Anna Maria of Anhalt
Anna Maria von Anhalt ( born June 13, 1561 Zerbst, † November 14, 1605 in Brieg ), was a princess of the line Ascanian Anhalt -Bernburg -Zerbst. Anna Maria was Abbess of Gernrode and by marriage Duchess of Brieg, Liegnitz, Wohlau and Ohlau.
Life
Anna Maria was the eldest daughter of the Duke Joachim Ernst von Anhalt (1536-1586) from his first marriage to Agnes (1540-1569), daughter of Count Wolfgang von Barby.
At the age of nine years she followed in 1570 their paternal aunt Elizabeth as Abbess of the pen Gernrode and Frose. However, she received this honor only nominally, in practice, was the corresponding area under the protection of the Principality of Anhalt and Anna Maria's father practiced as an administrator and the voting rights of Gernrode in the Reichstag. In 1577, Anna Maria was entpflichtet from her post as abbess. With Sibylla, Agnes Hedwig and Dorothea Maria followed her in succession three of her younger sisters in this office.
On May 19, 1577 Anna Maria married in Brieg Duke Joachim Frederick, the elder son of Duke Georg II " the Pious ". At the wedding next to Anna Maria's father -in-law of the groom, and also all the Elector Joachim Frederick of Brandenburg were present.
Duke George II died in 1586 and his two sons, Joachim Friedrich and Johann Georg came to his successor. George's widow Barbara of Brandenburg received the city of overland jointure. The so reduced Duchy Brieg inherited the elder son Joachim Friedrich, while Wohlau his brother Johann Georg devolved. As her mother Barbara of Brandenburg resided on the Brieger castle, dwelt the children in Ohlau, which initially belonged to them jointly.
After his brother Johann Georg, who died in 1592 without an heir 's death, inherited Anna Maria's husband Joachim Friedrich whose Duchy Wohlau while Johann Georg's widow Anna of Württemberg was assigned as a jointure Ohlau. When they were in 1594 with the Duke of Liegnitz Frederick IV remarried, she lost her claim to the Ohlauer jointure. This came Ohlau to Joachim Friedrich, after the death of his mother, Barbara of Brandenburg in 1595, the city fell to the Brieg. This enabled him to unite all in his hand the areas left behind by his father again.
Anna Maria's husband Joachim Friedrich died in 1602. His created on December 15, 1595 will he certain Ohlau as jointure for Anna Maria. She took over the guardianship of their minor children, and at the same time the regency for the also underage sons Johann Christian and Georg Rudolf. After her death in 1605 the guardianship and the reign of Joachim Friedrich's sister Elisabeth Magdalena of Brieg ( 1562-1630 ) and her husband Charles II, Duke was taken over by Münsterberg oil.
Anna Maria's motto read HRMDDHG ( Lord, govern me by your holy spirit )
Progeny
From their marriage, Anna Maria had the following children:
- Georg Ernst ( * / † 6 1589 )
- Johann Christian (1591-1639), Duke of Legnica and Brzeg
- Barbara Agnes (1593-1631)
- Georg Rudolf (1595-1653), Duke of Legnica
- Anna Maria (1596-1602)
- Maria Sophia (1601-1654)