Born in Berlin, Christian Ludwig was the youngest son of the "Great Elector" Frederick William (1620–1688), ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia, and his second wife Princess Sophia Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1636–1689).

Like his elder brothers, Christian Ludwig inherited large estates around Schwedt, Vierraden and Wildenbruch which his mother had acquired to provide for her sons, while according to the Hohenzollern primogeniture principle the rule over Brandenburg-Prussia passed to Frederick William's first-born son, Crown Prince Frederick III, who became King in Prussia in 1701.

Nevertheless, Christian Ludwig, interested in the musical works of Georg Frideric Handel, was able to maintain a court orchestra at the Berlin City Palace.

From 1695 Margrave Christian Ludwig served as a general lieutenant at the Stettin garrison and commander of the Old Prussian Infantry Regiment No.7.

Bach appreciated Christian Ludwig's interest in his compositions and two years later dedicated his Six Concerts Avec plusieurs Instruments (BWV 1046–1051) to him.