Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst

Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst Fürstentum Anhalt-Zerbst (German)
1252–1396 1544–1796
18th century arms of Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt principalities (1747-1793), Zerbst in orange
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital	Zerbst
Common languages	Upper Saxon
Government	Principality
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from Anhalt	1252
• Partitioned into A-Dessau and A-Köthen	1396
• Partitioned from Anhalt-Dessau	1544
• Partitioned1	1603
• Partitioned2	1667
• Divided by A-Dessau, A-Köthen and A-Bernburg	1796
• Duchy of Anhalt reunited	1863
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Anhalt Anhalt-Dessau Anhalt-Köthen Anhalt-Bernburg
1: In 1603, Anhalt-Zerbst lost territory to Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Plötzkau and Anhalt-Köthen. 2: In 1667, Anhalt-Zerbst lost territory to create Anhalt-Mühlingen and Anhalt-Dornburg.

Anhalt-Zerbst was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the House of Ascania, with its residence at Zerbst in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subdivision of the Principality of Anhalt from 1252 until 1396, when it was divided into the principalities of Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. Recreated in 1544, Anhalt-Zerbst finally was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen, and Anhalt-Bernburg in 1796 upon the extinction of the line.