George, Duke of Saxony
She was the first Protestant Abbess of Quedlinburg, having embraced Lutheranism in 1539. Anna did not dare to express her Evangelical confession during the reign of George, Duke of Saxony. However, George died in 1539 and was succeeded by his Protestant brother, Henry IV, which left Anna II free to publicly express her Lutheran faith and introduce the Reformation to Quedlinburg. By doing so, Anna II lost some of the privileges and jurisdiction traditionally enjoyed by Roman Catholic territorial abbesses. However, the reformation brought Anna and her community emancipation from seclusion and chance to break their vows. Anna II's decision allowed the women of Quedlinburg to quit the abbey and marry if they chose to do so.