Anhalt-Dessau

Principality (Duchy) of Anhalt-Dessau Fürstentum (Herzogtum) Anhalt-Dessau (German)
1396–1561 1603–1863
19th century flag of the Anhalt duchies 19th century coat of arms of the Anhalt duchies
The Anhalt principalities, with Anhalt-Dessau in green
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806) State of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806–13) State of the German Confederation (from 1815)
Capital	Dessau
Government	Principality
Prince
• 1396–1405	Sigismund I (first)
• 1751–1807	Leopold III (last)
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from Anhalt-Zerbst	1396
• Partitioned to create A-Köthen	1471
• Partitioned to create A-Plötzkau and A-Zerbst	1544
• Annexed back to A-Zerbst (later: Anhalt)	1561–1603
• Raised to duchy	1807
• Merged with Anhalt-Köthen	1853
• Duchy of Anhalt reunited	1863
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst Duchy of Anhalt
Today part of	Germany

Anhalt-Dessau was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and later a duchy of the German Confederation. Ruled by the House of Ascania, it was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, and finally merged into the re-united Duchy of Anhalt in 1863. The capital of the state was Dessau in present-day Saxony-Anhalt.