[Freelance Warrior]

Very interesting story. I didn’t knew that a German prince had such power on his serfs in XVIII century.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Her father, Christian August, was the ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst and a field marshall in the Prussian Army. Apparently, during the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748), a large number of serfs fled the fighting and took shelter in Anhalt-Zerbst, overwhelming the small principality's food supplies, and threatening everyone with famine.

From what I've been able to find out, Field Marshall Prince Christian August offered these refugees a choice, they could either go to Russia, where there was plenty of farmland and not a lot of warfare, or they could leave Anhalt-Zerbst and take their chances with the various armies that were marching through the area.