Augustus Christian Frederick, Duke of Anhalt-Köthen

Augustus Christian Frederick of Anhalt-Köthen (Köthen, 18 November 1769 – Schloss Geuz, 5 May 1812), was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen, and from 1806 the first "Duke of Anhalt-Köthen."

Augustus Christian Frederick
Duke of Anhalt-Köthen
Prince, then Duke of Anhalt-Köthen
Reign	17 October 1789 – 5 May 1812
Predecessor	Karl George Lebrecht
Successor	Louis Augustus
Born	18 November 1769 Köthen, Anhalt, Holy Roman Empire
Died	5 May 1812 (aged 42) Schloss Geuz
Burial	Köthener Schlosspark
Spouse	Princess Fredericka of Nassau-Usingen
Full name German: August Christian Friedrich
House	Ascania
Father	Karl George Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Mother	Louise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

He was the eldest son of Karl George Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his wife Louise Charlotte, daughter of Frederick, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.

Life

After the death of his father in 1789, Augustus Christian Frederick inherited Anhalt-Köthen. Like him, he pursued a military career in the Prussian army, where he became a Generalmajor.

On 15 May 1803 he was appointed Generalfeldmarschallleutnant and on 31 January 1805 made a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle.

In Frankfurt-am-Main on 9 February 1792 Augustus Christian Frederick married Fredericka (b. Usingen, 30 August 1777 - d. Hochheim, 28 August 1821), daughter of Frederick Augustus, Prince of Nassau-Usingen and later (1806) Duke of Nassau. After eleven years of an unhappy and childless marriage, they were divorced in 1803.

On 18 April 1806 Napoleon granted him the title "Monsieur d'Anhalt" and with this officially elevated him to the Ducal dignity.

At his death six years later without male issue, Augustus Christian Frederick was succeeded by his infant nephew Louis Augustus Karl Frederick Emil, the son of his deceased younger brother Louis.