Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (b. Dessau, 17 March 1540 - d. Dessau, 1 March 1570), was a German prince member of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst.

He was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst by his wife Margarete, daughter of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg.

Life

Bernhard inherited Anhalt-Zerbst when his father died in 1551, alongiside with his older brothers Karl I and Joachim Ernest, by virtue of the old House of Wettin Family Law.

The deaths of his uncles George III of Anhalt-Plötzkau (1553) and Joachim I of Anhalt-Dessau (1561) whitout issue, Bernhard and Joachim Ernest inherited their lands, who were merged to Anhalt-Zerbst (Karl I only inherited Plötzkau, because he died several months before Joachim I). In 1562 Anhalt-Köthen was also merged by Zerbst, after the death without issue of his last prince Wolfgang. Bernhard settled his residence in Dessau.

Marriage and Issue

In Dessau on 28 May 1565 Bernhard married with Clara (b. Gifhorn, 1 January 1550 - d. Franzburg, 26 January 1598), posthumous daughter of Franz, Duke of Brunswick-Grifhorn. They had only one son:

1. Franz George (b. 17 October 1567 - d. Zerbst, 7 September 1568).

Bernhard died without surviving male heirs and was succeded by his brother Joachim Ernest, who became in the sole ruler of the whole Anhalt states.