Eduard, Duke of Anhalt

Eduard Georg Wilhelm, Duke of Anhalt (German: Herzog Eduard Georg Wilhelm von Anhalt) (18 April 1861 – 13 September 1918) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the penultimate ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt from April to September 1918.

Early life

Eduard was born at Dessau, the capital of the Duchy, in 1861 as the third son of Duke Friedrich I of Anhalt (1831–1904) and his wife Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg (1838–1908). As Eduard's eldest brother, Leopold, died without male offspring in 1886, and the next brother, Frederick, had no issue, Eduard became heir apparent and Hereditary Prince following the death of their father, Duke Friedrich I, in 1904.

Reign

Eduard succeeded his brother Duke Friedrich II of Anhalt on April 21, 1918, but his brief reign came to an end five months later with his own death on 13 September 1918. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son Prince Joachim Ernst under the regency of Eduard's younger brother, Prince Aribert.

Marriage and children

Duke Eduard married Princess Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg (1873–1953) in Altenburg on 6 February 1895. She was a daughter of Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg and his wife Princess Augusta of Saxe-Meiningen. They had six children before divorcing in 1918.

• Princess Friederike of Anhalt (1896-1896)
• Prince Leopold of Anhalt (1897–1898)
• Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt (1898–1983) married Prince Joachim of Prussia
• Prince Joachim Ernst of Anhalt (1901–1947)
• Prince Eugen of Anhalt (1903–1980) married Anastasia Jungmeier (1901–1970)
  • Princess Anastasia of Anhalt (born 1940) married Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen
• Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt (1912–1936)

Ancestry

Family of Eduard, Duke of Anhalt

16. Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau               8. Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau                       17. Louise of Brandenburg-Schwedt               4. Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt                             18. Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg               9. Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Homburg                       19. Landgravine Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt               2. Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt                                   20. Frederick William II of Prussia               10. Prince Louis Charles of Prussia                       21. Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt               5. Frederica Wilhelmina of Prussia                             22. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg               11. Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz                       23. Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt               1. Eduard, Duke of Anhalt                                         24. Ernest Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen               12. Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg                       25. Princess Ernestine of Saxe-Weimar               6. Prince Eduard of Saxe-Altenburg                             26. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg               13. Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz                       27. Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt               3. Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg                                   28. Anton Aloys, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen               14. Charles, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen                       29. Princess Amalie Zephyrine of Salm-Kyrburg               7. Princess Amalie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen                             30. Pierre Murat               15. Marie Antoinette Murat                       31. Louise d'Astorg

References

• Online Gotha

Eduard, Duke of Anhalt House of Ascania Born: 18 April 1861 Died: 13 September 1918
Regnal titles
Preceded by Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt	Duke of Anhalt 1918	Succeeded by Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt