Eduard, Prince of Anhalt
Encyclopedia
Prince Julius Eduard of Anhalt is the head of the House of Ascania, the family which ruled the Duchy of Anhalt
until 1918. He uses the style His Highness.
, the youngest of the five children of the last reigning Duke of Anhalt, Joachim Ernst
, and of his second wife Editha Marwitz (von Stephani, by adoption), natural daughter of Wilhelm Horn by Irmagard Marwitz.
In 1963 Eduard's older brother Friedrich
died childless in a car crash, and Eduard succeeded him as head of the house of Ascania. He uses the title Herzog zu Sachsen [Duke of Saxony], but is referred to by others as Duke of Anhalt
Eduard lived in the United States
for several years before returning to Germany in 1967. He has been a journalist and columnist for numerous German magazines. He has also hosted a television programme Adel verpflichet (Noblesse oblige
) for RTL Television
.
In 1978 Eduard published a book about his family, Askanische Sagen (München: Mahnert-Lueg). A revised edition of the book with the title Sagenhaftes Askanien: Geschichten und Legenden (München: Langen-Müller) was published in 2004.
In 1990 Eduard launched a lawsuit to regain ownership of his family property Schloss Ballenstedt, which had been confiscated by the Communist authorities in East Germany after World War II
.
Eduard married Corinna Krönlein (born 19 August 1961) in a civil ceremony. The couple renewed their vows in a religious ceremony on 7 June 1986 in S-charl
, near Scuol
, Switzerland
. Eduard and Corinna have three children:
Eduard is the last of the male-line Ascanian dynasty whose members ruled Anhalt. If he should die with no male issue, the ducal house will become extinct at his death. The male line also survives, however, in the counts von Westarp, descendants of Prince Franz of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
and his morganatic wife Karoline Westarp, and the counts von Waldersee who descend from Count Franz Johann von Waldersee (1763–1823), illegitimate son of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau
(1740–1817) and his mistress Eleonore Hofmeyer (1739–1816).
by the Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
.
Eduard has served as deputy chairman of the Société des Amis of the Almanach de Gotha
.
Anhalt
Anhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
until 1918. He uses the style His Highness.
Early life and family
Eduard was born at Schloss Ballenstedt in BallenstedtBallenstedt
Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipality includes the villages of Badeborn and Oppenrode...
, the youngest of the five children of the last reigning Duke of Anhalt, Joachim Ernst
Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt
Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt was the last ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt.-Biography:He was born in Dessau the son of Duke Eduard of Anhalt and Princess Luise of Saxe-Altenburg , the daughter of Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg.He succeeded his father as Duke of Anhalt on September 13, 1918, however...
, and of his second wife Editha Marwitz (von Stephani, by adoption), natural daughter of Wilhelm Horn by Irmagard Marwitz.
In 1963 Eduard's older brother Friedrich
Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt
Leopold Friedrich Franz Sieghard Hubertus Erdmann, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt was the head of the Ducal House of Anhalt.-Biography:...
died childless in a car crash, and Eduard succeeded him as head of the house of Ascania. He uses the title Herzog zu Sachsen [Duke of Saxony], but is referred to by others as Duke of Anhalt
Eduard lived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for several years before returning to Germany in 1967. He has been a journalist and columnist for numerous German magazines. He has also hosted a television programme Adel verpflichet (Noblesse oblige
Noblesse oblige
Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obliges".The Dictionnaire de l’Académie française defines it thus:# Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly....
) for RTL Television
RTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
.
In 1978 Eduard published a book about his family, Askanische Sagen (München: Mahnert-Lueg). A revised edition of the book with the title Sagenhaftes Askanien: Geschichten und Legenden (München: Langen-Müller) was published in 2004.
In 1990 Eduard launched a lawsuit to regain ownership of his family property Schloss Ballenstedt, which had been confiscated by the Communist authorities in East Germany after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Marriage and children
On 21 July 1980 in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Eduard married Corinna Krönlein (born 19 August 1961) in a civil ceremony. The couple renewed their vows in a religious ceremony on 7 June 1986 in S-charl
S-charl
S-charl is a village in the municipality of Scuol, located in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. The village lies in the Engadin region, at 1,810 metres in the Val S-charl south of Scuol, in the Sesvenna Range .- External links :*...
, near Scuol
Scuol
Scuol is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The official language in Scuol is Romansh.-Name:The official name has undergone several changes in the 20th century:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Eduard and Corinna have three children:
- Princess Julia Katharina (born 14 December 1980, Bad TolzBad TölzBad Tölz is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and administrative center of the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.- History :Since the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz...
), given the style Hereditary Princess by her father - Princess Julia Eilika Nicole (born 1 January 1985, MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
) - Princess Julia Felicitas Leopoldine Friederike Franziska (born 14 May 1993, Munich)
Eduard is the last of the male-line Ascanian dynasty whose members ruled Anhalt. If he should die with no male issue, the ducal house will become extinct at his death. The male line also survives, however, in the counts von Westarp, descendants of Prince Franz of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was a German principality and member of the Holy Roman Empire. The death of Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg in 1718, resulted in the partition of his land with his second son Lebrecht inheriting what was originally known as Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym.The name of the...
and his morganatic wife Karoline Westarp, and the counts von Waldersee who descend from Count Franz Johann von Waldersee (1763–1823), illegitimate son of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold III Frederick Franz, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau , known as "Prince Franz" or "Father Franz", was a German prince of the House of Ascania...
(1740–1817) and his mistress Eleonore Hofmeyer (1739–1816).
Honours
Eduard is Grand Master of the Order of Albert the Bear, founded in 1836. On 6 March 2007 he was invested with the insignia of a Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice, of Honour of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint GeorgeSacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George is a Roman Catholic order of chivalry. It was fictively established by Constantine the Great, though in reality it was founded between 1520 and 1545 by two brothers of the Angeli Comneni family. Members of the Angeli Comneni family remained...
by the Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
Infante Carlos of Spain, Prince of the Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, KOGF, KGCHS is the son of Don Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria and Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma .-Biography:Infante Carlos is one of two claimants of the dignity of...
.
Eduard has served as deputy chairman of the Société des Amis of the Almanach de Gotha
Almanach de Gotha
The Almanach de Gotha was a respected directory of Europe's highest nobility and royalty. First published in 1763 by C.W. Ettinger in Gotha at the ducal court of Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, it was regarded as an authority in the classification of monarchies, princely and ducal...
.