George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau

Georg I of Anhalt -Zerbst, called ( * ca 1390 † September 21, 1474 in Dessau ) " the Elder " was a Prince of Anhalt -Zerbst.

Life

George was the second son of Prince Sigismund I of Anhalt -Zerbst († 1405) from his marriage with Jutta ( † after 1411 ), daughter of Count Gebhard of cross- ford. George followed his older brother, who died in 1417 Valdemar IV in government.

In the dispute over the pin Zerbst Georg granted the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 1415 and graduated with the same major rights a ten-year alliance. After the death of the Elector Albrecht III. of Saxony 1422, Georg withdrew his claims back after King Sigismund Frederick the Belligerent gave the electoral dignity but called a fief of his house at Barby, Walternienburg and Seyda. In a 1435 comparison closed Georg received the reversion of Barby. In 1444 he renewed the alliance with Magdeburg under extension to all times and under inclusion of all princes of Anhalt.

With a fire in the city of Dessau in 1467 large parts of the princely castle and the State Archives were destroyed. After the death of Prince Bernhard VI. of Anhalt- Bernburg († 1468 ) were the lands to George. With Bernard's widow Hedwig of Sagan († 1497 ), he was about for years in disputes. George put the government in 1470 in favor of his four sons down that divided the country. He died four years later in Dessau, where he is also buried.

Marriages and descendants

George was married four times. His first marriage with Mathilde ( † before 1432 ), daughter of Prince Otto III. of Anhalt- Bernburg, remained childless. From his second marriage with Euphemia († 1444 ), daughter of Duke Konrad III. of Oels two daughters reached adulthood:

• Anna († 1492)

• Marie, a nun in Landsberg

His third wife was Sophie ( † 1451 ), daughter of Count Sigismund von Hohenstein, with whom he had the following surviving children:

• Waldemar VI. (1450-1508), Prince of Anhalt- Köthen

• Hedwig, Nun in Landsberg ( † before 1516)
• Barbara, a nun in Landsberg
• Agnes (1445-1504), Abbess of Gandersheim 1485, from Neuenheerse 1486, Kaufungen 1495
• Scholastica (1451-1504), Abbess of Gernrode

In fourth marriage, Georg married Anna († 1513), daughter of Count Albrecht of Lindow -Ruppin, with whom he had the following children who reached adulthood:

• Ernst ( † 1516), Prince of Anhalt -Zerbst

• Sigismund III. (1456-1487)
• George II (1454-1509), Prince of Anhalt -Zerbst

• Rudolf IV († 1510)
• Anna († 1531)