Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Encyclopedia
Frederick Albert of Anhalt-Bernburg (Bernburg
, 15 August 1735 – Ballenstedt
, 9 April 1796), was a German
prince
of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg
.
He was the only son of Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
, by his second wife Sophie Albertine Fredericka, daughter of Albert Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt.
.
On 22 December 1785 he confirmed the entrance of his state into the Fürstenbund
.
In 1788 a classical theater was built under his orders. He was considered as "Father of the Country" by the citizens of his principality, primarily for his good works: one of his reforms was to give women legal influence over their inheritance. Frederick Albert was also the founder of the Anhaltische Mineraliensammlung.
It is unclear whether he died as a result of a hunting accident, or if he committed suicide.
and a princess of Denmark
by birth as a descendant in the male line of King Christian III
. They had two children:
Frederick Albert also had an illegitimate daughter:
Bernburg
Bernburg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, capital of the district of Salzlandkreis. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 30 km downstream from Halle. The town is dominated by its huge Renaissance castle featuring a museum as well as a popular, recently updated bear pit in its...
, 15 August 1735 – Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipality includes the villages of Badeborn and Oppenrode...
, 9 April 1796), was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg
Anhalt-Bernburg
Anhalt-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...
.
He was the only son of Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Victor Frederick of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
, by his second wife Sophie Albertine Fredericka, daughter of Albert Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt.
Life
Frederick Albert succeeded his father as ruler of Anhalt-Bernburg when he died in 1765 and immediately changed his main residence from Bernburg to BallenstedtBallenstedt
Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipality includes the villages of Badeborn and Oppenrode...
.
On 22 December 1785 he confirmed the entrance of his state into the Fürstenbund
Fürstenbund
The Fürstenbund was a union of German minor princes in the Holy Roman Empire. It was formed in 1785 under the leadership of Frederick II of Prussia, to oppose the ambition of Emperor Joseph II to add Bavaria to the Habsburg domains....
.
In 1788 a classical theater was built under his orders. He was considered as "Father of the Country" by the citizens of his principality, primarily for his good works: one of his reforms was to give women legal influence over their inheritance. Frederick Albert was also the founder of the Anhaltische Mineraliensammlung.
It is unclear whether he died as a result of a hunting accident, or if he committed suicide.
Marriage and issue
In Augustenburg on 4 June 1763 Frederick Albert married Louise Albertine (b. Plön, 21 July 1748 - d. Ballenstedt, 2 March 1769), daughter of Frederick Carl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-PlönFriedrich Carl, Duke of Holstein-Plön
Frederick Charles of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön , also known as "Friedrich Karl" or "Friedrik Carl"of Holstein-Plön, was a member of a cadet branch of the Danish royal family and the last duke of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön , a Danish royal prince, and a knight...
and a princess of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
by birth as a descendant in the male line of King Christian III
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
. They had two children:
- Alexius Frederick Christian, Prince and from 1807 Duke of Anhalt-BernburgAlexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-BernburgAlexius Frederick Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg, and from 1807 the first "Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg."...
(b. Ballenstedt, 12 June 1767 - d. Ballenstedt, 24 March 1834). - Pauline Christine WilhelminePrincess Pauline of Anhalt-BernburgPauline Christine Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg was a princess consort of Lippe, married in 1796 to Leopold I, Prince of Lippe. She served as the regent of Lippe during the minority of her son from 1802 to 1820. She is regarded as one of the most important rulers of Lippe...
(b. Ballenstedt, 23 February 1769 - d. Detmold, 29 December 1820), married on 2 January 1796 to Leopold I, Prince of Lippe-DetmoldLeopold I, Prince of LippeLeopold I of Lippe was a Prince of Lippe.He was born in Detmold the son of Simon August, Count of Lippe-Detmold and his second wife Princess Leopoldine of Anhalt-Dessau ....
.
Frederick Albert also had an illegitimate daughter:
- Auguste von Gröna (d. 8 April 1841), married to Hans August von Rissing (d. 8 April 1841).