Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

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Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (b. Dornburg, 29 November 1690 - d. Zerbst, 16 March 1747) was a German prince member of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg and, since 1742, ruler of all the Princcipality of Anhalt-Zerbst; also, he was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall.

He was the eldest son of John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg and Christine Eleonore of Zeutch.

[edit] Life

After the death of his father in 1704, Christian August inherited Anhalt-Dornburg jointly with his brothers John Louis II, John Augustus (d. 1709), Christian Louis (d. 1710) and John Frederick (d. 1742).

After possibly six months as a captain with the regiment guard in 1708, he joined on the 11 February 1709 to the the Regiment on foot in Anhalt-Zerbst (No. 8) which later change this name to the Grenadier's Regiment King Frederick William IV of Prussia. It was stationed in Stettin. In 1711 Christian August was awarded with the Order De la Générosité, later renamed in Pour le Mérite, and on 1 March 1713 was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After take part in the campaigns of the Spanish War of Succession and in the Netherlands, in 1714 Christian August was appointed Chief of the Regiment; two years later, on 4 January 1716 was named Colonel and on 14 August 1721 became in Major-General.

On 22 January 1729 he became in Commander of Stettin, after he had been chosen there on 24 May 1725 a knight of Order of the Black Eagle. Christian August was designated on 28 May 1732 Lieutenant-General and on 8 April 1741 General of Infantry. On 5 June of that year he was designated Governor of Stettin. On 16 May 1742 the King Frederick II of Prussia awarded him with the highest military dignity, the rank of Generalfeldmarschall.

Six months later, the death of his cousin John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst without any issue made him and his older and only surviving brother, John Louis II, the heirs of Anhalt-Zerbst as a co-rulers. Christian August remained in Stettin and his brother took full charge of the government, but he died only four years later unmarried. For this, Christian August had to left Stettin and return to Zerbst, but he only reigned four months until his own death.

[edit] Marriage and Issue

In Vechelde on 8 November 1727 Christian August married with Johanna Elisabeth (b. Gottorp, 24 October 1712 - d. Paris, 30 May 1760), daughter of Prince Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin and sister of the King Adolf Frederick of Sweden. They had five children:

1. Sophie Auguste Fredericka (b. Stettin, 2 May 1729 - d. St.Petersburg, 17 November 1796), who later became in Catherine II the Great, Empress of Russia.
2. William Christian Frederick (b. Stettin, 17 November 1730 - d. Dornburg, 27 August 1742).
3. Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (b. Alt Stettin, 8 August 1734 - d. Luxemburg, 3 March 1793).
4. Auguste Christine Charlotte (b. Stettin, 10 November 1736 - d. Stettin, 24 November 1736).
5. Elisabeth Ulrike (b. Berlin, 17 December 1742 - d. Zerbst, 5 March 1745).

Portrait of Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp, 1746

Portrait of Christian Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst, 1725

Preceded by John Louis I	Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg with John Louis II (until 1746), John Augustus (until 1709), Christian Louis (until 1710) and John Frederick (until 1742) 1704–1747	Succeeded by Frederick Augustus
Preceded by John Augustus	Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst with John Louis II until 1746 1742–1747