[6] Both of Anna's parents were devout Catholics; Ferdinand on one occasion threatened to have anyone who exposed his children to Lutheranism executed.

In 1546, Anna had two suitors for her hand in marriage, this was William of Cleves and Albert V. of Bavaria (the younger brother of Anna´s former betrothed Theodor).

In June 1546[10] Anna, along with her mother and her sister, arrived in Regensburg to finalize marriage negotiations and to meet the prospective grooms.

The Wittelsbaches lands bordered Austria and were a potential threat which had to be neutralized by a marriage to a Habsburg, and there was also the expectation of help from the young Duke in Charles V. war against the Schmakaldic league.

The young couple lived at the Trausnitz Castle in Landshut, until Albert became duke upon his father's death on 7 March 1550.

Anna and Albert were also patrons to the painter Hans Muelich and the Franco-Flemish composer Orlande de Lassus.

[13] A religious woman, Anna made extensive donations to the Catholic abbey of Vadstena in Sweden and generously supported the Franciscan Order.

When her husband died on 24 October 1579 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, William V, Anna as duchess dowager maintained her own court at the Munich Residenz.