principality · Germany and Central Europe

Principality of Anhalt-Köthen

1603 CE – 1847 CE · capital Köthen

One of the Anhalt principalities of central Germany, home of the Fruitbearing Society and of the court where Johann Sebastian Bach wrote much of his instrumental music.

Origins

Anhalt was partitioned in 1603 among the sons of Prince Joachim Ernst, and Köthen fell to Ludwig, who founded the line of Anhalt-Köthen. Ludwig was a learned prince who in 1617 co-founded the Fruitbearing Society (Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft), the first society devoted to refining the German language.

Rule and society

The principality was a small Calvinist state in the Saale-Elbe region, living from agriculture. Its court is best known for Prince Leopold, a music lover who employed Johann Sebastian Bach as Kapellmeister from 1717 to 1723, when the Brandenburg Concertos and much chamber music were composed. In 1665 the line of Anhalt-Plötzkau inherited Köthen, continuing it under a new branch.

Decline and legacy

Köthen became a duchy in 1807 under Napoleon's patronage and joined the German Confederation. When its last duke died without heirs in 1847, the territory passed to Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Bernburg, and was absorbed into the united Duchy of Anhalt by 1863.

Lineage

Principality of Anhalt 1212 CE – 1603 CEPrincipality of Anhalt-Plötzkau 1603 CE – 1665 CEPrincipality of Anhalt-KöthenPrincipality of Anhalt-Dessau 1603 CE – 1863 CE

Connections (1)

More states of Germany and Central Europe →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Principality of Anhalt-Köthen. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-anhalt-kothen
MLA
“Principality of Anhalt-Köthen.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-anhalt-kothen. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Principality of Anhalt-Köthen.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-anhalt-kothen.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Principality of Anhalt-Köthen’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/principality-of-anhalt-kothen (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻