 Given his overriding interest in these pursuits, John Ernest entrusted the reigns of government to his chancellor.In Weimar on 14 August 1656, John Ernest married Christine Elisabeth, (23 June 1638 – 7 June 1679), a daughter of John Christian, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (26 April 1607 – 28 June 1653).They had five children