Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg

Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Ballenstedt, 12 June 1767 - d. Ballenstedt, 24 March 1834), was a German prince member of the House of Ascania, ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg and since 1807, the first Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg.

He was the only son of Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg by his wife Louise Albertine, daughter of Frederick Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön.

Life

Since his early years, he and his sister Pauline received an excellent education. After the death of his father in 1796, Alexius Frederick Christian inherited Anhalt-Bernburg.

Anhalt-Bernburg became increased one year later (1797) with formal division of Anhalt-Zerbst; Alexius Frederick Christian received the towns of Coswig and Mühlingen, who was the 1/3 of the defunct principality. In 1812, with the extinction of the branch of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, he inherited Hoym and some Prussian exclaves.

Alexius provided for the improvement of education with the building and enlargement of many churches and schools. Also, he showed special interest for the extension of the road network, especially in the newly acquired parts of Anhalt-Bernburg. The mining and metallurgical industry, also paid great attention to him. Alexius Frederick Christian began the build of several major construction projects, such as the later destroyed "Saalebrücke" in Bernburg (Saale). In 1810 he founded the "Alexisbad" in Selketal and later in the prussian area of Gernrode he created the "Beringer Bad".

In the matter of religion, he was tolerant and enlightened; in 1820 he finally declared the Reformist and Lutheran faiths the oficial co-religions of his state. In 1826 he joined to the german Zollverein and in 1829 he created a civil fund to orphans, widows and servants.

The Emperor Francis II elevated him to the rank of Duke in 1807. After the end of the Holy Roman Empire, Alexius Frederick Christian, with his kinsmans the Dukes of Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen, joined to the Confederation of the Rhine. Some of his troops fought for Napoleon in Tyrol, Spain, Russia, Gdansk and Kulm. On 13 December 1813 he resigned from the Confederation of the Rhine and sent his troops with his allies in 1814 and 1815 to Belgium and France. On 8 June 1815 he joined to the German Confederation.

Marriages and Issue

In Kassel on 29 November 1794 Alexius Frederick Christian married firstly with Maria Fredericka (b. Hanau, 14 September 1768 - d. Hanau, 17 April 1839), daughter of William I, Elector of Hesse. They had four children:
#Katharine Wilhelmine (b. Kassel, 1 January 1796 - d. Kassel, 24 February 1796).
#Wilhelmine Louise (b. Ballenstedt, 30 October 1799 - d. Schloss Eller, 9 December 1882), married on 21 November 1817 to Prince Frederick William Louis of Prussia, grandson of King Frederick William II of Prussia and uterine half-brother of King George V of Hanover.
#Frederick Amadeus, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Ballenstedt, 19 April 1801 - d. Ballenstedt, 24 May 1801).
#Alexander Karl, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Ballenstedt, 2 March 1805 - d. Hoym, 19 August 1863).

The union was completely unhappy and were divorced in 1817.

In Ballenstedt on 11 January 1818 Alexius Frederick Christian married secondly and morganatically with Dorothea Fredericka of Sonnenberg (b. Bernburg, 23 January 1781 - d. Ballenstedt, 23 May 1818), who shortly after the wedding was ennobled and created Baroness of Hoym (German: "Frau von Hoym"). The union only lasted four months until Dorothea's death.

In Bernburg on 2 May 1819 Alexius Frederick Christian married thirdly and again morganatically with Ernestine Charlotte of Sonnenberg (b. Bernburg, 19 February 1789 - d. Ballenstedt, 28 September 1845), sister of his second wife. Like her, Ernestine was created Baroness of Hoym shortly after the wedding. These marriage was childless.