Principality of Anhalt

The Principality of Anhalt (German: Fürstentum Anhalt) was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, located in Central Germany, in what is today part of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.

County (Principality) of Anhalt
Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Anhalt
1218–1806
Lesser arms of Anhalt
Map of Anhalt (Zerbst, Dessau, Köthen, Bernburg) in 1793
StatusPrincipality
CapitalDessau (when united)
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince of Anhalt 
 1218–1252
Henry I
Historical eraMiddle Ages
 Partitioned from Saxony
1212
 Elevated to principality
1218
 Partitioned¹
1252–1570
 Joined Council of Princes
1582
 Partitioned²
1603–1863
 Principalities³ raised to duchies
1806
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Duchy of Saxony
Duchy of Anhalt
Today part ofGermany

Under the rule of the House of Ascania, the Anhalt territory was split off the German stem duchy of Saxony in 1212 and granted to Count Henry I, who was raised to the rank of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1218. Ruled by Ascanian princes from the High Middle Ages to the Early modern period, Anhalt was divided several times amongst various lines of the dynasty until the dissolution of the Empire in 1806, when Napoleon elevated the remaining states of Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen to duchies.

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