Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt

lands.

He was the second son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst by his wife Margarete, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.

Life

He received an extensive education under the supervision of his father. On 1 February 1549, with only thirteen-years-old, was oficially admitted in the University of Wittenberg, were, among others, he studied with the later Reformer Theologist Georg Helt. In 1550, after the death of his father, he inherited Anhalt-Zerbst alongisde with his older brother Karl I and his younger brother Bernhard VII.

The deaths of his uncles without male heirs permited to him and his brothers inherited Anhalt-Plötzkau (1553) and Anhalt-Dessau (1561). In 1562 his cousin Wolfgang abdicated Anhalt-Köthen on his favor.

Joachim Ernest was a typical renaissance monarch, who oppenly supported the Arts and culture. He sent his sons with their tutors to educational journeys across Europe. Also, he orders to the son of his chancellor, Tobias Hübner, the description of the famous Knight's games (German: "Ritterspiele") who taken place at the Dessau court.

The death of his last surviving brother, Bernhard VII, in 1570 left him as the sole ruler of the whole Anhalt states, who were finally unificated since his first partition in 1252; Joachim Ernest made the seat of his government in Dessau. He created in 1572 the Regional Regulation of Anhalt (German: "Landesverordnung Anhalts") and in 1582 he founded the Francisceum High School (German: "Gymnasium Francisceum") in Zerbst. Also, was a convinced supporter of the Reformation and supported the Huguenots.

For the absence of the "Primogenitur" in Anhalt, Joachim Ernest's seven sons shared the government on his death, until the five surviving divided between them their lands in 1603.

Marriages and Issue

In Barby on 3 March 1560 Joachim Ernest married firstly with Agnes (b. Barby, 23 June 1540 - d. Bernburg, 27 November 1569), daughter of Wolfgang I, Count of Barby-Mühlingen. They had six children:
#Anna Maria (b. Zerbst, 13 June 1561 - d. Brieg, 14 November 1605), married on 19 May 1577 to Joachim Frederick, Duke of Liegnitz-Brieg-Wohlau.
#Agnes (b. Zerbst, 16 September 1562 - d. Bernburg, 4 June 1564).
#Elisabeth (b. Zerbst, 25 September 1563 - d. Crossen, 5 October 1607), married on 19 May 1577 to John George, Elector of Brandenburg.
#Sibylla (b. Bernburg, 28 September 1564 - d. Leonberg, 26 October 1614), married on 22 May 1581 to Frederick I, Duke of Württemberg.
#John George I, Prince of Anhalt, later Anhalt-Dessau (b. Harzgerode, 9 May 1567 - d. Dessau, 24 May 1618).
#Christian I, Prince of Anhalt, later Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Bernburg, 11 May 1568 - d. Bernburg, 17 April 1630).

In Stuttgart on 9 January 1571 Joachim Ernest married secondly with Eleonore (b. Tübingen, 22 March 1552 - d. Schloss Lichtenberg, 12 January 1618), daughter of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg. They had ten children:
#Bernhard, Prince of Anhalt (b. Dessau, 25 September 1571 - d. Klosterhof bei Tyrnau, 24 November 1596).
#Agnes Hedwig (b. Dessau, 12 March 1573 - d. Sonderburg, 3 November 1616), married firstly on 3 January 1586 to Augustus, Elector of Saxony, and secondly on 14 February 1588 to John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön.
#Dorothea Maria (b. Dessau, 2 July 1574 - d. Weimar, 18 July 1617), married on 7 January 1593 to John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar.
#Augustus, Prince of Anhalt, later Anhalt-Plötzkau (b. Dessau, 14 July 1575 - d. Plötzkau, 22 August 1653).
#Rudolph, Prince of Anhalt, later Anhalt-Zerbst (b. Harzgerode, 28 October 1576 - d. Zerbst, 30 July 1621).
#John Ernest, Prince of Anhalt (b. Dessau, 1 May 1578 - d. Vienna, 22 December 1601).
#Louis, Prince of Anhalt, later Anhalt-Köthen (b. Dessau, 17 June 1579 - d. Köthen, 7 January 1650).
#Sabine (b. Dessau, 7 November 1580 - d. Darmstadt, 28 March 1599).
#Joachim Christoph (b. Dessau, 7 July 1582 - d. Dessau, 16 July 1583).
#Anna Sophie (b. Dessau, 15 June 1584 - d. Oberkranichfeld, 9 June 1652), married on 13 June 1613 to Karl Günther, Count of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.