William Louis, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode


William Louis of Anhalt-Harzgerode, was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the last ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Harzgerode.
He was the eldest child and only son of Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode, by his first wife Johanna Elisabeth, daughter of John Louis, Prince of Nassau-Hadamar.

Life

William Louis succeeded his father in Harzgerode when he died in 1670. From 1660 until 1668, he was the second in line to the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg, until the birth of the first son of his cousin, Prince Victor Amadeus.

Marriages

In Laubach on 25 July 1671, William Louis married Elisabeth Albertine, daughter of Albert Otto II, Count of Solms-Laubach. She was fourteen years his senior, and perhaps for this reason the union was childless.
In Frederiksborg near Copenhagen on 20 October 1695 William Louis married for a second time to Sophie Auguste, daughter of Henry, Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg. This union was also childless, in spite the fact that Sophie Auguste was twenty-three years younger than William Louis.
Without any issue from his marriage, Anhalt-Harzgerode was merged back to the main line of Anhalt-Bernburg on his death, ruled at that time by his cousin Victor Amadeus.