Background
She was the fifth child (but third daughter) of John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, by his first wife Agnes, daughter of Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.
Landgrave of Hesse Duchess of Legnica
She was the fifth child (but third daughter) of John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, by his first wife Agnes, daughter of Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.
Louise married Christian, Duke of Brieg-Oława, on 24 November 1648 in her native city of Dessau. Seven months later, on 29 September, the Ducal couple"s third child, the long-awaited son and heir, George William, was born. The deaths of Louis IV in 1663 and George III in 1664 finally left Christian as sole ruler of all the family lands.
Duke Christian died on 28 February 1672.
His only surviving son, George William, succeeded him in Legnica-Brzeg, but because he was a minor, the regency was held by his mother Louise, who was the regnant Duchess of Wołów-Oława as her Oprawa wdowia ("dower rights"), in accordance with her husband"s will. They decided to accelerate the formal proclamation of the young Duke George William as an adult.
Despite Louise"s protests, Emperor Leopold I declared George Wilhelm an adult and ruler of his Duchy as of 14 March 1675. One of the first acts of the Duke was to strip his mother of Wołów, a part of her Oprawa wdowia.
However, George William"s reign was short.
He died eight months later, on 21 November, a victim of smallpox. Without issue, the House of Piast became extinct in the male line with him. She died in 1680 and was buried next to her husband.
Her estates were taken over by the Holy Roman Empire.