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Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

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Bernard VII
Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Reign1551–1570
PredecessorJohn V
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau
Reign1553–1570
PredecessorGeorge III
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Reign1561–1570
PredecessorJoachim I
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Reign1562–1570
PredecessorWolfgang
SuccessorJoachim Ernest
Born17 March 1540
Dessau, Germany
Died1 March 1570(1570-03-01) (aged 29)
Dessau, Germany
Spouse
Clara of Gifhorn
(m. 1565)
IssueFranz George
HouseHouse of Ascania
FatherJohn V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
MotherMargaret of Brandenburg

Bernhard VII of Anhalt-Zerbst (17 March 1540 – 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst.

He was born and died in Dessau, and was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst by his wife Margaret, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.

Life

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Bernhard inherited Anhalt-Zerbst when his father died in 1551 along with his older brothers Karl I and Joachim Ernest according to the stipulations of the family law of the House of Ascania, which mandated no division of the territories of the principality.[1]

Upon the deaths without issue of his uncles George III of Anhalt-Plötzkau in 1553 and Joachim I of Anhalt-Dessau in 1561, Bernhard and Joachim Ernest inherited their lands, which were merged into Anhalt-Zerbst (Karl only inherited Plötzkau, because he died before Joachim I). In 1562 Anhalt-Köthen was also merged into Anhalt-Zerbst after the death without issue of its last prince, Wolfgang. Bernhard made his residence in Dessau.

Marriage and issue

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In Dessau on 28 May 1565 Bernhard married Clara (b. Gifhorn, 1 January 1550 – d. Franzburg, 26 January 1598), posthumous daughter of Francis, Duke of Gifhorn. They had only one son:

  1. Franz George (b. 17 October 1567 – d. Zerbst, 7 September 1568).

Bernhard died without surviving male heirs and was succeeded by his brother Joachim Ernest, who became sole ruler of all the Anhalt territories.

References

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  1. ^ Swaffham.), George Fisher (of (1832). A Companion and Key to the History of England: Consisting of Copious Genealogical Details of the British Sovereigns ... with an Appendix, Exhibiting a Chronological Epitome of the Successive Holders of the Several Titles of the British, Saxon, and English Nobility ... with ... Their Armorial Bearings ... Simpkin and Marshall.
Preceded by
John V
Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
with Karl I (until 1561) and Joachim Ernest
1551–1570
Succeeded by
Joachim Ernest
Preceded by
George III
Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau
with Karl I (until 1561) and Joachim Ernest
1553–1570
Preceded by
Joachim I
Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
with Joachim Ernest
1561–1570
Preceded by
Wolfgang
Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
with Joachim Ernest
1562–1570