Background
He was the eldest son of Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, by his wife Princess Sophie, daughter of King Abel of Denmark.
He was the eldest son of Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, by his wife Princess Sophie, daughter of King Abel of Denmark.
The second brother, Albert, became a priest and renounced all his rights. Of the two youngest brothers, Henry also was ordained as priest and renounced his rights, whereas Rudolf was possibly dead by the time of his father's death. John died unmarried and childless after four years of rule.