Augustus Louis, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Encyclopedia
Augustus Louis of Anhalt-Köthen (Köthen, 9 June 1697 – Köthen, 6 August 1755), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen
.
He was the third (but second surviving) son of Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
, by his wife Gisela Agnes of Rath.
in his lands so that on his death in 1704 only the eldest surviving son, Leopold, inherited his father's titles and powers.
When Leopold was declared of age in 1715, Augustus Louis tried to claim his rights under the old system, but finally Leopold forced him to renounce them. In exchange, Augustus Louis received the enclave of Güsten
with its old Schloss built in 1547 by Prince George III
and the town of Warmsdorf
with all its revenues, as well as other concessions.
After the death from smallpox of Leopold and his only son in 1728, Augustus Louis inherited Anhalt-Köthen, however he soon faced disputes with his sister-in-law, the Dowager Princess Charlotte Fredericka (who sought the payment of her widow dowry), and his niece Gisela Agnes (who made claims to her father's inheritance).
In 1730 Charlotte Fredericka married Albert Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
, but until her death in 1785 she received the sum of 200,000 Thalers
annually from Anhalt-Köthen. For Gisela Agnes, the income from her inheritance rose to 335,000 Thalers a year. These payments left Anhalt-Köthen deeply in debt. Augustus Louis tried to address the fiscal problems created by obligations to his brother's family members, but without success.
, 4 December 1700 - d. Köthen, 14 January 1725), of the old nobility of Anhalt and lady-in-waiting to his mother, the Dowager Princess Gisela Agnes. They were engaged on 18 November 1721 and she was created Countess of Warmsdorf (German: Gräfin von Warmsdorf) by the Emperor. The couple finally married in Dresden
on 23 January 1722; this morganatic union produced only two daughters, who were recognized as princesses of Anhalt with all appertaining rights:
In Sorau on 14 January 1726, a year after the death of his first wife, Augustus Louis married again to Christine Johanna Emilie (b. Sorau, 15 September 1708 - d. Köthen, 20 February 1732), daughter of Erdmann II, Count of Promnitz-Pless
. They had five children:
In Sorau on 21 November 1732 Augustus Louis married Anna Fredericka (b. Sorau, 30 May 1711 - d. Köthen, 31 March 1750), daughter of Erdmann II, Count of Promnitz-Pless
, and younger sister of his second wife, just nine months after the latter's death. They had two daughters:
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 third (but second surviving) son of Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Emmanuel Lebrecht of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
, by his wife Gisela Agnes of Rath.
Life
In 1702, Augustus' father instituted primogeniturePrimogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
in his lands so that on his death in 1704 only the eldest surviving son, Leopold, inherited his father's titles and powers.
When Leopold was declared of age in 1715, Augustus Louis tried to claim his rights under the old system, but finally Leopold forced him to renounce them. In exchange, Augustus Louis received the enclave of Güsten
Güsten
Güsten is a town in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Wipper, west of Bernburg. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Saale-Wipper....
with its old Schloss built in 1547 by Prince George III
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
and the town of Warmsdorf
Amesdorf
Amesdorf is a village and a former municipality in the district Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Güsten....
with all its revenues, as well as other concessions.
After the death from smallpox of Leopold and his only son in 1728, Augustus Louis inherited Anhalt-Köthen, however he soon faced disputes with his sister-in-law, the Dowager Princess Charlotte Fredericka (who sought the payment of her widow dowry), and his niece Gisela Agnes (who made claims to her father's inheritance).
In 1730 Charlotte Fredericka married Albert Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
Albert Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
Albrecht Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe was a ruler of the County of Schaumburg-Lippe.-Biography:He was born in Bückeburg the son of Friedrich Christian, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe and his first wife Countess Johanna Sophia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg . He succeeded his father as Count on the 13...
, but until her death in 1785 she received the sum of 200,000 Thalers
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
annually from Anhalt-Köthen. For Gisela Agnes, the income from her inheritance rose to 335,000 Thalers a year. These payments left Anhalt-Köthen deeply in debt. Augustus Louis tried to address the fiscal problems created by obligations to his brother's family members, but without success.
Marriages and Issue
About 1720, Augustus Louis fell in love with Agnes Wilhelmine of Wuthenau (b. PlötzkauPlötzkau
Plötzkau is a municipality in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
, 4 December 1700 - d. Köthen, 14 January 1725), of the old nobility of Anhalt and lady-in-waiting to his mother, the Dowager Princess Gisela Agnes. They were engaged on 18 November 1721 and she was created Countess of Warmsdorf (German: Gräfin von Warmsdorf) by the Emperor. The couple finally married in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on 23 January 1722; this morganatic union produced only two daughters, who were recognized as princesses of Anhalt with all appertaining rights:
- Gisela Henriette (b. Warmsdorf, 16 December 1722 - d. Warmsdorf, 16 December 1728).
- Agnes Leopoldine (b. Köthen, 31 May 1724 - d. Köthen, 28 July 1766).
In Sorau on 14 January 1726, a year after the death of his first wife, Augustus Louis married again to Christine Johanna Emilie (b. Sorau, 15 September 1708 - d. Köthen, 20 February 1732), daughter of Erdmann II, Count of Promnitz-Pless
Erdmann II of Promnitz
Erdmann II, Count von Promnitz was Lord of Zary and Trzebiel in Lower Lusatia, and Pszczyna in Upper Silesia....
. They had five children:
- Christiane Anna Agnes (b. Köthen, 5 December 1726 - d. WernigerodeWernigerodeWernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
, 2 October 1790), married on 12 July 1742 to Henry Ernest, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode. - Frederick Augustus, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (b. Köthen, 1 November 1727 - d. Schloss Warmsdorf, 26 January 1729).
- Johanna Wilhelmine (b. Warmsdorf, 4 November 1728 - d. Carolath, 17 January 1786), married on 17 December 1749 to Frederick, Prince of Carolath-Beuthen.
- Karl George Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenKarl George Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-KöthenKarl George Lebrecht of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
(b. Köthen, 15 August 1730 - d. SemlinSemlinSemlin may refer to:*An alternative German name for Zemun, a town in Serbia*Semlin, Poland*Charles Augustus Semlin , 12th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia 1898-1900...
, 17 October 1789). - Frederick Erdmann, Prince of Anhalt(-Köthen)-PlessFrederick Erdmann, Prince of Anhalt-PlessFrederick Erdmann of Anhalt-Pless , was a German prince of the House of Ascania from the Anhalt-Köthen branch and the first ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Pless....
(b. Köthen, 27 October 1731 - d. Pless, 12 December 1797).
In Sorau on 21 November 1732 Augustus Louis married Anna Fredericka (b. Sorau, 30 May 1711 - d. Köthen, 31 March 1750), daughter of Erdmann II, Count of Promnitz-Pless
Erdmann II of Promnitz
Erdmann II, Count von Promnitz was Lord of Zary and Trzebiel in Lower Lusatia, and Pszczyna in Upper Silesia....
, and younger sister of his second wife, just nine months after the latter's death. They had two daughters:
- Charlotte Sophie (b. Köthen, 25 August 1733 - d. Köthen, 6 September 1770).
- Marie Magdalene Benedikte (b. Köthen, 22 March 1735 - d. Massenheim, 7 November 1783).