Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau

Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau (b. Dessau, 14 July 1575 - d. Plötzkau, 22 August 1653), was a German prince member of the House of Ascania and ruler of the unificated Principality of Anhalt and, since 1603, ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Plötzkau.

He was the fourth son of Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt but second-born by his wife Eleonore, daughter of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg.

Life

In 1586, after the death of his father, Augustus inherited Anhalt jointly with his half and full-brothers under th custody of the oldest, John George I.

After seventeen years of common government, in 1603, the surviving co-rulers made the formal division of their lands; Augustus received Plötzkau, who was created from parts of the old principality of Anhalt-Bernburg.

From 1621 until 1642 Augustus acted as regent in Anhalt-Zerbst on behalf of his infant nephew John VI, and from 1650 until 1653 in Anhalt-Köthen on behalf of another infant nephew, William Louis.

Marriage and Issue

In Ansbach on 25 January 1618 Augustus married with Sibylle (b. Laubach, 19 October 1590 - d. Plötzkau, 23 March 1659), daughter of John George I, Count of Solms-Laubach. They had eight children:
#Johanna (b. Plötzkau, 24 November 1618 - d. Quedlinburg, 3 May 1676).
#Ernest Gottlieb, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau (b. Plötzkau, 4 September 1620 - d. Plötzkau, 7 March 1654).
#Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau, later Anhalt-Köthen (b. Plötzkau, 8 April 1622 - d. Köthen, 7 November 1669).
#Dorothea (b. Zerbst, 20 June 1623 - d. Plötzkau, 6 December 1637).
#Ehrenpreis (b. Zerbst, 21 July 1625 - d. Bernburg, 21 July 1626).
#Sophie (b. Plötzkau, 11 July 1627 - d. Köthen, 24 November 1679).
#Elisabeth (b. Plötzkau, 21 March 1630 - d. Köthen, 17 April 1692).
#Emmanuel, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau, later Anhalt-Köthen (b. Plötzkau, 6 October 1631 - d. Köthen, 8 November 1670).