anna sophie was born in königsberg, the oldest and only surviving child of duke albert of prussia (1490-1568) from his first marriage with dorothea (1504-1547), a daughter of king frederick i of denmark. from her mother, she received an extensive education in naturopathy and gynecology. already in 1546, the estates of prussia agreed to a so-called "dowry tax" to provide the dowry of guilders she would receive when she married.