopric of Halberstadt

Annexed to the House of Wettin

Lauenburg (Ratzeburg line) (1401–1689)

Köthen (1st creation) (1396–1562)

Annexed to the House of Wettin

Dessau (1st creation) (1396–1561)

Zerbst (2nd creation) (1544–62)

Plotzkau (1st creation) (1544–53)

Principality of Anhalt (Zerbst line) (1562–1603)

Köthen (2nd creation) (1603–1847)

Plotzkau (2nd creation) (1603–65)

Dessau (2nd creation) (1603–1863)

Zerbst (3rd creation) (1603–1793)

Bernburg (2nd creation) (1603–1863)

Annexed to the House of Welf

Duchy of Anhalt (Dessau line) (1863–1918)

Table of rulers

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Adalbert I		c.970	c.1000–1036	1036	County of Ballenstedt	Hidda four children	Founder of the family.
Esico		c.1000	1036–1060	1060	County of Ballenstedt	Matilda of Swabia 1026 three children
Adalbert II		c.1030	1060–1080	c.1080	County of Ballenstedt	Adelaide of Weimar-Orlamünde c.1070 two children
Otto I the Rich		c.1070	1080–1123	9 February 1123	County of Ballenstedt	Eilika of Saxony c.1095 two children	Children of Adalbert II, divided their rule.
Siegfried I		c.1075	1080–1113	9 March 1113	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Gertrude of Northeim 1026 three children
Regencies of Gertrude of Northeim (1113–1115) and Otto I, Count of Salm (1115–1121)							Left no descendants. The county went to his brother.
Siegfried II		1107	1113–1124	19 March 1124	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Irmgard of Henneberg no children
Albert I the Bear		c.1100	1123–1170	18 November 1170	County of Ballenstedt	Sophie of Winzenburg 1124 thirteen children	Besides count of Ballenstedt, he was also the first Margrave of Brandenburg (1157). Ruler of the Northern March from 1134, and the county of Weimar-Orlamünde since 1140.
			1157–1170		Margraviate of Brandenburg
William		1112	1124–1140	13 February 1140	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Adelaide no children	Left no descendants. The county went to his cousin, Albert the Bear, from Ballenstedt.
Bernard I		c.1134	1170–1212	2 February 1212	Anhalt	Brigitte of Denmark six children Sophia of Thuringia one child Judith of Poland c.1173 no children	Children of Albert the Bear, divided their rule. Bernard was also Count of Ballenstedt and Duke of Saxony
Otto I		1128	1170–1184	8 July 1184	Margraviate of Brandenburg	Judith of Poland 1148 two children Ada of Holland 1175 one child
Herman I		1130	1170–1176	19 October 1176	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Irmgard two children
Siegfried III		1155	1176–1206	1206	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Sophia of Denmark (1159–1208) c.1180 three children
Otto II the Generous		c.1150	1184–1205	4 July 1205	Margraviate of Brandenburg	Unmarried	Left no descendants, and the Margraviate went to his brother.
Albert II		1177	1205–1220	25 February 1220	Margraviate of Brandenburg	Matilda of Lusatia (1185–1225) 1205 four children	Brother of the previous.
Albert II		1182	1206–1245	22 October 1245	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Unmarried	Children of Siegfried III, ruled jointly.
Herman II		1184	1206–1247	27 December 1247	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Beatrix of Andechs-Merania c.1230 six children
Otto II		c.1185	1206–1211	1211	County of Weimar-Orlamünde	Unmarried
Henry I		1170	1212–1252	1252	Anhalt	Irmgard of Thuringia 1211 eleven children	Children of Bernard, divided their rule. In 1218 Henry becomes Prince of Anhalt, which after his death is divided by his sons.
Albert I		c.1175	1212–1260	7 October 1260	Saxony	Agnes of Austria 1222 five children Agnes of Thuringia 1238 three children Helene of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1247 five children
Regencies of Henry I, Count of Anhalt (1220–25), Albert I, Archbishop of Magdeburg (1220–21), Matilda of Lusatia (1221–25)							Children of Albert II, ruled jointly, but their children divided the margraviate.
John I		1213	1220–1266	4 April 1266	Margraviate of Brandenburg	Sophie of Denmark (1217–1247) 1230 six children Brigitte Jutta of Saxony (d. 4 April 1266) 1230 six children
Otto III the Pious		1215	1220–1267	9 October 1267	Margraviate of Brandenburg	Beatrice of Bohemia 1243 six children
Otto III the Magnificent		1236	1247–1285	13 May 1285	County of Weimar	Agnes of Leiningen (c. 1230/40-13 May 1285) 1266 four children	Children of Herman II, Herman III and Otto III, divided the county: Otto III, with Albert III, received Weimar; Herman II received Orlamunde; Their sister Sophia received a seat at Regnitzland.
Albert III		c.1240	1247–1283	1283	County of Weimar	Unmarried
Herman III the Popular		c.1240	1247–1283	1283	County of Orlamünde	Beatrix of Andechs-Merania c.1230 six children
Sophia		c.1190?	1247–1270	1270	County of Weimar-Orlamünde (at Regnitzland)	Henry VIII, Lord of Weida 19 July 1258 three children
Henry II the Fat		1215	1252–1266	12 June 1266	Anhalt-Aschersleben	Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1245 two children	Children of Henry I, divided their rule.
Bernard I		1218	1252–1287	1287	Anhalt-Bernburg	Sophia of Denmark 3 February 1258 Hamburg six children
Siegfried I		1230	1252–1298	25 March 1298	Anhalt-Zerbst	Catherine of Sweden 17 October 1259 ten children
Albert II		1250	1260–1296	25 August 1298	Saxony	Agnes of Austria 1282 six children	Ruled jointly; and associated his nephews to the joint rulership after his brothers death. However, these three nephews divided the land with him. Albert II retained Saxe-Wittenberg, and became the head of the Elder Saxon Line; Albert III, Eric I and John II ruled together in Saxe-Lauenburg, becoming the founders of the Younger Saxon Line.
			1296–1298		Saxe-Wittenberg
John I		1249	1260–1282	30 July 1285	Saxony	Ingeborg Birgersdotter of Sweden 1270 eight children
In 1296 Albert II and his nephews Albert III, Eric I, and John II ended their joint rule and divided Saxony into the Lauenburg line, where Albert III, Eric I, and John II continued to rule jointly until 1303, and the Wittenberg line, where Albert II continued as sole ruler until 1298. Since the Duke of Saxony was considered one of the prince-electors electing a new Holy Roman Emperor, conflict arose between the lines of Lauenburg and Wittenberg over the issue of who should cast Saxony's vote. In 1314 both lines found themselves on different sides in a double election. Eventually, the Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg succeeded in 1356 after the promulgation of the Golden Bull. To distinguish him from other rulers bearing the title Duke of Saxony, he was commonly called Elector of Saxony.
Regency of Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1266–1270)							Children of Henry II, ruled jointly, first under their mother, who was elected Abbess of Gernrode in 1275. In 1283, Henry renounced his rights in Otto's favor.
Otto I		c.1245	1266–1304	25 June 1304	Anhalt-Aschersleben	Hedwig of Wrocław 1283 three children
Henry III		c.1245	1266–1283	12 June 1266	Anhalt-Aschersleben	Unmarried
John II		1237	1267–1281	10 September 1281	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Krossen)	Hedwig of Werle (1243–1287) c.1260 two children	Children of John I. Despite co-rulership between them, they received different parts in the Margraviate to rule (alone or in co-rulership): John II received seat at Krossen; Otto IV received seat at Stendal; Conrad received seat at Neumark, and associated his eldest son in 1286 (who predeceased him).
Otto IV of the Arrow		1238	1267–1308	27 November 1308	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Stendal)	Heilwig of Holstein-Kiel (d.1305) 1279 no children Judith of Henneberg (d.1315) 1308 no children
Conrad I		1240	1267–1304	1304	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Neumark)	Constance of Greater Poland 1260 Santok three children
Otto VII		c.1260	1286–1297	1297	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Neumark)	Unmarried
John III of Prague		1213	1267–1268	4 April 1266	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Salzwedel)	Unmarried	Children of Otto III. Despite co-rulership between them, they received different parts in the Margraviate to rule (alone or in co-rulership): John III (and then Otto V with Otto VI) received the seat at Salzwedel, from which Otto VI abdicated in 1286; Albert III received a seat in Stargard (which he ruled alone at least from 1284.
Otto V the Tall		1246	1267–1298	1298	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Salzwedel)	Judith of Henneberg-Coburg (1252–1327) 22 October 1268 four children
Otto VI the Short		3/17 November 1264	1267–1286	6 July 1303	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Salzwedel)	Hedwig of Habsburg February 1279 Vienna no children
Albert III		c.1250	1267–1300	Between 19 Sept. and 4 Dec. 1300	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Stargard)	Matilda of Denmark(d.1300) 1268 four children
Conrad II		1261	1281–1308	1308	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Krossen)	Unmarried	With his childless death his land reverted to Stendal.
Henry I		c. 1270	1283–1354	26 March 1354	County of Orlamünde	Irmgard of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg (d.26 March 1354) 26 July 1313 two children	Children of Herman III, ruled jointly.
Herman V		c. 1270	1283–1312	1312	County of Orlamünde	Unmarried
Elisabeth (I) the Elder		1265	1283–1333	1333	County of Orlamünde (at Nordhalben)	Hartmann XI, Count of Lobdeburg-Arnshaugk one child Albert II, Margrave of Meissen 1 October 1290 no children
Herman IV		c. 1270	1285–1319	13 May 1285	County of Weimar (at Weimar)	Matilda of Rabenswalde (d.1339) 24 November 1290 four children	Children of Otto III, divided their rule.
Otto IV the Younger		1279	1285–1318	13 May 1285	County of Weimar (at Plassenburg)	Adelaide of Kafernburg (d.c.1305) 14 December 1296 one child Catherine of Hesse (1286–1322) 1308 one child
Bernard II		1260	1287–1323	After 26 December 1323	Anhalt-Bernburg	Helena of Rügen 27 December 1302 three children	Ruled jointly. After the death of John, Bernard ruled alone.
John I		1258/60	1287–1291	5 June 1291	Anhalt-Bernburg	Unmarried
John II		1275	1296–1303	22 April 1322	Saxe-Lauenburg	Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg 1315 one child	Children of John I, co-ruled first with their uncle Albert II since 1282 (since the death of their father), and in 1296 split the land with him. They retained Lauenburg, which they divided once more. Albert passed the land to his widow, and after her death, in 1315, the territory was realigned: Eric divided Bergdorf with his surviving brother and held all of his brother Albert's inheritance. However, he ended up abdicating to his son, and survived for most of his reign.
			1303–1322		Saxe-Mölln
Eric I		1280	1296–1303	1360	Saxe-Lauenburg	Elisabeth of Pomerania 1316 or 1318 four children
			1303–1338		Saxe-Bergedorf (1303–15) Saxe-Ratzeburg (1315–38)
Albert III		1281	1296–1303	1308	Saxe-Lauenburg	Margaret of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 1302 two children
			1303–1308		Saxe-Ratzeburg
Margaret of Brandenburg-Salzwedel		1270	1308–1315	1 May 1315	Saxe-Ratzeburg	Przemysł II, King of Poland 1302 two children Albert III 1302 two children
In 1315, after the death of Margaret of Brandenburg, the remaining brothers Eric and John redesigned the political division in Saxe-Lauenburg; Eric retained all of Margaret's part, but had to give part of his original domains to his brother.
Rudolph I (Rudolf I)		1284	1298–1356 10 January 1356 – 12 March 1356	12 March 1356	Saxe-Wittenberg Electorate of Saxony	Jutta of Brandenburg 1298 eight children Kunigunde of Poland 28 August 1328 one child Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin 1333 three children	In January 1356 the Golden Bull confirmed Rudolf I as the legitimate Saxon Prince-Elector, thus the rulers of Saxe-Wittenberg are conceived as Electors of Saxony.
The Golden Bull of 1356 confirmed the right to participate in the election of a Holy Roman Emperor to the Duke of Saxony in the Saxe-Wittenberg line.
Albert I		c.1260	1298–1316	17 August 1316	Anhalt-Zerbst	Liutgard of Holstein-Itzehoe after 1277 two children Agnes of Brandenburg-Stendal 1300 five children
Herman the Tall		1275	1298–1308	1 February 1308	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Salzwedel)	Anne of Austria 1295 Graz four children	Children of Otto V, divided the land. Beatrice's part was then annexed to the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor.
Beatrice (I)		1270	1298–1316	1316	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Upper Lusatia)	Bolko I, Duke of Świdnica 4 October 1284 Berlin ten children Władysław, Duke of Bytom 21 September 1308 two children
Beatrice (II)		c. 1270	1300–1314	22 September 1314	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Stargard)	Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg 1292 Stargard Castle four children	Daughter and heiress of Albert III. Her marriage transferred the Stargard region into the Duchy of Mecklenburg.
John IV		1261	1304–1305	1305	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Neumark)	Unmarried	Co-ruler of his father since 1291. His childless death reverted his lands to Stendal.
Otto II		c.1260	1304–1315	24 July 1315	Anhalt-Aschersleben	Elisabeth of Meissen 24 August 1309 two children	After his death in 1315 without male heirs, the Principality was annexed by the Bishopric of Halberstadt.
Definitively annexed by the Bishopric of Halberstadt
Henry I Lackland		21 March 1256	1308–1318	14 February 1318	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Delitzsch since 1297; at Stendal since 1308)	Agnes of Bavaria 1303 three children	Younger brother of John II, Otto IV and Conrad I. Started his co-rulership in 1297, receiving seat at Delitzsch; he ended up as successor of his childless elder brother Otto IV.
Regency of Waldemar, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal (1308–1316)							Children of Herman, divided the land: John V received the core of Salzwedel; Matilda received a seat at Lower Lusatia; Agnes received a seat at Altmark; Jutta received a seat at Coburg. John's childless death left the main core of Salzwedel to be reunited by his regent Valdemar. The remaining possessions were annexed by the respective marriages.
John V the Illustrious		1302	1308–1317	26 March 1317	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Salzwedel)	Unmarried
Matilda		1296	1308–1329	31 March 1329	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Lower Lusatia)	Henry IV, Duke of Żagań 5 January 1310 four children
Agnes		1297	1308–1334	27 November 1334	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Altmark)	Waldemar, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal 1309 no children Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1319 no children
Judith		1301	1308–1353	1353	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Coburg)	Henry IX, Count of Henneberg-Schleusingen 1 January 1317 or 1 February 1319 five children
Albert II		after 1277	1316–1362	17 July 1362	Anhalt-Zerbst	Agnes of Rügen 2 September 1324 no children Beatrix of Saxe-Wittenberg c.1337 five children	Albert III and Valdemar I ruled jointly, as sons of Albert II. In 1359 Albert III associated his eldest son, Albert IV, but he predeceased him. In 1362, after Albert III's death, is brother Valdemar continued the co-ruling with his nephew John II. Valdemar II, Valdemar I's son, joined John II after his father's death.
Valdemar I		after 1277	1316–1368	7 January 1368	Anhalt-Zerbst	Elisabeth of Saxe-Wittenberg 22 June 1344 six children Beatrice d'Este 1365 no children
Albert III		c.1337	1359	1 August 1359	Anhalt-Zerbst	Unmarried
John II		after 1337	1362–1382	11 April 1382	Anhalt-Zerbst	Elisabeth of Henneberg-Schleusingen 1366 four children
Valdemar II		c.1337	1368–1371	before 24 August 1371	Anhalt-Zerbst	Unmarried
Otto VI		1297	1318–1340	28 July 1340	County of Weimar (at Plassenburg)	Kunigunde of Leuchtenberg 1321 no children	Left no descendants. After his death his possessions were annexed by the House of Wettin.
Definitively annexed to the House of Wettin
Waldemar the Great		1280	1305–1318	14 August 1319	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Neumark)	Agnes of Brandenburg-Salzwedel (1297-27 November 1334) 1309 no children	Son of Conrad, co-ruled with his uncles since 1308. Left no descendants, and the margraviate went to his underage cousin.
			1318–1319		Margraviate of Brandenburg
Otto V		c.1290	1319–1335	12 March 1335	County of Weimar (at Lauenstein)	Helena of Nuremberg (1307–14 November 1378) 1321 three children	Children of Herman IV, divided their rule.
Frederick I the Elder		c.1290	1319–1365	25 July 1365	County of Weimar (at Weimar)	Elisabeth of Meissen (d. 2 May 1347) 1322 three children
Regency of Wartislaw IV, Duke of Pomerania (1319–1320)							Son of Henry I. Died as a minor. After the extinction of the Ascanian dynasty in 1320, Brandenburg came under the control of the Emperor Louis IV of the House of Wittelsbach, who granted Brandenburg to his eldest son, Louis V of Bavaria.
Henry II the Child		1302	1319–1320	26 March 1317	Margraviate of Brandenburg	Unmarried
Sophia		1300	1320–1356	1356	Margraviate of Brandenburg (at Landsberg)	Magnus I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1327 eight children	After her death, the Margraviate of Landsberg was annexed to the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Brandenburg definitively annexed to the House of Wittelsbach; Landsberg definitely annexed to the House of Welf
Regency of Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg (1322–1330)
Albert IV		1315	1322–1343	1343	Saxe-Mölln	Beata of Schwerin 1334 three child Sophia of Mecklenburg-Werle-Güstrow 1341 no children
Bernard III		1300	1323–1348	20 August 1348	Anhalt-Bernburg	Agnes of Saxe-Wittenberg 1328 five children Matilda of Anhalt-Zerbst 1339 no children Matilda of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1343 two children
Frederick II		c.1321	1335–1368	14 October 1368	County of Weimar (at Lauenstein))	Sophia of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg (d.1392) 18 November 1357 two children
Eric II		1318/20	1338–1368	1368	Saxe-Ratzeburg	Agnes of Holstein-Plön between 1342 and 1349 four children
John III		c.1330	1343–1356	1356	Saxe-Mölln	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother, Albert.
Bernard IV		Before 1339	1348–1354	28 June 1354	Anhalt-Bernburg	Unmarried
Henry IV		Before 1339	1354–1374	7 July 1374	Anhalt-Bernburg	Sophia of Stolberg before 1348 three children	Bypassed by his older brother Bernard IV as ruler of Anhalt-Bernburg, he only assumed rule of the principality when Bernhard died in 1354.
Frederick III		c.1320	1354–1379	1379/80	County of Orlamünde (at Schauenforst)	Unknown two children	Children of Henry I, ruled jointly. In 1354, Orlamunde was annexed to the House of Wettin, and the family changed seat to Schauenforst, while Frederick's brother Henry II ruled from Droyssig.
Henry II		c.1320	1354–1357	1357	County of Orlamünde (at Droyssig)	Richeza of Henneberg (d.1379) six children
Albert V		c.1330	1356–1370	1370	Saxe-Mölln	Catherine of Mecklenburg-Werle-Güstrow 25 January 1366 no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother, Eric.
Rudolph II the Blind (Rudolf II. der Blinde)		1307	12 March 1356 – 6 December 1370	6 December 1370	Saxe-Wittenberg and Electorate of Saxony	Elisabeth of Hesse Before 8 May 1336 one child	Left no descendants.
Herman VI		c.1290	1365–1372	1372	County of Weimar (at Weimar)	Catherine of Anhalt (d. 15 April 1369) 1328 two children	Ruled jointly. Herman was Otto V and Frederick I's brother, and Frederick IV was Frederick I's son. After Herman's death Weimar was annexed to the House of Wettin.
Frederick IV the Younger		c.1325	1365–1372	1381	County of Weimar (at Weimar)	Irmgard no children
Definitively annexed to the House of Wettin
Otto VII		c.1360	1367–1405	1405	County of Weimar (at Lauenstein))	Liutgard of Gera (d.c.1410) c.1390 six children
Wenceslaus I		1337	6 December 1370 – 15 May 1388	15 May 1388	Saxe-Wittenberg and Electorate of Saxony	Cecilia da Carrara 23 January 1376 six children	Brother of his predecessor.
Eric III		c.1330	1370–1401	1401	Saxe-Mölln	Unmarried	Determined to enter to clergy, has to resign to succeed his brothers. He also left no descendants, which allowed the Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg line to reunite Saxe-Lauenburg.
Otto III		Before 1348	1374–1404	27 February 1404	Anhalt-Bernburg	Unknown two children Lutrudis before 1391 one child	Bypassed his nephew Bernard.
Frederick V		c.1360?	1379–1405	c.1405	County of Orlamünde (at Droyssig)	Catherine of Gleichen (d.28 June 1411) c.1380? two children	Son of Frederick III. Changed seat once more to Droyssig.
Sigismund I		After 1366	1382–1405	19 January 1405	Anhalt-Dessau (in Zerbst until 1396)	Judith of Querfurt 1386 eleven children	Sons of John II. Ruled jointly. In 1396 divided the land. Sigismund received Anhalt-Dessau and Albert Anhalt-Köthen.
Albert IV		After 1366	1382–1423	24 November 1423	Anhalt-Köthen (in Zerbst until 1396)	Elisabeth of Mansfeld I before 1398 six children Elisabeth of Querfurt before 4 January 1419 three children
Valdemar III		After 1366	1382–1391	1391	Anhalt-Zerbst	Unmarried
Rudolph III		1378	15 May 1388 – 11 June 1419	11 June 1419	Saxe-Wittenberg and Electorate of Saxony	Anna of Meissen 1387/89 three children Barbara of Legnica March 1396 two children	Left no male descendants. he was succeeded by his brother, Albert.
In 1401 Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg inherited Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln from the Ascanian Elder Lauenburg line there extinct upon Eric IV's death. The reunited duchy continued under the old name of Saxe-Lauenburg.
Eric IV		1354	1368–1401	21 June 1411/12	Saxe-Ratzeburg	Sophia of Brunswick-Lüneburg 8 April 1373 ten children	In 1401 reunited Saxe-Lauenburg.
			1401–1411/12		Saxe-Lauenburg
Bernard V		Before 1374	1404–1420	24 June 1420	Anhalt-Bernburg	Elisabeth of Hohnstein-Kelbra 8 September 1396 one child	Succeeded in reaching the pwer jointly with his eldest cousin, Otto. As he left no male heirs, the land was inherited by his other cousin, Bernard.
Otto IV		Before 1391	1404–1415	7 July 1374	Anhalt-Bernburg	Unmarried	Ruled jointly with his cousin. Left no descendants.
George I the Elder		1390	1405–1474	21 September 1474	Anhalt-Dessau	Matilda of Anhalt-Bernburg I after 1413 no children Euphemia of Oleśnica 1432 six children Sophia of Hohnstein after 1442 three children Anna of Lindow-Ruppin 7 September 1453 nine children	Sons of Sigismund I, ruled jointly. In 1468 inherited Anhalt-Bernburg.
Albert V		After 1390	1405–1469	1469	Anhalt-Dessau	Sophie of Hadmersleben no children
Valdemar IV		c.1386	1405–1417	After 22 July 1417	Anhalt-Dessau	Unmarried
Sigismund II		After 1390	1405–1452	After 22 May 1452	Anhalt-Dessau	Matilda of Anhalt-Bernburg II no children
William		c.1395	1405–1460	3 March 1460	County of Weimar (at Lauenstein))	Catherine of Blankenhain 1427 two children	Children of Otto VII, divided their rule, which was progressively annexed to the House of Wettin. Elisabeth's seat went to the House of Reuss.
Elisabeth (II)		c.1395	1405–1450	c.1450	County of Weimar (at Lauenstein))	Henry XVII of Schwarzburg (d.1439) no children
Otto VIII		c.1395	1405–1460	1460	County of Weimar (at Grafenthal)	Agnes of Beichlingen (d. 2 May 1347) 1322 three children
Sigismund		c.1395	1405–1447	2 July 1447	County of Weimar (at Lichtenberg)	Unmarried
Definitively annexed to the House of Wettin
Henry III		c.1390?	1405–1423	1423	County of Orlamünde (at Droyssig)	Unmarried	Children of Frederick V, ruled jointly. After their childless deaths their possessions were annexed by the House of Wettin.
Martin		c.1390?	1405	1405	County of Orlamünde (at Droyssig)	Unmarried
Definitively annexed to the House of Wettin
Eric V		after 1373	1411/12–1436	1436	Saxe-Lauenburg	Elisabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg 1404 no children Elisabeth of Weinsberg before 1422 one child	Ruled jointly. The numberings here lead to some confusion, as not all genealogists of the House of Ascania count John IV in the list of Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg, numbering John V (John IV's nephew) as John IV.
John IV		after 1373	1411/12–1414	1414	Saxe-Lauenburg	Unmarried
Albert IV		1375/80	11 June 1419 – (before 12 November) 1422	before 12 November 1422	Saxe-Wittenberg and Electorate of Saxony	Euphemia of Oleśnica 14 January 1420 no children	Left no male descendants, which led the Ascanian Saxe-Wittenberg line to extinction.
The Ascanian Dynasty continued in Saxe-Lauenburg until 1689, but after the Lauenburgish line had finally lost the Saxon Electorate to the Wittenberg line in 1356 and failed to obtain the succession in the Electorate after 1422, recognition of the Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg as Dukes of Saxony waned. To follow the remnant House of Ascania in Saxe-Lauenburg, follow this table. For the following Electors of Saxony, see below the House of Wettin.
Bernard VI		Before 1391	1420–1468	2 February 1468	Anhalt-Bernburg	Matilda of Querfurt-Burgscheidungen 21 October 1419 two children Hedwig of Żagań 11 March 1434 no children	His children predeceased him, which left him no heirs at his death in 1468. Bernburg was inherited by Anhalt-Dessau line.
Anhalt-Bernburg was annexed to Anhalt-Dessau
Adolph I		After 1398?	1423–1473	28 August 1473	Anhalt-Köthen	Cordula of Lindow-Ruppin 2 November 1442 Ruppin seven children	Ruled jointly. Adolph ruled with his brother Valdemar V until 1436 and then with Valdemar's son John. In 1471, Adolph concluded a succession contract with George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, which would put his youngest son in Köthen's throne, as Valdemar VI.
Valdemar V		After 1398?	1423–1436	28 August 1473	Anhalt-Köthen	Sophie of Hadmersleben 1420 no children
John III			1436–1463	1463	Anhalt-Köthen	Unmarried
Bernard IV		1385/93	1436–1463	16 July 1463	Saxe-Lauenburg	Adelaide of Pomerania-Stolp 1428 two children
John V		18 July 1439	1463–1507	15 August 1507	Saxe-Lauenburg	Dorothea of Brandenburg 12 February 1464 twelve children	Sometimes numbered John IV. He is sometimes confused with his uncle, John IV (Eric V and Bernard IV's brother) and a son of his own (John IV, Bishop of Hildesheim).
Valdemar VI		1450	1473–1508	1 November 1508	Anhalt-Köthen	Margaret of Schwarzburg 24 January 1485 Köthen four children	After the contract established with Dessau, this line of princes dominated in Köthen. After the death of Adolph in 1473, George I of Dessau's sons, Valdemar VI and Albert VI, ascended to the principality. After Albert's death, Valdemar co-ruled with his nephews. In 1508, all his co-rulers abdicated to Valdemar VI's son, Wolfgang.
Albert VI		After 1419?	1473–1475	9 January 1475	Anhalt-Köthen	Elisabeth of Mansfeld II 27 March 1454 Alsleben seven children
Philip		31 May 1468	1475–1500	13 November 1500	Anhalt-Köthen	Unmarried
Magnus		1455	1475–1508	29 October 1524	Anhalt-Köthen	Unmarried
Adolph II		16 October 1458		24 March 1526	Anhalt-Köthen	Unmarried
Ernest I		1454	1474–1516	12 June 1516	Anhalt-Dessau	Margaret of Münsterberg 20 January 1494 Cottbus four children	Sons of George I, ruled jointly.
George II the Strong		1454	1474–1509	25 April 1509	Anhalt-Dessau	Agnes of Pomerania-Barth 1478 no children
Sigismund III		1456	1474–1487	27 November 1487	Anhalt-Dessau	Unmarried
Rudolph I the Valiant		1466	1474–1510	7 September 1510	Anhalt-Dessau	Unmarried
Magnus I		1 January 1470	1507–1543	1 August 1543	Saxe-Lauenburg	Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 20 November 1509 Wolfenbüttel six children
Wolfgang the Confessor		1 August 1492	1508–1562	23 March 1566	Anhalt-Köthen	Unmarried	Sole ruler of Köthen. After his abdication without descendants, the Principality was incorporated in the recreated Anhalt-Zerbst.
Regency of Margaret of Münsterberg (1516–1524)							Children of Ernest I, ruled jointly, firstly under their mother. In 1544, the brothers divided the land. Joachim mainteined Dessau to himself; John took Zerbst and refounded Anhalt-Zerbst; George took Plotzkau. After George and Joachim's deaths without descendants, their lands were inherited by their nephews, sons of John III.
Joachim I		7 August 1509	1516–1561	6 December 1561	Anhalt-Dessau	Unmarried
John IV		4 September 1504	1516–1551	4 February 1551	Anhalt-Zerbst (in Dessau until 1544)	Margaret of Brandenburg 15 February 1534 Dessau six children
George III the God-Blessed		15 August 1507	1516–1553	17 October 1553	Anhalt-Plotzkau (in Dessau until 1544)	Unmarried
Francis I		1510	1543–1571	19 March 1581	Saxe-Lauenburg	Sibylle of Saxony 8 February 1540 Dresden nine children	In 1571 – highly indebted – Francis I resigned in favour of his eldest son Magnus II, who had promised to redeem the pawned ducal demesnes with funds he gained as Swedish military commander and by his marriage to a Swedish princess.
Charles I		17 November 1534	1551–1561	4 May 1561	Anhalt-Zerbst	Anna of Pomerania 16 May 1557 Zerbst no children	Sons of John IV. In 1553 inherited Plotzkau from their uncle George III. In 1561 inherited Dessau and Bernburg from their uncle Joachim. In the next year inherited Kothen. From 1570 Joachim Ernest was the sole owner of all Anhalt.
Joachim Ernest		21 October 1536	1551–1562	6 December 1586	Anhalt-Zerbst	Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen 3 March 1560 Barby six children Eleonore of Württemberg 9 January 1571 Stuttgart ten children
			1562–1586		Anhalt
Bernard VII		17 March 1540	1551–1562	1 March 1570	Anhalt-Zerbst	Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Gifhorn 28 May 1565 Dessau one child
			1562–1570		Anhalt
Magnus II		1543	1571–1573	14 March 1603	Saxe-Lauenburg	Sophia of Sweden 4 July 1568 Stockholm one child	Eldest son of Francis I. He didn't pay the debts he promised to pay and led to war with his father and brothers. Two years later they deposed Magnus II and Francis I re-ascended. Magnus' violent and judicial attempts to regain the duchy failed. In 1588 he was imprisoned for the remainder of his life.
Francis I		1510	1573–1581	19 March 1581	Saxe-Lauenburg	Sibylle of Saxony 8 February 1540 Dresden nine children	Regained the title in 1573, after pushing back Magnus II.
Francis II		10 August 1547	1581–1619	2 July 1619	Saxe-Lauenburg	Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast 26 December 1574 Wolgast four children Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 10 November 1582 Wolfenbüttel fourteen children	Brother of Magnus II. Vice-regent from 1578, administrator from 1581. Joint rule with his brother Maurice between 1581 and 1612. Father of Augustus and Julius Henry.
Maurice		1551	1581–1612	2 November 1612	Saxe-Lauenburg	Katharina von Spörck 1581 (annulled 1582) no children	Ruled jointly with his brother Francis II.
John George I		9 May 1567	1586–1603	24 May 1618	Anhalt	Dorothea of Mansfeld-Arnstein 22 February 1588 Hedersleben five children Dorothea of Palatinate-Simmern 21 February 1595 Heidelberg eleven children	Sons of Joachim Ernest, ruled jointly. In 1603 divided the land again: John George received Dessau; Christian received Bernburg; Augustus received Plötzkau; Rudolph received Zerbst; Louis received Köthen. Augustus served also as regent for his minor nephews in Anhalt-Kothen and Anhalt-Zerbst.
			1603–1618		Anhalt-Dessau
Christian I		11 May 1568	1586–1603	17 April 1630	Anhalt	Anna of Bentheim-Steinfurt-Tecklenburg-Limburg 2 July 1595 Lorbach sixteen children
			1603–1630		Anhalt-Bernburg
Rudolph II		28 October 1576	1586–1603	30 July 1621	Anhalt	Dorothea Hedwig of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 29 December 1605 Wolfenbüttel four children
			1603–1621		Anhalt-Zerbst
Louis I		17 June 1579	1586–1603	7 January 1650	Anhalt	Amöena Amalie of Bentheim-Steinfurt-Tecklenburg-Limburg 31 October 1606 Rheda two children Sophia of Lippe 12 September 1626 Detmold two children
			1603–1650		Anhalt-Köthen
Augustus		14 July 1575	1586–1603	22 August 1653	Anhalt	Sibylle of Solms-Laubach 25 January 1618 Ansbach eight children
			1603–1653		Anhalt-Plötzkau
John Casimir		17 December 1596	1618–1660	15 September 1660	Anhalt-Dessau	Agnes of Hesse-Kassel 18 May 1623 Dessau six children Sophie Margaret of Anhalt-Bernburg 14 July 1651 Dessau no children
Augustus		17 February 1577	1619–1656	18 January 1656	Saxe-Lauenburg	Elisabeth Sofie of Holstein-Gottorp 5 March 1621 Husum six children Catherine of Oldenburg 4 June 1633 no children	Left no male descendants; he was succeeded by his half-brother Julius Henry.
Regency of Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau (1621–1642)
John V		24 March 1621	1621–1667	4 July 1667	Anhalt-Zerbst	Sophie Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp 16 September 1649 Gottorp fourteen children
Christian II		11 August 1599	1630–1656	22 September 1656	Anhalt-Bernburg	Eleonore Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön 28 February 1625 Ahrensbök fifteen children
Frederick		16 November 1613	1630–1670	30 June 1670	Anhalt-Bernburg (at Harzgerode)	Johanna Elisabeth of Nassau-Hadamar 10 August 1642 Bückeburg three children Anna Katharina of Lippe-Detmold (31 July 1612 – 15 October 1659) 26 May 1657 Harzgerode no children
Regency of Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau, Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen and Emmanuel, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (1650–1653)							After his death without descendants, his previous regents took over the principality for themselves.
William Louis		3 August 1638	1650–1665	13 April 1665	Anhalt-Köthen	Elisabeth Charlotte of Anhalt-Harzgerode 25 August 1663 Köthen no children
Lebrecht I		8 April 1622	1653–1665	7 November 1669	Anhalt-Plötzkau	Sophie Ursula Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode 18 January 1655 Plötzkau no children	Cousins of William Louis, and princes of Anhalt-Plötzkau, they served as regents for their cousin alongside their uncle, Augustus. After William Louis' death in 1665, they took the principality of Köthen for themselves, giving away their inheritance in Plötzkau to Anhalt-Bernburg.
			1665–1669		Anhalt-Köthen
Emmanuel		6 October 1631	1653–1665	8 November 1670	Anhalt-Plötzkau	Anna Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode 23 March 1670 Ilsenburg one child
			1665–1670		Anhalt-Köthen
Plotzkau definitively annexed to the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg
Victor Amadeus		6 October 1634	1656–1718	14 February 1718	Anhalt-Bernburg	Elisabeth of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 16 October 1667 Meisenheim six children	Annexed Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1665.
Julius Henry		9 April 1586	1656–1665	20 November 1665	Saxe-Lauenburg	Anna of East Frisia 17 March 1617 Grabow no children Elisabeth Sophia of Brandenburg 4 June 1633 Toužim one son Anna Magdalena of Lobkowicz 18 August 1632 Vienna six children
John George II		17 November 1627	1660–1693	7 August 1693	Anhalt-Dessau	Henriette Catherine of Nassau 9 September 1659 Groningen five children	Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, he also served as regent for his cousin, Emmanuel Lebrecht of Anhalt-Kothen, together with the prince's mother, Anna Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode.
Francis Erdmann		25 February 1629	1665–1666	30 July 1666	Saxe-Lauenburg	Sibylle Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg 1654 no children	Left no descendants; He was succeeded by his brother Julius Francis.
Julius Francis		16 September 1641	1666–1689	30 September 1689	Saxe-Lauenburg	Hedwig of the Palatinate-Sulzbach 9 April 1668 Sulzbach two children
Definitively annexed to the House of Welf
Regency of Sophie Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp (1667–1674)							Children of John V, divided the rule.
Charles William		16 October 1652	1667–1718	3 November 1718	Anhalt-Zerbst	Sophia of Saxe-Weissenfels 18 June 1676 Halle three children
John Louis I		4 May 1656	1667–1704	1 November 1704	Anhalt-Zerbst (at Dornburg)	Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch (5 June 1666 – 17 May 1699) 23 July 1687 Halle seven children
Regencies of Anna Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1670–1690) and John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (1690–1692)
Emmanuel Lebrecht		20 May 1671	1670–1704	30 May 1704	Anhalt-Köthen	Gisela Agnes of Rath 30 September 1692 Nienburg (morganatic) ten children
William Louis		18 August 1643	1670–1709	14 October 1709	Anhalt-Bernburg (at Harzgerode)	Elisabeth Juliana of Solms-Laubach (6 March 1631 – 2 January 1693)25 July 1671 Laubach no children Sophie Auguste of Nassau-Dillenburg (28 April 1666 – 14 January 1733) 20 October 1695 Frederiksborg no children	After his death, Harzgerode merged again in Bernburg.
Regency of Henriette Catherine of Nassau (1693–1698)
Leopold I		3 July 1676	1693–1747	7 April 1747	Anhalt-Dessau	Anna Louise Föhse 8 September 1698 Dessau (morganatic) ten children
Regency of Gisela Agnes of Rath (1704–1715)							With no male heirs, he was succeeded by his brother.
Leopold		29 November 1694	1704–1728	19 November 1728	Anhalt-Köthen	Frederica Henriette of Anhalt-Bernburg 11 December 1721 Bernburg one child Charlotte Frederike of Nassau-Siegen 27 June 1725 Weimar two children
Charles Frederick		13 July 1668	1718–1721	22 April 1721	Anhalt-Bernburg	Sophie Albertine of Solms-Sonnenwalde 25 June 1692 Bernburg six children Wilhelmine Charlotte Nüssler 1 May 1715 Bernburg	Children of Victor Amadeus, divided their rule.
Lebrecht		28 June 1669	1718–1727	17 May 1727	Anhalt-Bernburg (in Zeitz-Hoym)	Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg Schaumburg Castle 12 April 1692 five children Eberhardine of Weede (9 August 1685 – 13 February 1724) 27 June 1702 Grave six children Sophie Sibylla of Ingersleben (18 March 1684 – 31 March 1726) 14 September 1725 (morganatic) no children
John Augustus		29 July 1677	1718–1742	7 November 1742	Anhalt-Zerbst	Fredericka of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 25 May 1702 Zerbst no children	Died without issue. Zerbst was inherited by his cousins from Dornburg.
Victor Frederick		20 September 1700	1721–1765	18 May 1765	Anhalt-Bernburg	Louise of Anhalt-Dessau 25 November 1724 Dessau one child Sophie Albertine Fredericka of Brandenburg-Schwedt 22 May 1733 Potsdam five children Konstanze Fredericka Schmidt 13 November 1750 Bernburg (morganatic) one child
Victor I Amadeus		7 September 1693	1727–1772	15 April 1772	Anhalt-Bernburg (in Zeitz-Hoym in 1727; in Schaumburg-Hoym from 1727)	Charlotte Louise of Isenburg-Birstein (31 July 1680 – 2 January 1739) 22 November 1714 Birstein six children Hedwig Sophie Henckel of Donnersmarck 14 February 1740 Pölzig six children
Augustus Louis		9 June 1697	1728–1755	6 August 1755	Anhalt-Köthen	Agnes Wilhelmine von Wuthenau 23 January 1722 Dresden (morganatic) two children Christine Johanna Emilie of Promnitz-Pless 14 January 1726 Sorau five children Anna Fredericka of Promnitz-Pless 21 November 1732 Sorau two children
John Louis		23 June 1688	1704–1746 1742–1746	5 November 1746	Anhalt-Zerbst (in Dornburg) Anhalt-Zerbst	Unmarried	First cousins of their predecessor, they were Princes of Dornburg, until its ending by joining it with the inherited Principality of Zerbst. Ruled jointly. after John Louis' death, Christian ruled alone.
Christian August		29 November 1690	1704–1747 1742–1747	16 March 1747	Anhalt-Zerbst (in Dornburg) Anhalt-Zerbst	Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp 8 November 1727 Vechelde five children
Christian Louis		5 November 1691	1704–1710	20 October 1710	Anhalt-Zerbst (in Dornburg)	Unmarried
John Frederick		14 July 1695	1704–1742	11 May 1742	Anhalt-Zerbst (in Dornburg)	Cajetana of Sperling (d.17 December 1742) no children
Leopold II Maximilian		25 December 1700	1747–1751	16 December 1751	Anhalt-Dessau	Gisela Agnes of Anhalt-Köthen 25 May 1737 Bernburg seven children
Regency of Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp (1747–1752)
Frederick August		8 August 1734	1747–1793	3 March 1793	Anhalt-Zerbst	Caroline Wilhelmina Sophia of Hesse-Kassel 17 November 1753 Zerbst no children Friederike Auguste Sophie of Anhalt-Bernburg 22 May 1764 Ballenstedt no children
Definitively annexed by the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
Regency of Dietrich of Anhalt-Dessau (1751–1758)							Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, also served as regent for his cousin, Louis Augustus Karl Frederick Emil of Anhalt-Kothen. After his death the regency in Anhalt-Kothen passed together with the principality of Anhalt-Dessau to his son.
Leopold III Frederick Franz		10 August 1740	1751–1817	9 August 1817	Anhalt-Dessau	Louise Henriette Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Schwedt 25 July 1767 Charlottenburg two children
Charles George Lebrecht		15 August 1730	1755–1789	17 October 1789	Anhalt-Köthen	Louise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 26 July 1763 Glücksburg six children
Frederick Albert		15 August 1735	1765–1796	9 April 1796	Anhalt-Bernburg	Louise Albertine of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön 25 November 1724 Augustenburg two children
Charles Louis		16 May 1723	1772–1806	20 August 1806	Anhalt-Bernburg (in Schaumburg-Hoym)	Benjamine Gertrude Keiser (1 January 1729 – 6 January 1787) 25 March 1748 Stevensweert (morganatic) Amalia Eleonora of Solms-Braunfels (22 November 1734 – 19 April 1811) 12 December 1765 Braunfels five children
Augustus Christian Frederick		18 November 1769	1789–1812	5 May 1812	Anhalt-Köthen	Fredericka of Nassau-Usingen 9 February 1792 Frankfurt-am-Main no children	In 1806 became Duke of Anhalt-Köthen. Left no descendants, and was succeeded by his nephew.
Alexius Frederick Christian		12 June 1767	1796–1834	24 March 1834	Anhalt-Bernburg	Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel 29 November 1794 Kassel (annulled 1817) four children Dorothea Fredericka of Sonnenberg 11 January 1818 Ballenstedt (morganatic) no children Ernestine Charlotte of Sonnenberg 2 May 1819 Bernburg (morganatic) no children	In 1803 became Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg.
Victor II Charles		2 November 1767	1806–1812	22 April 1812	Anhalt-Bernburg (in Schaumburg-Hoym)	Amelia of Nassau-Weilburg 29 October 1793 Weilburg four children
Regencies of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau (1812–1817) and Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt (1817–1818)							Died as a minor, never ruled by his own.
Louis Augustus Karl		20 September 1802	1812–1818	18 December 1818	Anhalt-Köthen	Louise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 26 July 1763 Glücksburg six children
Frederick		29 November 1741	1812	24 December 1812	Anhalt-Bernburg (in Schaumburg-Hoym)	Unmarried	Son of Victor I. AFter his childless death, Hoym and Holzappel were inherited by his niece Hermine (daughter of Victor II), while Hoym merged in Bernburg again.
Hermine		2 December 1797	1812–1817	14 September 1817	Anhalt-Bernburg (in Schaumburg and Holzappel)	Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary 30 August 1815 Schaumburg Castle two children	Daughter of Victor II. After her death her lands probably merged again in Bernburg.
Frederick Ferdinand		25 June 1769	1818–1830	23 August 1830	Anhalt-Köthen	Maria Dorothea Henriette Louise of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck 26 July 1763 Lindenau bei Heiligenbeil no children Julie of Brandenburg 20 May 1816 Berlin no children	From the Anhalt-Pless line, cousin of his predecessor. Attempted, with no success, to reinstall Catholicism in his duchy.
Henry		30 July 1778	1830–1847	23 November 1847	Anhalt-Köthen	Auguste Fredericka Espérance Reuss of Köstritz 18 May 1819 Trebschen no children	Left no descendants. His lands were inherited by Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau.
Definitively annexed to the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
Alexander Charles		2 March 1805	1834–1863	19 August 1863	Anhalt-Bernburg	Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 30 October 1834 Gottorp no children	Left no male descendants. Bernburg reverted to Anhalt-Dessau.
Definitively annexed to the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold IV Frederick		1 October 1794	1817–1863	22 May 1871	Anhalt-Dessau	Frederica Wilhelmina of Prussia 18 April 1818 Berlin six children	Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, ended the regency in Kothen after his cousin's death (1818). In 1863 he reunites Anhalt under his rule, and becomes its first duke.
			1863–1871		Anhalt
Frederick I		29 April 1831	1871–1904	24 January 1904	Anhalt	Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg 22 April 1854 Altenburg six children
Frederick II		19 August 1856	1904–1918	21 April 1918	Anhalt	Marie of Baden 2 July 1889 Karlsruhe no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Edward		18 April 1861	1918	13 September 1918	Anhalt	Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg 6 February 1895 Altenburg (annulled 26 January 1918) six children	Brother of his predecessor. Ruled 18 April to 13 September.
Joachim Ernest II		11 January 1901	1918	18 February 1947	Anhalt	Elisabeth Strickrodt 3 March 1927 Ballenstedt (morganatic, annulled 1929) no children Edda-Charlotte von Stephani-Marwitz 15 October 1929 Ballenstedt (morganatic) five children	Ruled 13 September to 12 November. Monarchy abolished in that year.

Family trees

Main article: de:Stammliste der Askanier

(genealogical list of the dynasty in German)

Lines of the House of Anhalt

Overall Family Tree of the House of Anhalt

Armorial

Main article: Coat of arms of Saxony

The original arms of the house of Ascania, from their ancestors the Saxon counts of Ballenstedt, were "Barry of ten sable and or".

The Ascanian margrave Albert the Bear was invested with the Saxon ducal title in 1138; when he succeeded the Welf's Henry the Lion, who was deposed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. In 1180, Albert's son Bernhard, Count of Anhalt received the remaining Saxon territories around Wittenberg and Lauenburg, and the ducal title. Legend, so unlikely to be true, goes that when he rode in front of the emperor, at the occasion of his investiture, he carried a shield with his escutcheon of the Ballenstedt coat of arms (barry sable and or). Barbarossa took the rue wreath he wore against the heat of the sun from his head, hanging it over Bernhard's shield and thus creating the Saxonian crancelin vert ("Barry of ten sable and or, a crancelin vert"). A more likely explanation is that it probably symbolized the waiver of the Lauenburg lands.

From about 1260, the Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg emerged under the Ascanian duke Albert II, who adopted the tradition of the Saxon stem duchy and was granted the Saxon electoral dignity, against the fierce protest of his Ascanian Saxe-Lauenburg cousins. This was confirmed by the Golden Bull of 1356. As the Ascanian Electors of Saxony also held the High office of an Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire, they added the ensign Per fess sable and argent two swords in saltire gules (the swords later featuring as the trademark of the Meissen china factory) to their coat of arms. When the line became extinct in 1422, the arms and electoral dignity were adopted by the Wettin by margrave Frederick IV of Meissen as it had become synonymous with the Saxon ducal title.

When upon German reunification the Free State of Saxony was re-established, the coat of arms was formally confirmed in 1991.

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  Original Arms of counts of Ballenstedt

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  Arms of Ascania impaled with the Mark of Brandenburg

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  Arms of Ascania impaled with the Mark of Brandenburg

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  Arms of the Arch-Marshal/prince elector of the Saxons of the Holy Roman Empire

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  Arms of the Elector/Duke of Saxony (Saxe-Wittenburg)

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  Principality of Anhalt in the 15th century

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  Principalities of Anhalt in the 17th century

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  Principality of Anhalt-Köthen in the 18th century

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  Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst in the 19th century

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  Coat of Arms of the Duchy of Anhalt

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  Achievement of the Duchy of Anhalt

The chivalric order was the House Order of Albert the Bear (German: Hausorden Albrechts des Bären or Der Herzoglich Anhaltische Hausorden Albrechts des Bären) which was founded in 1836 as a joint House Order by three dukes of Anhalt from separate branches of the family: Henry, Duke of Anhalt-Köthen, Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau, and Alexander Karl, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg.

The namesake of the order, Albert the Bear, was the first Margrave of Brandenburg from the House of Ascania. The origin of his nickname "the Bear" is unknown.

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  Collar of the Order of Albert the Bear

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  Star of the Order of Albert the Bear

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  House Order of Albert the Bear

List of states ruled by the House of Ascania

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  Saxony in 1180 with the Ascanian duchies in Saxony around 1235 (green). The former stem Duchy of Saxony is in gold with the official electorate duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg in green in the South East. Also shown is Saxe-Lauenburg in North West and the Welf Duchies of Brunswick-Luneburg in orange.

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  The Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1400

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  Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg (dark green, centred on the town of Wittenberg)

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  Brandenburg in 1320 under the Ascanians

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  The Duchy of Anhalt, bordered by Prussia und Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg

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  Anhalt Principalities in 1789: Anhalt-Bernburg (AB), Anhalt-Köthen (AK), Anhalt-Dessau (AD) and Anhalt-Zerbst (AZ); on the rightside of the map: the Electorate of Brandenburg (blue) und Electorate of Saxony (orange)

• County, Principality, and Duchy of Anhalt: c. 1100–1918
• Duchy and Electorate of Saxony: 1112, 1139–1142, 1180–1422
• County of Weimar-Orlamünde: 1112–1486
• Margravate of Brandenburg: 1157–1320
• Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg: 1269–1689
• Principality of Lüneburg: 1369–1388
• Principality and Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg: 1252–1468 and 1603–1863
• Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst: 1252–1396 and 1544–1796
• Principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben: 1252–1315
• Principality and Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen: 1396–1561 and 1603–1847
• Principality and Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau 1396–1561 and 1603–1863
• Principality of Anhalt-Plötzkau 1544–1553 and 1603–1665
• Principality of Anhalt-Harzgerode 1635–1709
• Principality of Anhalt-Mühlingen: 1667–1714
• Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg: 1667–1742
• Lordship of Jever: 1667–1796
• Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym: 1718–1812
• Russian Empire: 1762–1796

References

• Askanien, Meyers Konversationslexikon, 1888
• Trillmich, Werner, Kaiser Konrad II. und seine Zeit, Bonn, 1991

External links

• Ducal Family of Anhalt (House of Ascania) – official website
• European Heraldry page
• Marek, Miroslav. "GENEALOGY.EU: House of Ascania". Genealogy.EU. (first page of a series)
• Stirnet: Brandenburg1 (subscription required) (genealogy of the Houses of Ascania and Brandenburg, including the most likely ancestry of the 11th-century House of Ascania)
• Stirnet: Ascania1 (subscription required) (an alternate possible ancestry of the 11th-century House of Ascania)