| Joachim Ernest of Anhalt | |
|---|---|
| Joachim Ernest of Anhalt | |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen Eleonore of Württemberg |
| Noble family | House of Ascania |
| Father | John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst |
| Mother | Margaret of Brandenburg |
| Born | 21 October 1536 Dessau |
| Died | 6 December 1586 (aged 50) Dessau |
Joachim Ernest of Anhalt (Dessau, 21 October 1536 – Dessau, 6 December 1586), was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, and from 1570 sole ruler of all the Anhalt lands.
He was the second son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, by his wife Margaret, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.
Joachim Ernest received an extensive education under the supervision of his father. On 1 February 1549, just thirteen years of age, he was officially admitted to the University of Wittenberg, where, among others, he studied with the theologian Georg Helt. In 1550, after the death of his father, he inherited Anhalt-Zerbst along with his older brother Karl I and his younger brother Bernhard VII.
The death of his uncle George III without male heirs permitted him and his brothers, Karl I and Bernhard VII, to inherit Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1553, while the death of his uncle Joachim I permitted him and his surviving brother Bernhard VII to inherit Anhalt-Dessau in 1561. In 1562 his cousin Wolfgang abdicated Anhalt-Köthen in his favor.
Joachim Ernest was a typical Renaissance monarch who generously supported the arts and culture. He sent his sons with their tutors on educational journeys across Europe. Also, he ordered the son of his chancellor, Tobias Hübner, to create a description of the famous knight's games (German: Ritterspiele) that took place at the Dessau court.
In 1570 the death of his last surviving brother, Bernhard VII, left him as sole ruler of all the Anhalt states, which were finally unified for the first time since their first partition in 1252. Joachim Ernest made Dessau the seat of his government. In 1572 he created in the Regional Legal Code of Anhalt (German: Landesverordnung Anhalts) and in 1582 he founded the Francisceum High School (German: Gymnasium Francisceum) in Zerbst. He was a fervent supporter of the Reformation and the Huguenots.
Since succession in the territories of Anhalt was not governed by the rules of primogeniture, Joachim Ernest's seven sons shared rule of the territories of Anhalt until 1603, when the five surviving sons divided their lands among themselves.
In Barby on 3 March 1560 Joachim Ernest married Agnes (b. Barby, 23 June 1540 - d. Bernburg, 27 November 1569), daughter of Wolfgang I, Count of Barby-Mühlingen. They had six children:
In Stuttgart on 9 January 1571 Joachim Ernest married for a second time to Eleonore (b. Tübingen, 22 March 1552 - d. Schloss Lichtenberg, 12 January 1618), daughter of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg. They had ten children:
|
Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt
Born: 21 October 1536 Died: 6 December 1586 |
||
| Preceded by John V |
Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst with Karl I (until 1561) and Bernhard VII 1551–1570 |
Succeeded by Unification of all Anhalt Principalities |
| Preceded by George III |
Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau with Karl I (until 1561) and Bernhard VII 1553–1570 |
|
| Preceded by Joachim I |
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau with Bernhard VII 1561–1570 |
|
| Preceded by Wolfgang |
Prince of Anhalt-Köthen with Bernhard VII 1562–1570 |
|
| Preceded by Principality created |
Prince of Anhalt 1570–1586 |
Succeeded by John George I Christian I Bernhard Augustus Rudolph John Ernest Louis |