Background
He was born at Moritzburg Castle in Zeitz, the eldest son of Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz, and his second wife, Dorothea Maria, a daughter of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar. His father had two sons from his first marriage, but both died in infancy long before his birth. He succeeded his father as duke of Saxe-Zeitz when his father died on 4 December 1681.
