Zerbst
Encyclopedia
Zerbst is a town
in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld
, in Saxony-Anhalt
, Germany
. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst
district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.
It is not clear when was it founded; however, a region by the name Ciervisti was mentioned as early as 949
. The town is first mentioned as Zirwisti urbs in the chronicle of the Thietmar of Merseburg
in 1018.
In 1307 Albrecht I
acquired the city of Zerbst from the von Barby Family, starting a centuries-long rule by the House of Ascania.
Following the Reformation
, Zerbst became a Calvinist centre. From 1582 to 1798 the Francisceum Gymnasium illustre was an important Calvinist college.
From 1603 to 1793 Zerbst was the Residence Town of the Zerbst Principality, whose rule included among others also Jever
. From 1722 to 1758 the important baroque composer Johann Friedrich Fasch
resided here and was employed as a Hofkapellmeister. (To honour his memory, the Fasch Fesivals take place in the city since 1983.)
In 1745 princess Sophie Auguste Friederike von Anhalt-Zerbst married Peter III
, successor to the Russia
n throne. As Catharine II
(the Great) she herself reigned as Empress of Russia from until ).
In 1797 Zerbst became a component of the Anhalt-Dessau
Principality.
From 1891 to 1928 a horse-drawn streetcar was operated in Zerbst, one of the longest surviving among such streetcars in Germany.
In the later part of the Second World War a Nazi labour camp was established on the edge of the military airfield, housing so-called "First Degree Hybrids" and "Jüdisch Versippte" (i.e., people witj some Jewish blood, enough in Nazi terms to justify badly mistreating them but not killing them outright). 700 inmates from there were used for hard labour in road and airport construction as well as peat digging.
On April 16, 1945 - just a few weeks before the final surrender of Nazi Germany - some eighty percent of Zerbst was destroyed in an Allied air raid.
The Old Town was rebuilt in the following decades with a fundamental change of the townscape, only few historical structures being preserved.
On July 1, 2006 the town of Zerbst was renamed Zerbst/Anhalt. A year later, on July 1, 2007, the city of Zerbst/Anhalt was incorporated together with several other municipalities of the Zerbst administrative district, making the renewed Anhalt-Bitterfeld
administrative district with its capital at Köthen.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld
Anhalt-Bitterfeld
Anhalt-Bitterfeld is a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Its capital is Köthen . - History :This district was established by merging the former districts of Bitterfeld, Köthen and a large part of Anhalt-Zerbst as part of the reform of 2007....
, in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, Germany
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...
. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst was a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is bounded by the districts Potsdam-Mittelmark and Wittenberg, the city of Dessau and the districts of Köthen, Schönebeck and Jerichower Land.- History :...
district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.
It is not clear when was it founded; however, a region by the name Ciervisti was mentioned as early as 949
949
Year 949 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Sayf al-Daula raids into the Byzantine theme of Lykandos but is defeated. The Byzantines counter-attack and seize Germanikeia, defeating an army from Tarsus, and the raiding as far south as Antioch...
. The town is first mentioned as Zirwisti urbs in the chronicle of the Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg was a German chronicler who was also bishop of Merseburg.-Life:...
in 1018.
In 1307 Albrecht I
Albert I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Albert I, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst....
acquired the city of Zerbst from the von Barby Family, starting a centuries-long rule by the House of Ascania.
Following the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, Zerbst became a Calvinist centre. From 1582 to 1798 the Francisceum Gymnasium illustre was an important Calvinist college.
From 1603 to 1793 Zerbst was the Residence Town of the Zerbst Principality, whose rule included among others also Jever
Jever
Jever is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer which is produced here, the city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted city status in 1536. Unofficially Jever is sometimes referred to as...
. From 1722 to 1758 the important baroque composer Johann Friedrich Fasch
Johann Friedrich Fasch
Johann Friedrich Fasch was a German violinist and composer.Fasch was born in Buttelstedt, was a choirboy in Weissenfels and studied under Johann Kuhnau at the famous St. Thomas School in Leipzig and later founded a Collegium Musicum in that city...
resided here and was employed as a Hofkapellmeister. (To honour his memory, the Fasch Fesivals take place in the city since 1983.)
In 1745 princess Sophie Auguste Friederike von Anhalt-Zerbst married Peter III
Peter III of Russia
Peter III was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. He was very pro-Prussian, which made him an unpopular leader. He was supposedly assassinated as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife, who succeeded him to the throne as Catherine II.-Early life and character:Peter was born in Kiel, in...
, successor to the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n throne. As Catharine II
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...
(the Great) she herself reigned as Empress of Russia from until ).
In 1797 Zerbst became a component of the Anhalt-Dessau
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...
Principality.
From 1891 to 1928 a horse-drawn streetcar was operated in Zerbst, one of the longest surviving among such streetcars in Germany.
In the later part of the Second World War a Nazi labour camp was established on the edge of the military airfield, housing so-called "First Degree Hybrids" and "Jüdisch Versippte" (i.e., people witj some Jewish blood, enough in Nazi terms to justify badly mistreating them but not killing them outright). 700 inmates from there were used for hard labour in road and airport construction as well as peat digging.
On April 16, 1945 - just a few weeks before the final surrender of Nazi Germany - some eighty percent of Zerbst was destroyed in an Allied air raid.
The Old Town was rebuilt in the following decades with a fundamental change of the townscape, only few historical structures being preserved.
On July 1, 2006 the town of Zerbst was renamed Zerbst/Anhalt. A year later, on July 1, 2007, the city of Zerbst/Anhalt was incorporated together with several other municipalities of the Zerbst administrative district, making the renewed Anhalt-Bitterfeld
Anhalt-Bitterfeld
Anhalt-Bitterfeld is a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Its capital is Köthen . - History :This district was established by merging the former districts of Bitterfeld, Köthen and a large part of Anhalt-Zerbst as part of the reform of 2007....
administrative district with its capital at Köthen.