Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau
| Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau | |
|---|---|
 Portrait as Princess-Abbess of Herford with crosier, ca. 1680-1685. Herford Städtisches Museum. | |
| Princess-Abbess of Herford | |
| Reign | 1680-1686 |
| Duchess consort of Saxe-Weisselfels-Barby | |
| Reign | 1686-1706 |
| Spouse | Henry, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby |
| Issue |
Frederick Henry, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby George Albert, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby Princess Henriette Marie |
| Father | John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau |
| Mother | Henriette Catherine of Orange-Nassau |
| Born |
1 May 1665 Cölln an der Spree |
| Died |
5 October 1706 (aged 41) Dessau |
Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau (1 May 1665 - 5 October 1706), was a German noblewoman by birth Princess of Anhalt-Dessau as member of the House of Ascania and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
Born in Cölln an der Spree, she was the fourth of ten children born from the marriage of John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Henriette Catherine of Orange-Nassau. From her nine older and younger siblings, five survive adulthood: Henriette Amalie (by marriage Princess of Nassau-Dietz), Marie Eleonore (by marriage Princess Radziwiłł and Duchess of Olyka), Henriette Agnes, Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Johanna Charlotte (by marriage Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt).[1][2]
Life
In 1680, and thanks to her father's instigation, Elisabeth Albertine was chosen Princess-Abbess of Herford Abbey as Elisabeth IV, securing with this the support of the Rhenish Imperial College prelate (German: Reichsprälatenkollegiums). She remained in the post for six years, until her marriage was arranged and moved to Barby; however, several Herford artists and merchants followed her.
In Dessau on 30 March 1686, Elisabeth Albertine married Henry, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby. Elisabeth Albertine's paternal great-great grandmother was Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen; this give to Henry some blood ties to the extinct House of Barby.
The marriage produced eight children, of whom only three survive adulthood:[3][4]
- John August, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 28 July 1687 - Dessau, 22 January 1688).
- John August, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 24 July 1689 - Dessau, 21 October 1689).
- Stillborn twin sons (Dessau, 1690).
- Frederick Henry, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 2 July 1692 - The Hague, 21 November 1711).
- George Albert, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby (Dessau, 19 April 1695 - Barby, 12 June 1739).
- Henriette Marie (Dessau, 1 March 1697 - Weissenfels, 10 August 1719).
- Stillborn daughter (Dessau, 5 October 1706).
Elisabeth Albertine died in Dessau aged 41, following complications in her last childbirth. She was buried in the Familiengruft, Barby.[5]
Notes
- ↑ Johann Georg II. Fürst v.Anhalt-Dessau in: Genealogy Database by Herbert Stoyan [retrieved 11 October 2014].
- ↑ Genealogy of the House of Ascania in: Genealogy.euweb.cz [retrieved 11 October 2014].
- ↑ Elisabeth Albertina Prinzessin v.Anhalt-Dessau in: Genealogy Database by Herbert Stoyan [retrieved 11 October 2014].
- ↑ Elisabeth Albertine Prinzessin von Anhalt-Dessau in: thePeerage.com [retrieved 11 October 2014].
- ↑ Anhalt-Dessau line in: Royaltyguide.nl [retrieved 11 October 2014].
| Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau Born: 1 May 1665 Died: 5 October 1706 | ||
| German royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| new creation | Duchess consort of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby 1686-1706 |
Vacant Title next held by Auguste Louise of Württemberg-Oels |