Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg

Victor Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Bernburg, 20 September 1700 - d. Bernburg, 18 May 1765), was a German prince member of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg.

He was the second but eldest and only surviving son of Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg by his first wife Sophie Albertine, daughter of George Frederick, Count of Solms-Sonnenwalde.

Life

After the death of his father in 1721, Victor Frederick succeeded him in Anhalt-Bernburg. As a Rittmeister and Capitan of the Prussian army, in 1722 he was made a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle.

Also, he showed an special interest for the mining and metallurgical sector, as he often visited the mines in the Harz.

Marriages and Issue

In Dessau on 25 November 1724 Victor Frederick married fistly with Louise (b. Dessau, 21 August 1709 - d. Bernburg, 29 July 1732), daughter of Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau. They had one daughter:

1. Sophie Louise (b. Bernburg, 29 June 1732 - d. Schloss Baruth, 6 October 1786), married on 20 May 1753 to Frederick, Count of Solms-Baruth.

In Potsdam on 22 May 1733 Victor Frederick married secondly with Sophie Albertine Fredericka (b. Berlin, 21 April 1712 - d. Bernburg, 7 September 1750), daughter of Albert Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. They had five children:

1. Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (b. Bernburg, 15 August 1735 - d. Schloss Ballenstedt, 9 April 1796).
2. Charlotte Wilhelmine (b. Bernburg, 25 August 1737 - d. Sondershausen, 26 April 1777), married on 4 February 1760 to Christian Gunther III, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
3. Marie Karoline (b. Bernburg, 9 June 1739 - d. Bernburg, 11 June 1739).
4. Fredericka Auguste Sophie (b. Ballenstedt, 28 August 1744 - d. Schloss Coswig, 12 April 1827), married on 27 May 1764 to Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst.
5. Christine Elisabeth Albertine (b. Bernburg, 14 November 1746 - d. Coswig, 18 May 1823), married on 27 April 1762 to Augustus II, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

In Bernburg on 13 November 1750 Victor Frederick married thirdly with Konstanze Fredericka Schmidt, a commoner; in consecuence, these was a morganatic union. She was ennobled and obtain the title of Baroness of Bähr (German: Frau von Bähr) in 1752, shortly before the birth of their only daughter:

1. Fredericka Wilhelmine of Bähr (b. 4 May 1752 - d. 6 July 1820), married on 12 November 1768 to Otto Henry Louis, Count of Solms-Tecklenburg.