John I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg (*1260 died 5 June 1291) was a German prince of the

House of Ascania 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 ...

and ruler of the principality of

Anhalt-Bernburg Anhalt-Bernburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subdivision from the Principality of ...

. He was the eldest son of

Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg Bernhard is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar (1604–1639), Duke of Saxe-Weimar *Bernhard, Prince of Saxe-Meiningen (1901–1984), head of the House of Saxe-Meiningen 1946 ...

, by his wife Princess Sophie, daughter of King

Abel of Denmark Abel Valdemarsen (1218 – 29 June 1252) was Duke of Schleswig from 1232 to 1252 and King of Denmark from 1250 until his death in 1252. He was the son of Valdemar II by his second wife, Berengaria of Portugal, and brother to kings Eric IV and ...

Life

After the death of his father in 1287, John succeeded him as ruler of the Anhalt-Bernburg, but he had to rule jointly with his third brother, Bernhard II. 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. He was succeeded by his brother Bernhard II, who became sole ruler. Princes of Anhalt-Bernburg 1291 deaths Year of birth unknown {{germany-noble-stub