John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst.

John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (29 July 1677 in Zerbst – 7 November 1742 in Zerbst), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst.

He was the eldest son of Karl William, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, by his wife Sophie, daughter of August, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels.

Life

Royal monogram.

In 1718, after the death of his father, John Augustus succeeded him as prince of Anhalt-Zerbst.

John Augustus married Fredericka (b. Gotha, 24 March 1675; d. Karlsbad, 28 May 1709), daughter of Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, on 25 May 1702 in Zerbst. They had no children. He was married for a second time to Hedwig Fredericka (b. Weiltingen, 18 October 1691; d. Zerbst, 14 August 1752), daughter of Frederick Ferdinand, Duke of Württemberg-Weiltingen, on 8 October 1715 in Zerbst. This union was also childless.

Since John Augustus died without issue, the elder line of Anhalt-Zerbst became extinct. On his death, he was succeeded by his distant cousins, the princes of Anhalt-Dornburg.

Ancestry

Ancestors of John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

16. Joachim Ernst, Prince of Anhalt               8. Rudolph, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst                       17. Eleonore of Württemberg               4. John VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst                             18. John VII, Count of Oldenburg               9. Magdalene of Oldenburg                       19. Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg               2. Karl Wilhelm, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst                                   20. John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp               10. Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp                       21. Augusta of Denmark               5. Sophie Augusta, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp                             22. John George I, Elector of Saxony (= 12)               11. Marie Elisabeth of Saxony                       23. Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia (= 13)               1. John Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst                                         24. Christian I, Elector of Saxony               12. John George I, Elector of Saxony                       25. Sophie of Brandenburg               6. August, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels                             26. Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia               13. Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia                       27. Marie Elenore of Jülich-Kleve-Berg               3. Duchess Sophia of Saxe-Weissenfels                                   28. John (VII) V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               14. Adolf Friedrich I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                       29. Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp               7. Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                             30. Enno III, Count of Ostfriesland               15. Anna Maria of Ostfriesland                       31. Anna of Holstein-Gottorp

References

• Ferdinand Siebigk: Johann August, Fürst von Anhalt-Zerbst. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 14, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, S. 118 f.