Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst
| Christian August | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst | |
Portrait of Christian August by Antoin Pesne, c. 1746
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| Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst | |
| Reign | 7 November 1742 – 16 March 1747 |
| Predecessor | John Augustus |
| Successor | Frederick Augustus |
| Co-monarch | John Louis II |
| Born |
29 November 1690 Dornburg |
| Died | 16 March 1747 (aged 56) Zerbst |
| Spouse | Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp |
| Issue |
Catherine II, Empress of Russia William of Anhalt-Dornburg Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Auguste of Anhalt-Dornburg Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst |
| House | Ascania |
| Father | John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg |
| Mother | Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch |
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (29 November 1690, in Dornburg – 16 March 1747, in Zerbst) was a German prince of the House of Ascania. He was a ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg, then, from 1742, a ruler of the entire Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was also a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall, but is best known for being the father of Catherine the Great of Russia.
Christian August was the third son of John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg and Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch. After the death of his father in 1704, Christian August inherited Anhalt-Dornburg jointly with his brothers John Louis II, John Augustus (died 1709), Christian Louis (died 1710) and John Frederick (died 1742).
After possibly six months as a captain in the regiment guard in 1708, on 11 February 1709 he joined the Regiment on foot in Anhalt-Zerbst (No. 8) which later changed its name to the Grenadier's Regiment King Frederick William IV of Prussia. It was stationed in Stettin. In 1711 Christian August was awarded the Order De la Générosité, later renamed in Pour le Mérite, and on 1 March 1713 was elevated to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After he took part in several military campaigns during the Spanish War of Succession and in the Netherlands, in 1714 Christian August was appointed Chief of the Regiment; two years later, on 4 January 1716 he was named colonel and on 14 August 1721 became major-general.
On 22 January 1729 he became commander of Stettin, after having been chosen there on 24 May 1725 as a knight of Order of the Black Eagle. Christian August was designated on 28 May 1732 lieutenant-general and on 8 April 1741 infantry general. On 5 June of that year he was designated Governor of Stettin. On 16 May 1742 King Frederick II of Prussia awarded him the highest military dignity, the rank of Generalfeldmarschall.
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