George III (Anhalt-Plötzkau)

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George III from Anhalt-Dessau
George III of Anhalt-Dessau ( 1555 )

George III von Anhalt-Plötzkau , called "the godly", (* August 15, 1507 in Dessau ; † October 17, 1553 ibid) was initially co-regent in the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau and, after the division of the country, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau as well as priest and later driving force the Evangelical Lutheran Reformation .

Life

Georg comes from the Askanians . He was a son of Prince Ernst von Anhalt (1474–1516) and his wife Margarethe von Münsterberg (1473–1530). After the death of his father in 1516, he was raised in the Catholic faith by his devout mother. In 1518 at the age of 11 he became canon and canon in the diocese of Merseburg , whose bishop was his uncle Adolf von Anhalt-Zerbst . His first study visit to the University of Leipzig ended after a few months in early 1519 because of a plague outbreak in Leipzig. His training was directed by the humanist Georg Helt , who turned to the Lutheran Reformation as early as 1519.

In 1524, the 17-year-old Georg was ordained a subdeacon in Merseburg and a priest in 1526. Shortly afterwards, Archbishop Albrecht von Magdeburg , a cousin of his mother, appointed him provost of the cathedral in Magdeburg . Here he fought the first beginnings of the Reformation as a close advisor to the archbishop. While Anhalt-Köthen had already introduced the Reformation in 1525 and Anhalt-Bernburg in 1526, Dessau remained strictly Catholic under the reign of Georg's mother, the princess widow Margarete. In 1525, the fiercest opponents of the Reformation accepted their invitation and gathered in their castle for the Dessau Bund . Georg meanwhile resumed his studies of canon law in Leipzig from 1528 .

Due to the complicated Anhalt line of succession, after the death of his mother in 1530, he and his two brothers Johann IV and Joachim became the ruling Prince of Anhalt-Dessau. Under the government of the brothers, Anhalt-Dessau also opened up to the Reformation. Georg had had a personal friendship with Luther and Melanchthon in neighboring Wittenberg for a long time. Luther particularly valued his uncomplicated manner and expressed the wish "to be as pious and innocent as Georg." Georg's former teacher Georg Helt also remained his adviser and friend for life. In 1533 Georg III. by receiving the Lord's Supper in both forms, officially converted to Lutheranism. In 1534 he and his brothers in Anhalt-Dessau were the last of the Anhalt principalities to introduce the Reformation. He was also actively involved in the introduction of the Reformation in Brandenburg in 1539. He also supported the young Duke and Elector Moritz in Albertine Saxony with the introduction of the Reformation and church legislation. In 1541 Georg represented his country at the Regensburg Religious Discussion .

In 1544 the brothers divided the country in 1546. Georg received Anhalt-Plötzkau. When August of Saxony introduced the Reformation in the then Catholic diocese of Merseburg in 1544 , Georg took over the offices of the previous bishop as coadjutor and was personally ordained by Martin Luther in Merseburg Cathedral in 1545 shortly before his death. Georg was the only German prince who officially held the office of a Lutheran clergyman after the Reformation. Due to the defeat of the Evangelicals in the Schmalkaldic War , Merseburg became Catholic again for a short time. Georg was resigned to the Meissen cathedral provost in 1549.

Georg's brother Johann died in 1551, and Joachim and Georg jointly took over the guardianship of his underage sons. In 1552 Georg retired to his Castle Warmsdorf for health reasons . He died unmarried on October 17, 1553 at Dessau Castle and was buried two days later in the Dessau Marienkirche in the presence of Melanchthon . Anhalt-Plötzkau fell to his brother Joachim and his nephews. His precious book collection has been preserved and today forms part of the Anhalt State Library in Dessau as the “Georgsbibliothek” .

The Evangelical Church of Anhalt celebrated the 500th birthday of the Dessau reformer Georg III. on August 15, 2007 with an exhibition and conference.

Works (selection)

  • Interpretation of the 16th Psalm. Leipzig 1553
  • Sermons and other scriptures. Zerbst 1555 etc.
  • From Rev. H. Last Supper. Zerbst 1650
  • Harmonia Publica Doctrinae Christianae, that is: Harmonization of Christian teaching. Wittenberg 1677

literature

Web links

Commons : George III. (Anhalt-Plötzkau)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Johann IV. And Margarethe von Münsterberg as guardianship regent Co-regent in the Principality of Anhalt
1525 / 30 - 1544 		Division of the country with Johann IV. And Joachim
predecessor Office successor
Johann IV. , Joachim and himself Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau
1544 - 1553 		Karl , Joachim Ernst and Bernhard VII.
predecessor Office successor
Magnus, Prince of Anhalt-Koethen Provost of Magdeburg
1526 - 1553 		?
predecessor Office successor
Sigismund von Lindenau Coadjutor of the Diocese of Merseburg
1544 - 1549 		Michael Helding
personal data
SURNAME George III
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Anhalt-Dessau, George III. Prince of (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, Catholic priest and Protestant reformer
DATE OF BIRTH August 15, 1507
PLACE OF BIRTH Dessau
DATE OF DEATH October 17, 1553
Place of death Dessau