Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Encyclopedia
Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (died Zerbst
, 28 August 1473), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen
.
He was the eldest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
, by his first wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gebhard III, Count of Mansfeld.
as co-ruler; their younger half-brother Albert VI
, still a minor, was bypassed. After the death of Waldemar in 1436, Adolph became the sole ruler of the principality as "Lord of Köthen."
All three of Adolph's surviving sons entered the priesthood; after them, the only remaining heirs to the principality were Adolph's half-brother Albert VI
and Albert's son Philip
. Since it appeared as though Adolph's family line would die out in the next generation, he drew up a succession contract with his cousin George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
, in 1471. Under the terms of this contract, George I would inherit half of Anhalt-Köthen as "Mitherr" (co-ruler) and the other half would be given to the long-excluded Albert VI. Shortly after, George renounced his rights in favor of his oldest son Waldemar
, who became co-ruler with Adolph as Waldemar VI until Adolph's death in 1473.
Thity-five years later, in 1508, the only two surviving males of the family, Magnus
and Adolph
, formally renounced their rights over the principality with the result that the Anhalt-Köthen line became extinct.
Zerbst
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;...
, 28 August 1473), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen
Anhalt-Köthen
Anhalt-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....
.
He was the eldest son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst until 1396, when he became the first ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
, by his first wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gebhard III, Count of Mansfeld.
Life
After the death of his father in 1423, Adolph succeeded him in Anhalt-Köthen with his second brother Waldemar VWaldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Waldemar V, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen.He was the second son of Albert IV, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his first wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gebhard III, Count of Mansfeld.-Life:Under the terms of the family...
as co-ruler; their younger half-brother Albert VI
Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
, still a minor, was bypassed. After the death of Waldemar in 1436, Adolph became the sole ruler of the principality as "Lord of Köthen."
All three of Adolph's surviving sons entered the priesthood; after them, the only remaining heirs to the principality were Adolph's half-brother Albert VI
Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Albert VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
and Albert's son Philip
Philip, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Philip, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
. Since it appeared as though Adolph's family line would die out in the next generation, he drew up a succession contract with his cousin George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau....
, in 1471. Under the terms of this contract, George I would inherit half of Anhalt-Köthen as "Mitherr" (co-ruler) and the other half would be given to the long-excluded Albert VI. Shortly after, George renounced his rights in favor of his oldest son Waldemar
Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
, who became co-ruler with Adolph as Waldemar VI until Adolph's death in 1473.
Thity-five years later, in 1508, the only two surviving males of the family, Magnus
Magnus, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Magnus, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
and Adolph
Adolph II, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Adolph II, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen...
, formally renounced their rights over the principality with the result that the Anhalt-Köthen line became extinct.
Marriage and issue
In Ruppin on 2 November 1442 Adolph married Cordula (died 1 June 1508), daughter of Albert III, Count of Lindau-Ruppin. They had seven children:- Anna (died 1 August 1485), Abbess in DerenburgDerenburgDerenburg is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated north of the Harz, approx. 9 km east of Wernigerode, and 10 km west of Halberstadt. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the borough of Blankenburg am Harz....
. - Magdalena (died aft. 1481), a nun at QuedlinburgQuedlinburgQuedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
(1481). - Bernhard (died young).
- Melchior (died young).
- Magnus, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenMagnus, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenMagnus, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
(born 1455 - d. 29 October 1524). - William (born 1457 - d. MarburgMarburgMarburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
, 29 August 1504), a Franciscan monk. He renounced all his rights of inheritance to the principality during his father's lifetime. - Adolph II, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenAdolph II, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenAdolph II, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen...
(born 16 October 1458 - d. MerseburgMerseburgMerseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
, 24 March 1526).