George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (ca. 1390 – Dessau, 21 September 1474), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau.
He was the second son of Sigismund I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, by his wife Judith, daughter of Gebhard XI, Count of Querfurt.
In 1405, after the death of his father, George inherited the principality of Anhalt-Dessau alongside his older brother Waldemar IV and his younger brothers Sigismund II and Albert V. By 1435, he adopted the style "Lord of Zerbst and Dessau" and styled himself "Lord of Köthen" from 1460.
In 1468 he inherited the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg, then three years later (in 1471) signed a succession contract with the Adolph I, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, that named him as "Mitherr" (co-ruler) with rights to half of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen. George renounced his rights, however, in favor of his eldest son Waldemar VI, who became the new co-ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen.
The deaths of George's brothers between 1417-1469 without male heirs left him as the sole ruler of Anhalt-Dessau until his own death.
After 1413, George married Matilda (d. Coswig, bef. 1432), daughter of Otto III, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg. The spouses were related to each other as direct descendants of Henry I, Count of Anhalt, through his sons Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg (ancestor of Matilda), and Siegfried I of Anhalt-Zerbst (ancestor of George). The marriage was childless.
In 1432 George married for a second time to Euphemia (b. ca. 1404? - d. 27 November 1442), daughter of Konrad III the Old, Duke of Oleśnica and widow of Albert III, Elector of Saxony. They had six daughters:
After 1442, George married for a third time to Sophie (d. 1451), possibly a member of the House of Hohnstein. They had three children:
Before 25 July 1452 George married for a fourth time to Anna (b. ca. 1430 - d. Lippehne, 9 July 1513), daughter of Albert VIII, Count of Lindau-Ruppin. They had nine children:
Preceded by Sigismund I |
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau 1405 – 1474 with Waldemar IV 1405–1417 Sigismund II 1405–1452 Albert VI 1405–1469 |
Succeeded by Ernest I George II Sigismund III Rudolph IV |
Preceded by Bernhard VI |
Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg 1468 – 1474 |