Ascanian
Encyclopedia
The House of Ascania was a dynasty
of German rulers. It was also known as the House of Anhalt, after Anhalt
, its longest-held possession.
The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, which is located near and named after Aschersleben
. The castle was seat of the County of Ascania, a title that was later subsumed into the titles of the princes of Anhalt.
. 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. But he lost control of Saxony soon to the rival House of Guelph.
However, Albert inherited the Margraviate of Brandenburg
from its last Wendish
ruler, Pribislav, in 1157, and 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, red eagle and bear, became the heraldric 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, and 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 monarchy was abolished in 1918.
Catherine the Great
, Empress of Russia from 1762-1796, was a member of the House of Ascania, herself the daughter of Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
.
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
of German rulers. It was also known as the House of Anhalt, after Anhalt
Anhalt
Anhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
, its longest-held possession.
The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, which is located near and named after Aschersleben
Aschersleben
Aschersleben is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km east of Quedlinburg, and 45 km northwest of Halle .-Pre-20th century:...
. The castle was seat of the County of Ascania, a title that was later subsumed into the titles of the princes of Anhalt.
History
The earliest known member of the house, Esiko, Count of Ballenstedt, first appears in a document of 1036, and is assumed to have been a grandson (through his mother) of Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon OstmarkOdo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark
Odo I was the Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark from 965 until his death....
. From Odo, the Ascanians inherited large properties in the Saxon Eastern March
Saxon Eastern March
The Saxon Eastern March or Ostmark was a march of the Holy Roman Empire from the 10th until the 12th century. The term "eastern march" or "ostmark" comes from the Latin term marchia Orientalis and originally could refer to either a march created on the eastern frontier of the Duchy of Saxony or...
.
Esiko's grandson was Otto, Count of Ballenstedt
Otto, Count of Ballenstedt
Otto, Count of Ballenstedt, called Otto the Rich , was the first Ascanian prince to call himself count of Anhalt, and was also briefly named duke of Saxony...
, who died in 1123. By Otto's marriage to Eilika
Eilika of Saxony
Eilika of Saxony was the younger daughter of Magnus, Duke of Saxony and Sophia , daughter of Béla I of Hungary. After the death of her father, she became the heiress of Werben and Palatinate of Saxony. She was married Count Otto of Ballenstedt and was mother of Albrecht der Bär.-External links:*...
, daughter of Magnus, Duke of Saxony
Magnus, Duke of Saxony
Magnus was the duke of Saxony from 1072 to 1106. Eldest son and successor of Ordulf and Wulfhild of Norway, he was the last member of the House of Billung.-Rebellion:...
, the Ascanians became heirs to half of the property of the House of Billung
Billung
The House of Billung was a dynasty of Saxon noblemen in the 9th through 12th centuries.The first known member of the house was Count Wichmann, mentioned as a Billung in 811...
, former dukes of Saxony
Duchy of Saxony
The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
.
Otto's son, Albert the Bear, became, with the help of his mother's inheritance, the first Ascanian duke of Saxony in 1139. But he lost control of Saxony soon to the rival House of Guelph.
However, Albert inherited the Margraviate of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
from its last Wendish
Wends
Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used...
ruler, Pribislav, in 1157, and became the first Ascanian margrave. Albert, and his descendants of the House of Ascania, then made considerable progress in Christianizing
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Germanizing
Germanisation
Germanisation is both the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or assimilation, and the adaptation of a foreign word to the German language in linguistics, much like the Romanisation of many languages which do not use the Latin alphabet...
the lands. As a borderland between German and Slavic cultures, the country was known as a march
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
.
In 1237 and 1244 two towns, Cölln
Cölln
In the 13th century Cölln was the sister town of Old Berlin , located on the southern Spree Island in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Today the island is located in the historic core of the central Mitte locality of modern Berlin...
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
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
). The emblem of the House of Ascania, red eagle and bear, became the heraldric 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
Anhalt
Anhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
was split off from the Duchy, and later, the remaining state was split into Saxe-Lauenburg and Saxe-Wittenberg
Saxe-Wittenberg
The Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg was a medieval duchy of the Holy Roman Empire centered at Wittenberg, which emerged after the dissolution of the stem duchy of Saxony. As the precursor of the Saxon Electorate, the Ascanian Wittenberg dukes prevailed in obtaining the Saxon electoral dignity.-Ascanian...
. 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 monarchy was abolished in 1918.
Catherine the Great
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
, Empress of Russia from 1762-1796, was a member of the House of Ascania, herself the daughter of Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-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...
.
List of states ruled by the House of Ascania
- County, Principality, and Duchy of AnhaltAnhaltAnhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
: c. 1100–1918 - DuchyDuchy of SaxonyThe medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
and ElectorateElectorate of SaxonyThe Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
of SaxonySaxe-WittenbergThe Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg was a medieval duchy of the Holy Roman Empire centered at Wittenberg, which emerged after the dissolution of the stem duchy of Saxony. As the precursor of the Saxon Electorate, the Ascanian Wittenberg dukes prevailed in obtaining the Saxon electoral dignity.-Ascanian...
: 1112, 1139–1142, 1180–1422 - County of Weimar-Orlamünde: 1112–1486
- Margravate of Brandenburg: 1157–1320
- Duchy of Saxe-LauenburgDuchy of Saxe-LauenburgThe Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg between the 14th and 17th centuries), later also known as the Duchy of Lauenburg, was a reichsfrei duchy that existed 1296–1803 and 1814–1876 in the extreme southeast region of what is now Schleswig-Holstein...
: 1269–1689 - Principality of LüneburgPrincipality of LüneburgThe Principality of Lüneburg was a territorial division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg within the Holy Roman Empire, immediately subordinate to the emperor. It existed from 1269 until 1705 and its territory lay within the modern-day state of Lower Saxony in Germany...
: 1369–1388 - Principality and Duchy of Anhalt-BernburgAnhalt-BernburgAnhalt-Bernburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt...
: 1252–1468 and 1603–1863 - Principality of Anhalt-ZerbstPrincipality of Anhalt-ZerbstAnhalt-Zerbst was a principality located in Germany. It was established for the first time in 1252 following the partition of the principality of Anhalt. The capital of the state was located at Zerbst. Anhalt-Zerbst ceased to exist in 1396 when it was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and...
: 1252–1396 and 1544–1796 - Principality of Anhalt-AscherslebenPrincipality of Anhalt-AscherslebenThe Principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German territory which existed from 1252 to 1315. It was created when the Principality of Anhalt was divided among the sons of Prince Henry I into the Principalities of Anhalt-Aschersleben, Anhalt-Bernburg and Anhalt-Zerbst in 1252.Henry II the Fat, the...
: 1252–1315 - Principality and Duchy of Anhalt-KöthenAnhalt-KöthenAnhalt-Köthen has existed on two separate occasions. The first state was created in 1396 when the Anhalt-Zerbst was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. The first creation lasted until 1552 when it was inherited by Anhalt-Dessau....
: 1396–1561 and 1603–1847 - Principality and Duchy of Anhalt-DessauAnhalt-DessauAnhalt-Dessau was a principality and later a duchy located in Germany. It was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. The capital of the state was Dessau. Anhalt-Dessau experienced a number of partitions throughout its existence with Anhalt-Köthen being...
1396–1561 and 1603–1863 - Principality of Anhalt-PlötzkauPrincipality of Anhalt-PlötzkauAnhalt-Plötzkau was a principality located in Germany. It has been created on two occasions. It was created for a first time in 1544 following the partition of Anhalt-Dessau but the principality ceased to exist following the death of Prince George III in 1553 at which point it was inherited by the...
1544–1553 and 1603–1665 - Principality of Anhalt-HarzgerodeAnhalt-HarzgerodeAnhalt-Harzgerode was a principality and member of the Holy Roman Empire. It was created in 1635 following the partition of Anhalt-Bernburg with Frederick, a younger son of Christian I becoming the reigning prince...
1635–1709 - Principality of Anhalt-MühlingenPrincipality of Anhalt-MühlingenThe Principality of Anhalt-Mühlingen was a part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was created in 1667 following the death of Prince John VI and the partition of Anhalt-Zerbst with Anhalt-Mühlingen being created along with Anhalt-Dornburg for the younger sons of Prince John VI...
: 1667–1714 - Principality of Anhalt-DornburgPrincipality of Anhalt-DornburgThe Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg was located in what is today Germany. It was created in 1667 following the death of Prince John VI and the partition of Anhalt-Zerbst with Anhalt-Mühlingen being created along with Anhalt-Dornburg for the younger sons of Prince John VI...
: 1667–1742 - Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-HoymAnhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-HoymAnhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was a German principality and member of the Holy Roman Empire. The death of Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg in 1718, resulted in the partition of his land with his second son Lebrecht inheriting what was originally known as Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym.The name of the...
: 1718–1812 - Russian EmpireRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
: 1762–1796
External links
- the House of Ascania official web site
- GENEALOGY.EU: Genealogy of the House of Ascania
- Stirnet: Ascania1 (genealogy of an earlier and possibly separate House of Ascania)
- Stirnet: Brandenburg1 (genealogy of the Houses of Ascania and Brandenburg)