ANHALT, iin'hfilt. A duchy of the German Empire, inclosed within Prussian territory (provinces of Saxony and Brandenburg) Avith an area of 906 square miles (Slap: Germany, E 3). The western part, adjacent to Brunswick, par takes of the mountainous character of the Bartz region, and inclines gradually toward the valley of the Elbe. The latter traverses in a west ern direction the main part of the Duchy, and receives the Saale, Mulde, and a few minor tributaries. Anhalt has a fertile soil well culti vated and mostly under tillage. Rye, wheat, potatoes, oats, and grasses are grown extensively, The forests occupy a considerable area, and be long chiefly to the State. The chief mineral product of Anhalt is salts of different kinds.which are worked exclusively by the Government. The output of metal ore is very limited. while coal is produced to the amount of about 1,300,000 tons annually. The manufacturing and mineral in dustries give oceupation to over 47 per cent. of the population. The chief manufactured prod ucts are metal articles, sugar, cement, bricks, soap and other toilet articles, leather, woodenware, and spirits. Exports are chiefly sugar, spirits, grains, salt, carpets, and matches. The railway lines of Anhalt have a total length of about ISO miles, and belong chiefly to the State. The con stitution of the Duchy vests 111e executive 1)0\N-or with the Duke, who is assisted by the Diet. The latter is composed of thirty-six members, elected indirectly for a period of six veers. The immedi ate executive authority is vested in the Minister of State. Anhalt is represented by one member
in the Bundosrath and two deputies in the Reichstag of the German Empire. For purposes of local administration it is divided into six circles. The budget for balanced at about 15.500,000 marks ($3.689.000). The rev enue is derived from taxes, customs, and State domains, mostly salt works. The military organ ization of the Duchy ii under the control of Prussia. Education. elementary as well as sec ondary, is well provided for by the State. The State religion is Protestant, but the Catholic and Jewish churches are also subsidized to some extent. According to the census of 1900, the population of Anitalt was 316,027, showing an increase of more than 16 per cent. for the decade. Over t)0 per cent. of the population is Protestant. Capital, Dessau (q.v.).
The reigning house of Anhalt traces its origin to Albert the Bear, _Hargrave of Brandenburg, upon the death of whose grandson, Henry L. in 1232, the Anhalt territories of the family were divided into three parts. which gave rise to the related families of Bernburg, Aschersleben, and Zerbst. The subsequent history of Anitalt is a monotonous S114?(Tssion of reunions and reparcel ings, All the parts were united between 1576 and 1580, and were then broken up again into four parts,Dessan,Bernburg, Ktlthemand Zerbsf. By the successive extinction of the last three lines, Anhalt was definitely reunited in 1863.