Principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben
Encyclopedia
The Principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German territory which existed from 1252 to 1315. It was created when the Principality of Anhalt
was divided among the sons of Prince Henry I
into the Principalities of Anhalt-Aschersleben, Anhalt-Bernburg
and Anhalt-Zerbst
in 1252.
Henry II the Fat
, the eldest son of Henry I, had been co-ruler of his father since 1244. In the course of the partition he chose the Anhalt ancestral homeland north of the Harz
mountains around the Ascanian residence of Aschersleben
(Ascharia), which he granted town privileges
in 1266.
When in 1315 Henry's grandson Otto II
died without male heirs, the principality — including the capital of Aschersleben — was seized as a fief by his cousin and creditor Bishop Albert of Halberstadt
. Though Prince Bernhard II of Anhalt-Bernburg
one year later acknowledged the feudal tenure of Halberstadt, Aschersleben was the cause for several conflicts between his successors and the Halberstadt bishops. Nevertheless it remained part of the diocese, which in 1648 was secularized into the Principality of Halberstadt
, and its sovereign possessions, including the rights to Anhalt-Aschersleben, were given to Brandenburg-Prussia
.
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 :...
was divided among the sons of Prince Henry I
Henry I, Count of Anhalt
Henry I, Count of Anhalt was a German prince of the House of Ascania and Count of Anhalt.He was the oldest son of Bernhard III, Duke of Saxony and Count of Anhalt, by his wife Brigitte a daughter of Canute V of Denmark....
into the Principalities of Anhalt-Aschersleben, Anhalt-Bernburg
Anhalt-Bernburg
Anhalt-Bernburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt...
and 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...
in 1252.
Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben
Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....
, the eldest son of Henry I, had been co-ruler of his father since 1244. In the course of the partition he chose the Anhalt ancestral homeland north of the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
mountains around the Ascanian residence of Aschersleben
Aschersleben
Aschersleben is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km east of Quedlinburg, and 45 km northwest of Halle .-Pre-20th century:...
(Ascharia), which he granted town privileges
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
in 1266.
When in 1315 Henry's grandson Otto II
Otto II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben
Otto II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....
died without male heirs, the principality — including the capital of Aschersleben — was seized as a fief by his cousin and creditor Bishop Albert of Halberstadt
Bishopric of Halberstadt
The Bishopric of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese from 804 until 1648 and an ecclesiastical state of the Holy Roman Empire from the late Middle Ages...
. Though Prince Bernhard II of Anhalt-Bernburg
Bernhard II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
Bernhard II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
one year later acknowledged the feudal tenure of Halberstadt, Aschersleben was the cause for several conflicts between his successors and the Halberstadt bishops. Nevertheless it remained part of the diocese, which in 1648 was secularized into the Principality of Halberstadt
Principality of Halberstadt
The Principality of Halberstadt was a state of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by Brandenburg-Prussia. It replaced the Bishopric of Halberstadt after its secularization in 1648. Its capital was Halberstadt. In 1807, the principality was made a state or regional capital of the Kingdom of Westphalia...
, and its sovereign possessions, including the rights to Anhalt-Aschersleben, were given to Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia is the historiographic denomination for the Early Modern realm of the Brandenburgian Hohenzollerns between 1618 and 1701. Based in the Electorate of Brandenburg, the main branch of the Hohenzollern intermarried with the branch ruling the Duchy of Prussia, and secured succession...
.
Princes of Anhalt-Aschersleben 1252–1315
- 1252–1266 Henry IIHenry II, Prince of Anhalt-AscherslebenHenry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....
- 1266–1304 Otto IOtto I, Prince of Anhalt-AscherslebenOtto I, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....
- 1266–1283 Henry IIIHenry III, Prince of Anhalt-AscherslebenHenry III, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....
, brother and co-regent
- 1266–1283 Henry III
- 1304–1315 Otto IIOtto II, Prince of Anhalt-AscherslebenOtto II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Aschersleben....