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Princess-Abbess of Herford From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau (1 May 1665 – 5 October 1706), was a German noblewoman by birth Princess of Anhalt-Dessau as member of the House of Ascania and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau | |
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Portrait as Princess-Abbess of Herford with crosier, ca. 1680–1685. Herford Städtisches Museum. | |
Princess-Abbess of Herford | |
Reign | 1680–1686 |
Duchess consort of Saxe-Weisselfels-Barby | |
Tenure | 1686–1706 |
Born | Cölln an der Spree | 1 May 1665
Died | 5 October 1706 41) Dessau | (aged
Spouse | Henry, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby |
Issue | Frederick Henry, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby George Albert, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby Princess Henriette Marie |
House | Ascania |
Father | John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau |
Mother | Henriette Catherine of Orange-Nassau |
Born in Cölln an der Spree, she was the fourth of ten children born from the marriage of John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Henriette Catherine of Orange-Nassau. From her nine older and younger siblings, five survive adulthood: Henriette Amalie (by marriage Princess of Nassau-Dietz), Marie Eleonore (by marriage Princess Radziwiłł and Duchess of Olyka), Henriette Agnes, Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Johanna Charlotte (by marriage Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt).[1][2][better source needed]
In 1680, and thanks to her father's instigation, Elisabeth Albertine was chosen Princess-Abbess of Herford Abbey as Elisabeth IV, securing with this the support of the Rhenish Imperial College prelate (German: Reichsprälatenkollegiums). She remained in the post for six years, until her marriage was arranged and moved to Barby; however, several Herford artists and merchants followed her.
In Dessau on 30 March 1686, Elisabeth Albertine married Henry, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby. Elisabeth Albertine's paternal great-great grandmother was Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen; this give to Henry some blood ties to the extinct House of Barby.
The marriage produced eight children, of whom only three survive adulthood:[3][4]
Elisabeth Albertine died in Dessau aged 41, following complications in her last childbirth. She was buried in the Familiengruft, Barby.[5]