George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau

George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 15 August 1507 - d. Dessau, 17 October 1553), was a German prince member of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau and after 1544 the first ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Plötzkau

He was the third but second surviving son of Ernest I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau by his wife Margarete, daughter of Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels and granddaughter of George of Poděbrady (Podiebrad), King of Bohemia.

Life

He was brought up with his brothers mainly by his devout mother; after the death of his father in 1516, he inherited Anhalt-Dessau as a co-ruler of his brothers John V (the oldest) and Joachim I (the youngest).

At the instance of his kinsman, Adolph, Bishop of Merseburg, George was elevated to the rank of Canon in that see in 1518, and attended the University of Leipzig, where Georg Helt of Forchheim was his "highly beloved master".

In 1524 Adolph consecrated him as priest. That he might be able the better to refute the Lutheran sect, he made a thorough study of the Bible, the Church Fathers, and church history. The extreme tension of mind and the qualms of conscience into which his investigations brought him induced a violent illness, which left its mark upon him for the rest of his life. It was only after his mother's death (28 June 1530) that he could see his way to entire clearness of faith; but from the time of the Diet of Augsburg (1530) both George and his brothers are found allied with the Reformers.

After the first Evangelical celebration of the Mass at Dessau, on Maundy Thursday in 1534, George visited the district churches, making the fewest possible changes in the church practises, in accordance with his natural disposition and with Luther's acquiescence. Loving peace, he sought to deter Luther, in 1538, from publishing the tract "Wider den Bischof zu Magdeburg"; and persuaded him, in 1542, not to circulate his sharply worded tract on the feud of Wurzen.

In 1544 the protector of Merseburg Cathedral, Maurice of Saxony, appointed his brother, Duke Augustus, administrator, but because the latter was not a cleric, designated George as his "coadjutor in spiritual affairs". That year, he and his brothers decided to formally divided their principality of Anhalt-Dessau; George received Plötzkau.

In his new capacity as coadjutor, George forthwith proceeded, in company with Antonius Musa, just then appointed cathedral preacher at Merseburg, upon a visitation of all the cathedral parishes, exhibiting great patience, tactful discretion, and forbearance. He next conferred with Maurice in the matter of a prospective liturgy, which, in accordance with his suggestions and in virtue of the deliberations of the consistories of Merseburg and Meissen, was officially completed at Altenzelle in 1545. From then on twice a year George convened the cathedral clergy to a synod in Merseburg Cathedral, and on such occasions discoursed upon the questions and evils of the time, and upon proper official conduct. He based these "conciones synodicae" upon outlines furnished him by Melanchthon. Of the sermons which he delivered in the cathedral before many hearers, only a few have been preserved. They are distinguished by temperate and lucid exposition. When, in spite of his efforts to the contrary, the Schmalkald War broke out, George received under his roof the fugitive Camerarius and his family; interceded for Jonas, who had incurred Maurice's anger; and sought to restrain the clergy from "suspicious and frivolous words that might serve to cause discord." Although he "hated" the Augsburg Interim, he felt that he ought to lend a hand in the preparation of the Leipzig Interim, in order to preclude still worse results. In 1549 the emperor's candidate Michael Heldingk (Sidonius) was postulated by the chapter as bishop of Merseburg. Until his arrival, George was to continue administering the diocese. To strengthen the Lutheran confession as firmly as possible before the threatening storm, he now delivered his powerful sermons "On the False Prophets," and "On the Right Worthy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ", which are directed both against Rome and against the fanatics. Afterward he retired to his Anhalt estates. Sojourning mostly in Warmsdorf he continued to preach there, and when occasion offered sought to adjust the Osiandrian dispute.

He died unmarried after lingering sickness, and Melanchthon composed his epitaph. His unfeigned piety, his gentleness and love of peace, his benevolence and freedom of service, gained him the honorable title of the "devout" or "pious". His theology was that of Luther.

His personal library has been preserved intact, and is now part of the Anhaltische Landesbücherei at Dessau, along with an exhibition to honor his 500th birthday.

References

*Schaff-Herzog