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