Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II (31 July 1527 – 12 October 1576) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1564 until his death. A member of the House of Habsburg, he became King of Bohemia in 1562, King of Germany in 1562, and King of Hungary and King of Croatia in 1563. He succeeded his father Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor in 1564.[1] Maximilian's reign was shaped by religious tensions following the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, as he tried to ease conflicts between Catholic and Lutheran groups but ultimately failed.[2] He also dealt with ongoing threats from the Ottoman Empire and faced conflicts with his Spanish relatives.[3]
| Maximilian II | |
|---|---|
 Maximillian as Archduke | |
| Holy Roman Emperor Archduke of Austria | |
| 25th July 1564-12th October 1576 | |
| 8th September 1564 | |
| Predecessor | Ferdinand I |
| Successor | Rudolf II |
| Born | 31 July 1527 Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 12 October 1576 (aged 49) Regensburg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Maria of Austria (m. 1548) |
| Issue |
|
| House | Habsburg |
| Father | Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Mother | Anne of Bohemia and Hungary |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Signature |  |
Born in Vienna, Maximilian was the son of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anne of Bohemia and Hungary. Educated by humanist scholars, he gained military experience in the Italian War of 1542–46 and the Schmalkaldic War. In 1548, he married Maria of Spain, strengthening ties with Spain. Despite his Catholic background, Maximilian had Lutheran influences, causing concerns within the Catholic Church.[4] He focused on defending his lands and developing Vienna, overseeing the construction of important buildings like the Hofburg Palace and Neugebäude Palace.[1]
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor Media
Maximilian and his younger brothers Ferdinand II and John, painting by Jakob Seisenegger, 1539
The south wing of Stallburg, Vienna seen from Josefsplatz.
Maximilian II (Sofonisba Anguissola, c. 1580)
Maximilian II with his family in 1553, by Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Coat of Arms of Archduke Maximilian of Austria (1527–1576)
Coat of Arms of Ferdinand I and Maximilian II as Kings of the Romans
Greater Coat of Arms of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
,_by_Sofonisba_Anguissola.jpg)
.svg)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Encyclopædia, Britannica (2009). "Maximilian-II,-Holy-Roman-Emperor". www.britannica.com.
- ↑ Fichtner, Paula Sutter. Emperor Maximilian II. Yale University Press, 2001.
- ↑ "Maximilian II: caught between the competing priorities of Vienna, Prague and Madrid". Die Welt der Habsburger. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ↑ Marshall, Peter. The Mercurial Emperor: The Magic Circle of Rudolf II in Renaissance Prague. Yale University Press, 2013, pp. 10–12.