Princess Johanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau
Encyclopedia
Johanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau (6 April 1682 – 31 March 1750) was a princess of Anhalt-Dessau
from the House of Ascania by birth and Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt
by marriage. From 1729 until her death she was Abbess
of Herford Abbey
.
(1627-1693), from his marriage to Henriette Catherine of Nassau
(1637-1708), daughter of Prince Frederick Henry
of Orange. The princess was able to take advantage of a careful and comprehensive education.
On 25 January 1699 she married Philip William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1669-1711), in Oranienbaum
. Although the couple had their own palace in Berlin, they lived mostly in Schwedt
. After the death of her husband, Johanna Charlotte went back to Berlin and looked after the education of her children.
In 1729, she had herself elected abbess of Herford Abbey, which stood under Prussian protection. She was sworn in as the new abbess on 10 October 1729, but lived at first in Buchholz
. It was not until 1735 that she took up permanent residence in Herford
. Later in 1729, she added a secular order to her abbey and accepted 17 canonesses. She appointed Hedwig Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp as her coadjutor. Hedwig Sophie later became her successor.
Johanna Charlotte died of an "apoplexy", without being ill, in the night of 30 to 31 March 1750. She was buried in the crypt of the Collegiate Chapel of Herford, which had just been renovated.
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Anhalt-Dessau
Anhalt-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...
from the House of Ascania by birth and Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt
Brandenburg-Schwedt
Brandenburg-Schwedt was a cadet line of the Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg-Prussia who administered territories in the north of the Margraviate of Brandenburg...
by marriage. From 1729 until her death she was Abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of Herford Abbey
Herford Abbey
Herford Abbey was the oldest women's religious house in the Duchy of Saxony. It was founded as a house of secular canonesses in 789, initially in Müdehorst by a nobleman called Waltger, who moved it in about 800 onto the lands of his estate Herivurth which stood at the crossing of a number of...
.
Life
Johanna Charlotte was the youngest daughter of John George II, Prince of Anhalt-DessauJohn George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
(1627-1693), from his marriage to Henriette Catherine of Nassau
Henriette Catherine of Nassau
Henriette Catherine of Nassau was a daughter of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange and his wife Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. Henriette was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau .- Family :...
(1637-1708), daughter of Prince Frederick Henry
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, or Frederik Hendrik in Dutch , was the sovereign Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel from 1625 to 1647.-Early life:...
of Orange. The princess was able to take advantage of a careful and comprehensive education.
On 25 January 1699 she married Philip William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1669-1711), in Oranienbaum
Oranienbaum
Oranienbaum may refer to:Germany:* Oranienbaum, Germany, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany* Oranienbaum-WörlitzRussia:* Oranienbaum, Russia , a Russian royal residence* Lomonosov , the former name of the adjacent town...
. Although the couple had their own palace in Berlin, they lived mostly in Schwedt
Schwedt
Schwedt is a city in Brandenburg, Germany. It is the largest city of the district Uckermark near the Oder river on the border with Poland.-Overview:...
. After the death of her husband, Johanna Charlotte went back to Berlin and looked after the education of her children.
In 1729, she had herself elected abbess of Herford Abbey, which stood under Prussian protection. She was sworn in as the new abbess on 10 October 1729, but lived at first in Buchholz
Buchholz
-Places:In Germany*Buchholz in der Nordheide, a town in the district of Harburg, Lower Saxony*Französisch Buchholz, a part of Pankow in Berlin*Märkisch Buchholz, in the Dahme-Spreewald district, Brandenburg...
. It was not until 1735 that she took up permanent residence in Herford
Herford
Herford is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford.- Geographic location :...
. Later in 1729, she added a secular order to her abbey and accepted 17 canonesses. She appointed Hedwig Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp as her coadjutor. Hedwig Sophie later became her successor.
Johanna Charlotte died of an "apoplexy", without being ill, in the night of 30 to 31 March 1750. She was buried in the crypt of the Collegiate Chapel of Herford, which had just been renovated.
Issue
From their marriage, Charlotte Johanna had the following children:- Frederick William (1700-1771), Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt
- married in 1734 princess Sophie of PrussiaPrincess Sophia Dorothea of PrussiaPrincess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia was the ninth child and fifth daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover...
(1719-1765)- Friederike Dorothea Henriette (1700-1701)
- Henriette Marie (1702-1782)
- married in 1716 Prince Frederick Louis of Württemberg (1698-1731)
- George William (1704-1704)
- Frederick Henry (1709-1788), Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt
- married in 1739 princess Leopoldine Marie of Anhalt-Dessau (1716-1782)
- Charlotte (1710-1712)
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