Rudolph of Anhalt-Zerbst, was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the unified principality of Anhalt.
Background
Rudolph was the fifth son of Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt, but third-born son by his second wife Eleonore, daughter of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg. In 1586, after the death of his father, Rudolph inherited the principality of Anhalt jointly with his halfand full brothers, but because he was still a minor, his older brother John George I acted as regent.
Career
From 1603, he was ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. By the accounts of contemporary witnesses, Rudolph was an eager pupil and student. In 1596 the twenty-year-old prince was invited to the coronation of King Christian IV of Denmark in Copenhagen.
His Grand Tour began in 1600 when he arrived in Sicily.
On 21 November 1601 he was admitted to the University of Siena. A year later, in 1602, the prince left Switzerland (where he had lived for some time) and returned to Dessau.
He received Zerbst, where his main residence was, and supported there the renovation of the Gymnasium Francisceum, beginning with the addition of a library. In 1618, Rudolph joined the Fruitbearing Society.
