Augustus Louis, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen


Augustus Louis of Anhalt-Köthen, was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen.
He was the third son of Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his wife Gisela Agnes of Rath.

Life

In 1702, Augustus' father instituted primogeniture in his lands so that on his death in 1704 only the eldest surviving son, Leopold, inherited his father's titles and powers.
When Leopold was declared of age in 1715, Augustus Louis tried to claim his rights under the old system, but finally Leopold forced him to renounce them. In exchange, Augustus Louis received the enclave of Güsten with its old Schloss built in 1547 by Prince George III and the town of Warmsdorf with all its revenues, as well as other concessions.
After the death from smallpox of Leopold and his two sons in 1728, Augustus Louis inherited Anhalt-Köthen, however he soon faced disputes with his sister-in-law, the Dowager Princess Charlotte Fredericka, and his niece Gisela Agnes.
In 1730 Charlotte Fredericka married Albert Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe, but until her death in 1785 she received the sum of 200,000 Thalers annually from Anhalt-Köthen. For Gisela Agnes, the income from her inheritance rose to 335,000 Thalers a year. These payments left Anhalt-Köthen deeply in debt. Augustus Louis tried to address the fiscal problems created by obligations to his brother's family members, but without success.

Marriages and Issue

About 1720, Augustus Louis fell in love with Agnes Wilhelmine von Wuthenau, of the old nobility of Anhalt and lady-in-waiting to his mother, the Dowager Princess Gisela Agnes. They were engaged on 18 November 1721 and she was created Countess of Warmsdorf by the Emperor. The couple finally married in Dresden on 23 January 1722; this morganatic union produced only two daughters, who were recognized as princesses of Anhalt with all appertaining rights:
  1. Gisela Henriette.
  2. Agnes Leopoldine.
In Sorau on 14 January 1726, a year after the death of his first wife, Augustus Louis married again to Christine Johanna Emilie, daughter of Erdmann II, Count of Promnitz-Pless. They had five children:
  1. Christiane Anna Agnes, married on 12 July 1742 to Henry Ernest, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode.
  2. Frederick Augustus, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Köthen.
  3. Johanna Wilhelmine, married on 17 December 1749 to Frederick, Prince of Carolath-Beuthen.
  4. Karl George Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen.
  5. Frederick Erdmann, Prince of Anhalt-Pless.
In Sorau on 21 November 1732 Augustus Louis married Anna Fredericka, also a daughter of Erdmann II, and the younger sister of his second wife, just nine months after the latter's death. They had two daughters:
  1. Charlotte Sophie.
  2. Marie Magdalene Benedikte.