Duchies of, in Germany, lie between Lat. 51. 33. and 52. 7. N., and Long. 11. and 12. 36. E., and comprise an area of 1017 square miles. They are almost entirely surrounded by the Prussian province of Saxony. The country is generally level, having few elevations except where the Hartz Mountains project towards Bernburg. The land, which is in a high state of cultivation, is very fertile, and is watered by the Elbe and its tributaries the Mulde, the Nuthe, and the Saale, which last receives here the Wipper and the Bode. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture and the rearing of sheep and cattle, for which the extensive forests and rich meadows are very favourable. The productions of the country are corn, wine, tobacco, flax, hops, and fruits; and its manufactures linen, cotton, and woollen goods, metallic and earthen wares. These find a ready exit by means of the Elbe and the Magdeburg-Leipzig, and the Anhalt-Berlin railways. Game and fish are abundant, and the mountains are rich in minerals.

Anhalt still exists as a consequence of that ancient system of hereditary succession in which the right of primogeniture was not recognised, the younger children sharing also in the heritage. Hence arose those petty kingdoms and principalities, of which several still exist in Germany. Whatever advantages this system may have had, it certainly tended much to retard the diffusion of civilisation and prosperity.

Bernhard, son of Albert surnamed the Bear, was the first who obtained the title of Prince of Anhalt, which territory he held, together with a great part of the Duchy of Saxony. On his death in 1211 he was succeeded in the principality of Anhalt by his son Henry I.; while Albert, a younger son, received his possessions in Saxony. On the death of Henry in 1252, Anhalt was divided among his family into three parts, which were afterwards united under Ernest Joachim I., who reigned from 1570 to 1586. On his demise the country was again divided among his four sons into Dessau, Bernburg, Coethen, and Zerbst. The Zerbst family dying out in 1793, their possessions fell to the share of the other three. By the death of Henry Duke of Anhalt-Coethen in November 1847, that line became extinct, and the affairs of the Duchy are now administered by the Duke of Anhalt-Dessau, for behoof of himself and the Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg. In 1807 the princes of Anhalt took the title of dukes, and joined the Confederation of the Rhine. In the Germanic Confederation the three duchies, in conjunction with Oldenburg and Schaumburg, have the fifteenth vote in the ordinary diet; but each has a distinct vote in its plenary assemblies. The population of Anhalt is almost entirely Protestant.

Several of the princes of Anhalt have borne a conspicuous part in the affairs of Europe, and not a few of them have been noted for their zeal in the cause of Protestantism. Wolf or Wolfgang VI., Prince of Anhalt-Coethen, and Joachim I., of Anhalt-Dessau-Zerbst, distinguished themselves in the cause of the Reformation. They were present at the diet of Augsburg in 1530, and Wolfgang was one of those who presented the "Confession" to the emperor.