Anhalt-Bernburg

Principality (Duchy) of Anhalt-Bernburg
Fürstentum (Herzogtum) Anhalt-Bernburg (German)
1252–1468
1603–1863
Flag of Anhalt-Bernburg
19th century flag of the Anhalt duchies
The Anhalt territories in 1853, with Anhalt-Bernburg in green
The Anhalt territories in 1853, with Anhalt-Bernburg in green
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806)
State of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806–13)
State of the German Confederation (from 1815)
CapitalBernburg
Common languagesUpper Saxon
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince 
• 1252–1287
Bernhard I (first)
• 1796–1803
Alexius Frederick Christian (last)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Partitioned from Anhalt
1252
• Inherited by Anhalt-Dessau
1468
• Repartitioned from Anhalt
1603
• Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym partitioned away

1718–1812
• Raised to duchy
1803
• Anhalt re-united
1863
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Principality of Anhalt
Duchy of Anhalt
Today part ofSaxony-Anhalt, Germany

Anhalt-Bernburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subdivision from the Principality of Anhalt from 1252 until 1468, when it fell to the Ascanian principality of Anhalt-Dessau. Recreated in 1603, Anhalt-Bernburg finally merged into the re-unified Duchy of Anhalt upon the extinction of the line in 1863.