Duchy of Anhalt

Duchy of Anhalt Herzogtum Anhalt
1863–1918
Flag Coat of arms
The Duchy of Anhalt within the German Empire
Map of the Duchy of Anhalt (1863-1918)
Status	Member of the Confederation of the Rhine Member of the German Confederation State of the North German Confederation State of the German Empire
Capital	Dessau (when united)
Common languages	German, Low German
Religion	Evangelical Church of Anhalt
Government	Duchy
Duke
• 1863–1871	Leopold IV (first)
• 1918	Joachim Ernst (last)
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Counties3 raised to duchies	1806
• Köthen and Bernburg lines extinct; duchies united under Dessau line	1863
• German Revolution	1918
Area
• Total	3,800 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Anhalt Anhalt-Bernburg Anhalt-Köthen Free State of Anhalt
Today part of	Germany
13th century partition into Anhalt-Aschersleben, Anhalt-Bernburg and Anhalt-Zerbst. 17th century partition into Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen, Anhalt-Plötzkau and Anhalt-Zerbst. The three counties raised to duchies by Napoleon in 1806 were Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen.

The Duchy of Anhalt (German: Herzogtum Anhalt) was a historical German duchy. The duchy was located between the Harz Mountains in the west and the River Elbe and beyond to the Fläming Heath in the east. The territory was once ruled by the House of Ascania, and is now part of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.