Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau


Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Dessau, was a German noblewoman by birth Princess of Anhalt-Dessau as member of the House of Ascania and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
Born in Cölln an der Spree, she was the fourth of ten children born from the marriage of John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Henriette Catherine of Orange-Nassau. From her nine older and younger siblings, five survive adulthood: Henriette Amalie, Marie Eleonore, Henriette Agnes, Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Johanna Charlotte.

Life

In 1680, and thanks to her father's instigation, Elisabeth Albertine was chosen Princess-Abbess of Herford Abbey as Elisabeth IV, securing with this the support of the Rhenish Imperial College prelate. She remained in the post for six years, until her marriage was arranged and moved to Barby; however, several Herford artists and merchants followed her.
In Dessau on 30 March 1686, Elisabeth Albertine married Henry, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby. Elisabeth Albertine's paternal great-great grandmother was Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen; this give to Henry some blood ties to the extinct House of Barby.
The marriage produced eight children, of whom only three survive adulthood:
  1. John August, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
  2. John August, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
  3. Stillborn twin sons.
  4. Frederick Henry, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
  5. George Albert, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Barby.
  6. Henriette Marie.
  7. Stillborn daughter.
Elisabeth Albertine died in Dessau aged 41, following complications in her last childbirth. She was buried in the Familiengruft, Barby.