Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt

{{Infobox royalty

| name =Friedrich

| image =

| title =Hereditary Prince of Anhalt

| full name =Leopold Friedrich Franz Sieghard Hubertus Erdmann Erbprinz von Anhalt| caption =

| succession = Head of the House of Ascania

| reign = 18 February 1947 - 9 October 1963

| reign-type = Period

| predecessor = Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt

(as Duke of Anhalt)

| successor = Eduard Prinz von Anhalt

| house =Ascania

| spouse =

| issue =

| father =Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt

| mother =Editha Marwitz von Stephani

| birth_date ={{birth date|1938|4|11|df=yes}}

| birth_place =Ballenstedt, Free State of Anhalt

| death_date ={{death date and age|1963|10|9|1938|4|11|df=y}}

| death_place =Munich

|}}

Leopold Friedrich Franz Sieghard Hubertus Erdmann, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt (11 April 1938 – 9 October 1963) was the head of the House of Ascania, the family which ruled the Duchy of Anhalt until 1918.

Life

He was born at Ballenstedt Castle, a castle belonging to the ducal family of Anhalt, as the eldest son of Duke Joachim Ernst of Anhalt and his second wife, Editha Marwitz (von Stephani, by adoption).{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Prince Friedrich succeeded his father as head of the Ducal House of Anhalt and titular Duke of Anhalt following his death in NKVD special camp number 2 (formerly Buchenwald concentration camp) as a prisoner of the Soviet Union on 18 February 1947.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} The succession of Prince Friedrich was disputed by his uncle, Prince Eugen, who also claimed the headship of the house after the death of Duke Joachim Ernst.{{cite book|authorlink=Hugh Massingberd|editor-last=Montgomery-Massingberd|editor-first=Hugh |year=1977|title=Burke's Royal Families of the World, 1st edition|location=London|publisher=Burke's Peerage|isbn=0-85011-023-8|pages=195–196}}{{cite book | title=Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels: Furstliche Hauser Band III | publisher=C. A. Starke Verlag | year=1955| pages=3 }}

Prince Friedrich died on 9 October 1963 in Munich, after being involved in a car crash. Following his death, he was succeeded as head of the ducal house by his younger brother, Prince Eduard.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}