Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Encyclopedia
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (Dornburg
, 29 November 1690 – Zerbst
, 16 March 1747) was a German
prince of the House of Ascania. He was a ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg, then, from 1742, a ruler of the entire Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
. He was also a Prussian
Generalfeldmarschall
, but is best known for being the father of Catherine the Great of Russia
.
and Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch. After the death of his father in 1704, Christian August inherited Anhalt-Dornburg jointly with his brothers John Louis II, John Augustus (died 1709), Christian Louis (died 1710) and John Frederick (died 1742).
After possibly six months as a captain in the regiment guard in 1708, on 11 February 1709 he joined the Regiment on foot in Anhalt-Zerbst (No. 8) which later changed its name to the Grenadier's Regiment King Frederick William IV of Prussia
. It was stationed in Stettin. In 1711 Christian August was awarded the Order De la Générosité, later renamed in Pour le Mérite
, and on 1 March 1713 was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After he took part in several military campaigns during the Spanish War of Succession and in the Netherlands
, in 1714 Christian August was appointed Chief of the Regiment; two years later, on 4 January 1716 he was named Colonel and on 14 August 1721 became Major-General.
On 22 January 1729 he became Commander of Stettin, after having been chosen there on 24 May 1725 as a knight of Order of the Black Eagle
. Christian August was designated on 28 May 1732 Lieutenant-General and on 8 April 1741 Infantry General. On 5 June of that year he was designated Governor of Stettin. On 16 May 1742 King Frederick II of Prussia
awarded him the highest military dignity, the rank of Generalfeldmarschall
.
Six months later, the death of his cousin John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, without any issue made him and his older and only surviving brother, John Louis II, the heirs of Anhalt-Zerbst as co-rulers. Christian August remained in Stettin and his brother took full charge of the government, but he died only four years later, unmarried and childless. For this reason, Christian August had to leave Stettin and return to Zerbst, but he only reigned four months until his own death.
, Christian August married Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp (24 October 1712 - 30 May 1760), daughter of Prince Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
and sister of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden
. They had five children:
Gommern
Gommern is a town in the Jerichower Land district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 15 km southeast of Magdeburg. On January 1, 2005, the municipalities Dannigkow, Dornburg, Karith, Ladeburg, Leitzkau, Menz, Nedlitz, Vehlitz and Wahlitz have been incorporated into Gommern. On...
, 29 November 1690 – Zerbst
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;...
, 16 March 1747) 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 of the House of Ascania. He was a ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg, then, from 1742, a ruler of the entire Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst was a principality located in Germany. It was established for the first time in 1252 following the partition of the principality of Anhalt. The capital of the state was located at Zerbst. Anhalt-Zerbst ceased to exist in 1396 when it was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and...
. He was also a Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
, but is best known for being the father of Catherine the Great of Russia
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...
.
Life
Christian August was the third son of John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-DornburgJohn Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg
John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dornburg....
and Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch. After the death of his father in 1704, Christian August inherited Anhalt-Dornburg jointly with his brothers John Louis II, John Augustus (died 1709), Christian Louis (died 1710) and John Frederick (died 1742).
After possibly six months as a captain in the regiment guard in 1708, on 11 February 1709 he joined the Regiment on foot in Anhalt-Zerbst (No. 8) which later changed its name to the Grenadier's Regiment King Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
. It was stationed in Stettin. In 1711 Christian August was awarded the Order De la Générosité, later renamed in Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
, and on 1 March 1713 was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After he took part in several military campaigns during the Spanish War of Succession and in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in 1714 Christian August was appointed Chief of the Regiment; two years later, on 4 January 1716 he was named Colonel and on 14 August 1721 became Major-General.
On 22 January 1729 he became Commander of Stettin, after having been chosen there on 24 May 1725 as a knight of Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
. Christian August was designated on 28 May 1732 Lieutenant-General and on 8 April 1741 Infantry General. On 5 June of that year he was designated Governor of Stettin. On 16 May 1742 King Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
awarded him the highest military dignity, the rank of Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
.
Six months later, the death of his cousin John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, without any issue made him and his older and only surviving brother, John Louis II, the heirs of Anhalt-Zerbst as co-rulers. Christian August remained in Stettin and his brother took full charge of the government, but he died only four years later, unmarried and childless. For this reason, Christian August had to leave Stettin and return to Zerbst, but he only reigned four months until his own death.
Marriage and issue
On 8 November 1727 in VecheldeVechelde
Vechelde is a municipality in the district of Peine, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 12 km southeast of Peine, and 10 km west of Braunschweig.- Municipal subdivisions :- Twinned cities :Vechelde is twinned with:...
, Christian August married Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp (24 October 1712 - 30 May 1760), daughter of Prince Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
Prince Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp was Duke of Slesvig-Holstein, prince regent of Eutin, prince-bishop of Lübeck and regent of the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp....
and sister of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden
Adolf Frederick of Sweden
Adolf Frederick or Adolph Frederick was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin and Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach....
. They had five children:
- Sophie Auguste FrederickaCatherine II of RussiaCatherine 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...
(2 May 1729 - 17 November 1796), who later became Catherine II the Great, Empress of Russia. - William Christian Frederick(17 November 1730 -27 August 1742).
- Frederick AugustusFrederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-ZerbstFrederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst....
(8 August 1734 -3 March 1793). - Auguste Christine Charlotte (10 November 1736 -24 November 1736).
- Elisabeth Ulrike (17 December 1742 -5 March 1745).