Predecessor John Augustus Co-monarch John Louis II House House of Ascania | Successor Frederick Augustus Name Christian Prince | |
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Reign 7 November 1742 - 16 March 1747 Born 29 November 1690
Dornburg ( 1690-11-29 ) Issue Catherine II of Russia
William of Anhalt-Dornburg
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Auguste of Anhalt-Dornburg
Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst Father John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg Died March 16, 1747, Zerbst, Germany Spouse Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp (m. 1727–1747) Parents John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg Children Catherine the Great, Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Similar People Catherine the Great, Joanna Elisabeth of Holstei, Peter III of Russia, Grand Duchess Anna Petr, Paul I of Russia | ||
Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (29 November 1690, in Dornburg – 16 March 1747, in Zerbst) was a German prince of the House of Ascania. He was a ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg, then, from 1742, a ruler of the entire Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was also a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall, but is best known for being the father of Catherine the Great of Russia.
Contents
Life
Christian August was the third son of John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg and Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch. After the death of his father in 1704, Christian August inherited Anhalt-Dornburg jointly with his brothers John Louis II, John Augustus (died 1709), Christian Louis (died 1710) and John Frederick (died 1742).
After possibly six months as a captain in the regiment guard in 1708, on 11 February 1709 he joined the Regiment on foot in Anhalt-Zerbst (No. 8) which later changed its name to the Grenadier's Regiment King Frederick William IV of Prussia. It was stationed in Stettin. In 1711 Christian August was awarded the Order De la Generosite, later renamed in Pour le Merite, and on 1 March 1713 was elevated to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After he took part in several military campaigns during the Spanish War of Succession and in the Netherlands, in 1714 Christian August was appointed Chief of the Regiment; two years later, on 4 January 1716 he was named colonel and on 14 August 1721 became major-general.
On 22 January 1729 he became commander of Stettin, after having been chosen there on 24 May 1725 as a knight of Order of the Black Eagle. Christian August was designated on 28 May 1732 lieutenant-general and on 8 April 1741 infantry general. On 5 June of that year he was designated Governor of Stettin. On 16 May 1742 King Frederick II of Prussia awarded him the highest military dignity, the rank of Generalfeldmarschall.
Six months later, the death of his cousin John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, without any issue made him and his older and only surviving brother, John Louis II, the heirs of Anhalt-Zerbst as co-rulers. Christian August remained in Stettin and his brother took full charge of the government, but he died only four years later, unmarried and childless. For this reason, Christian August had to leave Stettin and return to Zerbst, but he only reigned four months until his own death.
Marriage and issue
On 8 November 1727 in Vechelde, Christian August married Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp (24 October 1712 - 30 May 1760), daughter of Prince Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin and sister of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden. They had five children: