Leopold IV Friedrich, the first Duke of Anhalt inherited three duchies: the Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau from his grandfather, the Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen from a distant cousin, and the Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg from another distant cousin. The three duchies were united as the Duchy of Anhalt on August 30, 1863. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Anhalt is in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Joachim Ernst, was the last Duke of Anhalt. He came to the throne in September 1918 when he was 17-years-old. As he was underage, his father’s brother Prince Aribert of Anhalt served as Regent. With the German Empire crumbling at the end of World War I, Aribert abdicated on Joachim Ernst’s behalf on November 12, 1918.

During World War II, Joachim Ernst was always at odds with the Nazis. He was arrested in 1944 and imprisoned at the Dachau Concentration Camp for three months. He was arrested again in September 1945, this time by the Soviets, and was sent to the NKVD Special Camp No. 2 at the former Buchenwald Concentration Camp. The former Duke of Anhalt died at the camp on February 18, 1947.

• Holy Roman Empire, German Confederation, North German Confederation, and the German Empire Explained
• The Constituent States of the German Empire
• Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles

Below is an indexed listing with links to biographical articles about the Ducal Family of Anhalt. If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed below are links to the Anhalt Content Areas.

House of Ascania – County, Principality, and Duchy of Anhalt (circa 1100–1918)

Duchy of Anhalt (1863 – 1918)

Family of Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt

• Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt (Duke of Anhalt-Dessau 1817 – 1853, also Duke of Anhalt-Köthen 1847 – 1853, then Duke of Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen 1853 – 1863 and lastly Duke of Anhalt 1863 – 1871)
• Friederike of Prussia, Duchess of Anhalt-Dessau (wife of Leopold IV Friedrich)
  • Notable Issue: Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg
  • Notable Issue: Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt (see below)

Family of Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt

• Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt (reigned 1871 – 1904)
• Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg, Duchess of Anhalt (wife of Friedrich I)
  • Notable Issue: Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt (see below)
  • Notable Issue: Elisabeth of Anhalt, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
  • Notable Issue: Eduard, Duke of Anhalt (see below)
  • Notable Issue: Aribert of Anhalt

Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt

• Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt (reigned 1904 – April 1918)
• Marie of Baden, Duchess of Anhalt (wife of Friedrich II, no issue)

Family of Eduard, Duke of Anhalt

• Eduard, Duke of Anhalt (reigned  April – September 1918)
• Luise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg, Princess Eduard of Anhalt (wife of Eduard)
  • Notable Issue: Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt (see below)

 Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt

• Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt (reigned September – November 1918, monarchy abolished)

Pretenders to the Throne

• LAST REIGNING: Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt
• Former: Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt
• Current: Eduard, Prince of Anhalt

Other Anhalt Royals

• Pauline of Anhalt-Bernburg, Princess of Lippe, Regent of Lippe
• Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Anhalt Content Areas

• Profiles: Dukes and Consorts of Anhalt
• Anhalt Royal Burial Sites
• Anhalt Royal Dates