William Louis, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode
William of Anhalt- Bernburg - Harzgerode ( born August 18, 1643 Harzgerode, † October 14, 1709 ibid ) was the last Prince of Anhalt - Harzgerode.
He was the son of Frederick of Anhalt- Bernburg - Harzgerode (1613-1670) and his first wife Johanna Elisabeth of Nassau- Hadamar ( 1619-1647 ).
Life
He received at the court of John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt -Dessau in Dessau thorough training. From there he set out on 8 December 1660 his grand tour of Europe. From his father he is rewarded with a booklet entitled " Monita paternalistic " ( " Paternal admonitions " ) with along the way. It called Prince Frederick his son et al on to visit a reformed university to expand his intellectual horizons.
After eight years, he returned on 10 May 1668 and undertook preparing for a career in the military before. When he wants to follow in 1670 in the service of the Elector of Brandenburg, his father died and he has to take over the small principality. In 1682 he founded the Vorwerk Wilhelmshof near the castle Anhalt and 1688 Neustadt bei Harzgerode, which was named in 1705 after the prince 's second wife Auguststadt. In 1691, he attempted, with the help of the merchants Jean de Smeth and his brother Josiah Rheden in mining. After a successful beginning, there was the end of 1692 already 37 mines. 1695 were of reclaimed silver coins are minted again, but the merchants embezzled a lot of money, so that even in 1698, only two mines were in operation.
As the country falls after his death to Victor Amadeus of Bernburg and thus back to Anhalt- Bernburg, he makes his wife sole heir and features are that to pay 12,000 dollars to the poor in Harzgerode and 6000 Taler at the Hallische orphanage after her death.
Family
His first wife was in 1671 the Countess Elizabeth Albertine zu Solms - Laubach (* May 6, 1631; † January 2, 1693 ) daughter of Otto Albert II of Solms- Laubach. The couple had no children.
After her death he married in 1695 Sofie Auguste von Nassau- Dillenburg (* April 28, 1666; † January 14, 1733 ) daughter of Henry of Nassau- Dillenburg ( 1641-1701 ). The couple had no children.