Background
He was the second (but eldest surviving) son of Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his wife Margarete, daughter of Günther XX, Count of Schwarzburg and Lord of Arnstedt.
He was the second (but eldest surviving) son of Waldemar VI, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, by his wife Margarete, daughter of Günther XX, Count of Schwarzburg and Lord of Arnstedt.
In 1500, at just eight years of age, Wolfgang was admitted to the University of Leipzig, and in 1508, at sixteen, he took over the government of his principality with residence in Köthen Wolfgang had the opportunity to meet Martin Luther at the Diet of Augsburg in 1521. He later said that "He gained my heart" after hearing him speak.
In 1526 Wolfgang joined in a defensive alliance with other Evangelical states against the Emperor Charles V. This was a direct prelude to the later formantion of the Schmalkaldic League.
In 1530 he signed the Augsburg Confession at the Diet of Augsburg.
When the old "Burg" of Köthen was destroyed by a fire in 1547, he made his permanent residence in Bernburg. That year, he participated in the Battle of Mühlberg and was outlawed for it by the Emperor. Wolfgang took refuge in Saxony and was appointed Governor of Magdeburg in 1551 by the Elector Maurice.
In 1552 he was released from outlawry under the terms of the Peace of Passau and was restored to his territories.
By 1564 he moved to Zerbst, where he died two years later, unmarried and childless.