Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst

Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
Fürstentum Anhalt-Zerbst  (German)
State of the Holy Roman Empire
1252–1396 1544–1796
18th century arms of Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt principalities (1747-1793), Zerbst in orange
Capital		Zerbst
Languages		Upper Saxon
Government		Principality
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Partitioned from Anhalt	1252
•	Partitioned into A-Dessau and A-Köthen	1396
•	Partitioned from Anhalt-Dessau	1544
•	Partitioned1	1603
•	Partitioned2	1667
•	Divided by A-Dessau, A-Köthen and A-Bernburg	1796
•	Duchy of Anhalt reunited	1863
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Anhalt Anhalt-Dessau Anhalt-Köthen Anhalt-Bernburg
1: In 1603, Anhalt-Zerbst lost territory to Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Plötzkau and Anhalt-Köthen. 2: In 1667, Anhalt-Zerbst lost territory to create Anhalt-Mühlingen and Anhalt-Dornburg.

18th century arms
of Anhalt-Zerbst

Anhalt-Zerbst was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the House of Ascania, with its residence at Zerbst in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subdivision of the Principality of Anhalt from 1252 until 1396, when it was divided into the principalities of Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. Recreated in 1544, Anhalt-Zerbst finally was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen, and Anhalt-Bernburg in 1796 upon the extinction of the line.

It was created when the Anhalt territory was divided among the sons of Prince Henry I into the principalities of Anhalt-Aschersleben, Anhalt-Bernburg and Anhalt-Zerbst in 1252. In the course of the partition, Prince Siegfried I, the youngest son of Henry I, received the lands around Köthen, Dessau, and Zerbst. His son and successor Prince Albert I took his residence at Köthen Castle in 1295. In 1396, the surviving sons of Prince John II of Anhalt-Zerbst again divided their heritage: Sigismund I became Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and his younger brother Albert IV went on to rule as Prince of Anhalt-Köthen.