Eduard Prinz Von Anhalt
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Eduard Julius Ernst August Erdmann, Prince von Anhalt (; born 3 December 1941), also referred to by the
courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but is rather used by custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some context ...
Prince Eduard, is the head of the
House of Ascania The House of Ascania () was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Principality of Anhalt, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ' ...
, the family which ruled the
Duchy of Anhalt The Duchy of 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 ...
until 1918.


Life and family

Eduard was born at Schloss Ballenstedt in
Ballenstedt Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Geography It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipal area comprises the vi ...
, in what is now the German state of
Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt ( ; ) is a States of Germany, state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.17 million inhabitants, making it the List of German states ...
, the youngest of the five children of the last reigning Duke of Anhalt, Joachim Ernst, and of his second wife Editha "Edda" Charlotte Wilhelmine Marwitz, who allegedly paid 10,000 marks to Bertha von Stephani to improve her social standing by adult adoption. On 9 October 1963, Eduard's older brother Friedrich died childless in a car crash. Eduard uses the title ''Prince of Anhalt'', but is referred to by others as Duke of Anhalt.Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint Georg
H.H. The Duke of Anhalt Appointed Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice, of Honor
Almanach de Gotha, The succession of Eduard and his brother was disputed by their uncle Prince Eugen who also claimed the headship of house after the death of Duke Joachim Ernst. The death without male issue in 1980 of Prince Eugen left Prince Eduard as the sole claimant to the headship of the house. Eduard lived in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
for several years, working in a number of retail sales positions, before returning to Germany in 1967. He has been a journalist and columnist for numerous German magazines. He has also hosted a television programme ''Adel verpflichet'' (
Noblesse oblige ''Noblesse oblige'' (; literally "nobility obliges") is a French expression that means that nobility extends beyond mere entitlement, requiring people who hold such status to fulfill social responsibilities; the term retains the same meaning ...
) for
RTL Television RTL (from '), formerly RTL plus and RTL Television, is a German-language free-to-air television channel owned by RTL Deutschland, headquartered in Cologne. Founded as an offshoot of the German-language radio programme '' ,'' RTL is cons ...
. Subsequently, Anhalt became a frequent German television commentator for royal events. In 1978, Eduard wrote a book about his family's traditions, ''Askanische Sagen Über die Entstehung der Deutschen'' (English: ''Ascanian Legends About the Origins of the Germans''). A revised and expanded edition of the book with the title ''Sagenhaftes Askanien: Geschichten und Legenden'' (English: ''Incredible Ascania, Stories and Legends'') was published in 2004. Eduard has served as deputy chairman of the Société des Amis of the
Almanach de Gotha The ''Almanach de Gotha'' () is a directory of Europe's royalty and higher nobility, also including the major governmental, military and diplomatic corps, as well as statistical data by country. First published in 1763 by C. W. Ettinger in ...
reboot. Due to his father's incarceration in a concentration camp from 1938 to 1944, Eduard's paternity has been questioned.Burke's Royal Families of the World, Europe and Latin America In 1990 his eldest sister Princess Marie Antoinette (called Alexandra) termed him her 'half brother' to the press, and alleged that his father was
Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was a German Nazism, Nazi politician and military leader who was the 4th of the (Protection Squadron; SS), a leading member of the Nazi Party, and one of the most powerful p ...
. Eduard responded by suggesting the matter was simply a dispute between siblings, and that she wished to besmirch his name. In April 1990, Eduard asserted ownership of the family seat Schloss Ballenstedt, which had been confiscated by the Communist authorities in
East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...
after
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. He was unsuccessful, and there were lengthy administrative disputes, although relations with the town administration of Ballenstedt subsequently improved. After a further long legal fight with the town administration, which had insisted on first right of refusal, in May 2000 Eduard managed to purchase for 400,000 D-Marks another property of the family which had been requisitioned. This was the small but historic domed neoclassical hunting lodge, Röhrkopf, built in 1770, which lies within the former park of Schloss Ballenstedt. It has now become the family seat, and three holiday apartments for general rental have been constructed within its garden. Fear of lingering animosity towards the family, including over issues of restitution, inhibited his children from resettling in Anhalt, although after her divorce his wife bought a home in Dessau, and worked to promote the region. A difficulty for Eduard has been the
adult adoptees An adult is an animal that has reached Developmental biology, full growth. The biological definition of the word means an animal reaching sexual maturity and thus capable of reproduction. In the human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings asso ...
of his aunt Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt. Adopted for what has been presumed to be monetary reasons, and laying claim to be princes of Anhalt, they are estimated to number 35 persons. Outside of Germany, the most notable of the adoptees is
Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt (né Hans Robert Lichtenberg; born 18 June 1943) is a German-American businessman best known as the last husband and widower of Zsa Zsa Gabor. Early life Hans Robert Lichtenberg was born in Wallhausen near Bad Kre ...
(formerly Hans Lichtenberg), the last husband of actress
Zsa Zsa Gabor Zsa Zsa Gabor ( , ; born Sári Gábor ; February 6, 1917 – December 18, 2016) was a Hungarian Americans, Hungarian-American socialite and actress. Her sisters were socialites and actresses Eva Gabor and Magda Gabor. Gabor competed in the ...
. In 2010, Eduard released a statement restating that such individuals would never be officially recognised by the family as members of the House of Anhalt-Ascania. Eduard gained international attention in August 2010 when he claimed to have advanced knowledge of the engagement of his distant cousin
Prince William of Wales William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. William was born during the reign of his p ...
to
Catherine Middleton Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew u ...
. Although a spokesperson for the British royal family denied Eduard's claim, the engagement was indeed announced a few months later.


Marriage and children

On 21 July 1980, in
Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
, Eduard married Corinne Gisa Elisabeth Krönlein (born 19 August 1961,
Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is, after Nuremberg and Fürth, the Franconia#Towns and cities, third-largest city in Franconia located in the north of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. It sp ...
), daughter of Günther Krönlein (a relative of Rhenish missionary Johann Georg Krönlein) and wife Anneliese Benz, in a civil ceremony. The couple renewed their vows in a religious ceremony on 7 June 1986 in S-charl, near
Scuol Scuol () is a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair Region in the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Grisons. The official language in Scuol is Romansh language, Romansh. On 1 January 2 ...
,
Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
, but later divorced in 2014. Eduard and Corinne have three daughters: * Julia ''Katharina'' Elisabeth (born 14 December 1980,
Bad Tölz Bad Tölz (; Bavarian: ''Däiz'') is a town in Bavaria, Germany and the administrative center of the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district. History Archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz since the retreat of the gla ...
) married 12 July 2008 Marc Bernath (zu Bernathfalva), registered legally as "Marc Prinz von Anhalt": ** Julius ''Maxime'' Laszlo Prinz von Anhalt (born 21 December 2010, Munich) * Julia ''Eilika'' Nicole (born 1 January 1985,
Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
), has one son and one daughter with her partner, Fabian Harte: ** Leopold (b. 2011) ** Julia Philine (b. 2013) * Julia ''Felicitas'' Leopoldine Friederike Franziska (born 14 May 1993, Munich)


Succession

Eduard is the last male of what is considered the "House of Ascania", itself from the
Billung The House of Billung was a dynasty of Saxon noblemen in the 9th through 12th centuries. The first known member of the house was Count Wichmann, mentioned as a Billung in 811. Oda, the wife of Count Liudolf, oldest known member of the Liudol ...
dynasty, traced back ultimately to the Count Wichmann (''Wychmannus comes'') in 811 AD. If Eduard died without male issue, the House would be considered extinct. The male line of Ascanians survives, however, in the Counts von Westarp, descendants of Prince Franz of
Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (originally Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym) was a German principality and member of the Holy Roman Empire. The death of Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg in 1718 resulted in the partition of his land, with his second so ...
and his
morganatic Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...
wife Karoline Westarp and the Counts von Waldersee who descend from Count Franz Johann von Waldersee (1763–1823), illegitimate son of
Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold III Frederick Franz, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau (10 August 1740 – 9 August 1817), known as "Prince Franz" or "Father Franz", was a German prince of the House of Ascania. From 1751 until 1807 he was reigning prince of the Principality of Anha ...
(1740–1817) and his mistress Eleonore Hofmeyer (1739–1816). In 2010 Eduard modified the House of Anhalt-Ascania Laws, abolishing the Salic or Semi-Salic laws; recognising his first born daughter as his heir; and ruling that gender would in future be irrelevant in determining the line of descent.


Honours


Dynastic orders

*
House of Ascania The House of Ascania () was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Principality of Anhalt, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ' ...
: Sovereign Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Ducal Order of Albert the Bear * Two Sicilian royal family: Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Justice and Honour with Collar of the Two Sicilian Royal Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George


Ancestry


References


External links


Official website of the Ducal Family of Anhalt

Order of Albert the Bear
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prinz von Anhalt, Eduard 1941 births Living people People from Ballenstedt People from the Free State of Anhalt House of Ascania Dukes of Anhalt Sons of dukes Pretenders