Anhalt-Köthen
Principality (Duchy) of Anhalt-Köthen Fürstentum (Herzogtum) Anhalt-Köthen | |||||||||
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| 1396–1562 1603–1853 | |||||||||
Flag
Coat of arms
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The Anhalt principalities, 1747–1793, with Anhalt-Köthen in pink | |||||||||
| Status | State of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806) Member of the Confederation of the Rhine (1807–13) Member of the German Confederation (from 1815) | ||||||||
| Capital | Köthen | ||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||
| Prince | |||||||||
• 1396–1423 | Albert IV (first) | ||||||||
• 1789–1806 | Augustus Christian Frederick (last) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Partitioned from Anhalt-Zerbst | 1396 | ||||||||
• Inherited by Anhalt-Dessau | 1562 | ||||||||
• Partitioned from Anhalt-Zerbst | 1603 | ||||||||
• Partitioned to create Anhalt-Pless | 1774 | ||||||||
• Raised to duchy | 1806 | ||||||||
• Anhalt-Köthen line extinct | 23 November 1847 | ||||||||
• Officially merged with Anhalt-Dessau | 22 May 1853 | ||||||||
• Duchy of Anhalt reunited | 1863 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Germany | ||||||||
Anhalt-Köthen [ˈʔanhalt ˈkøːtn] was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the House of Ascania. It was created in 1396 when the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. The first creation lasted until 1562, when it fell to Prince Joachim Ernest of Anhalt-Zerbst, who merged it into the reunited Principality of Anhalt.
Anhalt-Köthen was created a second time in 1603, when Anhalt was again divided. In 1806, Anhalt-Köthen was raised to a duchy. With the death of Duke Henry on 23 November 1847, the Anhalt-Köthen line became extinct and its territories were united to Anhalt-Dessau by patent of 22 May 1853. Today, Anhalt-Köthen is mostly remembered as a long-time residence of Johann Sebastian Bach, while he worked for Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen.