Victor Frederick of Anhalt-Bernburg (20 September 1700–18 May 1765), was a German prince of the House of Ascania. He was Reigning prince of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg from 1721 to 1765.
| Victor Frederick | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg | |||||
 Portrait of Victor Frederick, c. 1730 | |||||
| Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg | |||||
| Reign | 22 April 1721–18 May 1765 | ||||
| Predecessor | Karl Frederick | ||||
| Successor | Frederick Albert | ||||
| Born | 20 September 1700 Bernburg, Anhalt-Bernburg, Holy Roman Empire | ||||
| Died | 18 May 1765 (aged 64) Bernburg, Anhalt-Bernburg, Holy Roman Empire | ||||
| Spouse | Louise of Anhalt-Dessau Albertine of Brandenburg-Schwedt Konstanze Friederike Schmidt | ||||
| Issue Detail | Sophie Louise, Countess of Solms-Baruth Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg Charlotte Wilhelmine, Princess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Marie Karoline Fredericka Auguste Sophie, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst Christine Elisabeth Albertine, Princess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Louise Fredericka Wilhelmine, Countess of Solms-Tecklenburg | ||||
| |||||
| House | Ascania | ||||
| Father | Karl Frederick | ||||
| Mother | Sophie Albertine of Solms-Sonnenwalde | ||||
Life
editVictor Frederick was born on 20 September 1700 in Bernburg as the second (but eldest and only surviving) son of Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, by his first wife Sophie Albertine, daughter of George Frederick, Count of Solms-Sonnenwalde.
After the death of his father in 1721, Victor Frederick succeeded him in Anhalt-Bernburg. As a Rittmeister and Capitan of the Prussian army, he was made a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle in 1722.
Victor Frederick showed a special interest for mining and metallurgy and often visited the mines in the Harz.
He died on May 18, 1765 in Bernburg, leaving behind 7 children, including Frederick Albert, who succeeded him. Frederick Albert reigned until 1796.
Marriages and issue
edit
In Dessau on 25 November 1724 Victor Frederick married Princess Louise of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 21 August 1709 - d. Bernburg, 29 July 1732), daughter of Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau. They had one daughter:
- Sophie Louise (b. Bernburg, 29 June 1732 - d. Schloss Baruth, 6 October 1786), married on 20 May 1753 to Frederick, Count of Solms-Baruth.
In Potsdam on 22 May 1733 Victor Frederick married for a second time to Albertine of Brandenburg-Schwedt (b. Berlin, 21 April 1712 - d. Bernburg, 7 September 1750), daughter of Margrave Albert Frederick of Brandenburg-Schwedt. They had five children:
- Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Bernburg, 15 August 1735 - d. Ballenstedt, 9 April 1796).
- Charlotte Wilhelmine (b. Bernburg, 25 August 1737 - d. Sondershausen, 26 April 1777), married on 4 February 1760 to Christian Günther III, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
- Marie Karoline (b. Bernburg, 9 June 1739 - d. Bernburg, 11 June 1739).
- Fredericka Auguste Sophie (b. Ballenstedt, 28 August 1744 - d. Coswig, 12 April 1827), married on 27 May 1764 to Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst.
- Christine Elisabeth Albertine (b. Bernburg, 14 November 1746 - d. Coswig, 18 May 1823), married on 27 April 1762 to Augustus II, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
In Bernburg on 13 November 1750 Victor Frederick married morganatically for a third time to Konstanze Fredericka Schmidt, a commoner. She was ennobled and obtain the title of Baroness of Bähr (German: Frau von Bähr) in 1752, shortly before the birth of their only daughter:
- Louise Fredericka Wilhelmine of Bähr (b. 4 May 1752 - d. 6 July 1820), married on 12 November 1768 to Otto Henry Louis, Count of Solms-Tecklenburg.
