Johann Ludwig II, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (23 June 1688, in

Dornburg Dornburg is a town in the Saale-Holzland district, in Thuringia, Germany. It sits atop a small hill of 400 ft above the Saale. Since 1 December 2008, it is part of the town Dornburg-Camburg. History Within the German Empire (1871–1918), ...

– 5 November 1746, in

Zerbst Zerbst () is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until an administrative reform in 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the former Anhalt-Zerbst district. Geography Zerbst is situated in the Anhalt-Wittenberg regi ...

), 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 ''Schlo ...

and ruler of the principality of

Anhalt-Dornburg The Principality of Anhalt-Dornburg was located in what is today Germany. It was created in 1667 following the death of Prince John VI and the partition of Anhalt-Zerbst with Anhalt-Mühlingen being created along with Anhalt-Dornburg for the you ...

. After 1742 he became ruler over the principality of

Anhalt-Zerbst Anhalt-Zerbst was a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts Potsdam-Mittelmark (Brandenburg) and Wittenberg, the city of Dessau and the districts of Köthen, Schönebeck and Jerichower ...

. He was the eldest son of

John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg John Louis I, Prince of Anhalt-Dornburg (4 May 1656, in Zerbst – 1 November 1704, in Dornburg), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dornburg, as well as a grandfather of Catherine the Great. He ...

, by his wife Christine Eleonore of Zeutsch.

Life

He succeeded his father as prince of Anhalt-Dornburg in 1704 and ruled jointly with his brothers John Augustus (died 1709),

Christian Augustus Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (29 November 1690, in Dornburg – 16 March 1747, in Zerbst) was a German prince of the House of Ascania, and the father of Catherine the Great of Russia. He was a ruler of the Principality of Anh ...

, Christian Louis (died 1710) and John Frederick (died 1742), but he had the ''Senoriat'' over all of them as first-born. In 1720 he was appointed ''Oberlanddrostes'' of

Jever Jever () is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer, Jever Pilsener, which is produced there. The city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted c ...

and remained there for the next twenty-two years; during this time, he ordered the building of the ''Stadtkirche'' in Jever (which was finally inaugurated in 1736). After the death in 1742 of his cousin Prince John Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst without heirs, he and his only surviving brother, Christian Augustus, took over the rule of the entire principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. In order to administer the principality, he had to return to Zerbst. Johann Ludwig never married and died after only four years of rule. On his death, he was succeeded by his brother and co-ruler.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:John Louis 2, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst 1688 births 1746 deaths People from Gommern Rulers of Anhalt House of Ascania Princes of Anhalt-Zerbst Royal reburials