Bernhard | |
|---|---|
| Count of Anhalt | |
 Woodcut by Balthasar Mencius (Menz), 1596, showing Bernhard holding his coat-of-arms. Inscription: Churfürst Bernhard (i.e. Prince-elector Bernhard) | |
| Duke of Saxony | |
| Reign | 1180–1212 |
| Predecessor | Henry the Lion |
| Successor | Albert I |
| Born | c. 1140 |
| Died | 2 February 1212 Ballenstedt |
| Noble family | House of Ascania |
| Spouse(s) | Judith of Greater Poland Sophia of Thuringia |
| Issue | Henry I, Count of Anhalt Albert I, Duke of Saxony Sophia of Saxony |
| Father | Albert the Bear |
| Mother | Sophie of Winzenburg |
Bernhard (c. 1140– 2 February 1212), a member of the House of Ascania, was Count of Anhalt and Ballenstedt, and Lord of Bernburg through his paternal inheritance. From 1180 he was also Duke of Saxony (as Bernhard III or Bernhard I).[1]
- ^ Different counting traditions developed, following the arguments, that Bernhard's dukedom was either (1) a successor of the old stem duchy of Saxony, with its two prior dukes named Bernhard or (2) the much smaller territorial rest of Saxony remaining after the carve-up of the old duchy in 1180 formed the so-called Younger Duchy of Saxony, whose first duke of this name was then Count Bernhard of Anhalt. Bernhard's great-great-great-great-grandson of the same name is thus counted as Bernhard II. Both traditions compete, more so with Bernard sometimes counted I or III, less so with his son Albert I, who is usually counted first, although his grandfather Albert the Bear was the first Saxon duke of that name between 1138 and 1142 before the carve-up.