House of Ascania

House of Ascania
House of Ascania
Country	Germany, Russia
Founded	1036
Founder	Esiko, Count of Ballenstedt
Current head	Eduard, Prince of Anhalt
Final ruler	Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt
Titles	Count/Prince/Duke of Anhalt; Duke of Saxony; Margrave of Brandenburg; Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg; Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg; Elector of Saxony; Prince of Lüneburg; Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias; Empress consort of All the Russias;
Deposition	1918 (Duchy of Anhalt)

The House of Ascania (German: Askanier) was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Anhalt.

The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as Schloss Askanien in German, which was located near and named after Aschersleben. The castle was the seat of the County of Ascania, a title that was later subsumed into the titles of the princes of Anhalt.