Archduke (feminine: Archduchess ; German: Erzherzog , feminine form: Erzherzogin ) was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria , and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within the former Holy Roman Empire (962–1806), which was below that of Emperor , and roughly equal to King , Prince-Archbishop , and Grand prince , but above that of a Grand Duke , Sovereign Prince , and Duke .
58-480: Ferdinand III (Ferdinand Ernest; 13 July 1608 – 2 April 1657) was Archduke of Austria , King of Hungary and Croatia from 1625, King of Bohemia from 1627 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1637 to his death. Ferdinand ascended the throne at the beginning of the last decade of the Thirty Years' War and introduced lenient policies to depart from the old ideas of divine rights under his father, as he had wished to end
116-411: A tombeau for Ferdinand III's death was composed by the renowned violinist Johann Heinrich Schmelzer . Some of Ferdinand's own compositions survive in manuscripts: masses, motets, hymns and other sacred music, as well as a few secular pieces. His Drama musicum was praised by Athanasius Kircher , and the extant works, although clearly influenced by Valentini, show a composer with an individual style and
174-626: A Revised Land Ordinance, which deprived the Bohemian estates of their right to raise soldiers and reserved that power for the monarch. His father was unable to secure him the election as king of the Romans at the Diet of Regensburg of 1630. After he had unsuccessfully applied for the supreme command of the Imperial army and to participate in campaigns of Albrecht von Wallenstein , he joined Wallenstein's opponents at
232-405: A composer. He studied music under Giovanni Valentini , who bequeathed his musical works to him, and had close ties with Johann Jakob Froberger , one of the most important keyboard composers of the 17th century. Froberger lamented the emperor's death and dedicated to him one of his most celebrated works, Lamentation faite sur la mort très douloureuse de Sa Majesté Impériale, Ferdinand le troisième ;
290-651: A quick end to the war. Any hope to make early peace with France and Sweden did not materialise. With the intervention of France in 1635, the war flared up again. After initial success and a combined Spanish-Imperial campaign into the heart of France in 1636, the military situation of the emperor sharply deteriorated. The Swedes regained initiative with victory at the Battle of Wittstock in 1636 and threatened his recently-gained allies: Brandenburg-Prussia and Saxony . Ferdinand reacted by redirecting his main army under Gallas from France to northern Germany in 1637. Gallas could contain
348-565: A sense of responsibility and the willingness to make difficult decisions. In the course of the negotiations, Ferdinand had to reconsider his original goals according to the deteriorating military situation. His advisor Trauttmansdorff suggested a great battle to end the war favourably. The emperor personally took part in the campaign against the Swedes, which ended with a defeat at the Battle of Jankau on 6 March 1645. The Swedish army under Lennart Torstensson then advanced to Vienna. To raise morale in
406-452: A solid technique. Recordings of Ferdinand's compositions include: Editing Ferdinand III, by the grace of God elected Holy Roman Emperor, forever August, King in Germany, King of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Rama, Serbia, Galicia, Lodomeria, Cumania, Bulgaria, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Margrave of Moravia, Duke of Luxemburg, of
464-466: Is a title distinct from " Grand Duke " ( French : Grand-Duc ; Luxembourgish : Groussherzog ; German : Großherzog ; Dutch : Groothertog ), a later monarchic title borne by the rulers of other European countries (for instance, Luxembourg ). The Latin title archidux is first attested in reference to Bruno the Great , who ruled simultaneously as Archbishop of Cologne and Duke of Lotharingia in
522-649: The Aulic Council restructured, which competed with the Imperial Chamber Court . It had already been recognized at the Peace of Westphalia and remained in effect until 1806. In late 1652, he summoned a Reichstag in Regensburg, which lasted until 1654. The event was the last traditional imperial diet and was replaced by the future Perpetual Reichstag , with its permanent congress of emissaries. The Reichstag decided that
580-723: The Capuchin Crypt in Vienna. His interior organs were separately buried in the Ducal Crypt . On 20 February 1631, Ferdinand III married his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain (1606–1646). She was the youngest daughter of Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria . They were first cousins, as Maria Anna's mother was a sister of Ferdinand's father. They were parents to six children: On 2 July 1648 in Linz , Ferdinand III married his second wife, Archduchess Maria Leopoldine of Austria (1632–1649). She
638-452: The House of Habsburg is Karl Habsburg . The English word is first recorded in 1530, derived from Middle French archeduc , a 15th-century derivation from Medieval Latin archidux , from Latin archi - ( Greek ἀρχι- ) meaning "authority" or "primary" (see arch- ) and dux "duke" (literally "leader"). "Archduke" ( German : Erzherzog ; Dutch : Aartshertog )
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#1733085374420696-710: The Second Northern War . Ferdinand also brought about the royal election of his son Ferdinand IV , who, however, died in 1654. Because his second son, Leopold, was still too young to be elected as King of the Romans, Ferdinand delayed the opening and the conclusion of the Deputationstag after the Reichstag to gain time until the next election. Finally, Leopold was crowned King of Hungary and Bohemia. In 1656, Ferdinand sent an army into Italy to assist Spain in its struggle with France. Ferdinand died on 2 April 1657 and rests in
754-588: The Spanish Netherlands , which largely ended direct military co-operation with Spain. Although Piccolomini and the emperor's brother Archduke Leopold Wilhelm , as the new Imperial commander, could repel Banér back to the Weser river in 1640, the Bohemian lands now underwent continuous threat, and the emperor permanently lost control over northern Germany. An Imperial Diet was arranged for 1641 in Regensburg , where
812-504: The 10th century, in the work of his biographer Ruotger of Cologne . In Ruotger, the title served as an honorific denoting Bruno's unusual position rather than a formal office. The title was not used systematically until the 14th century, when the title "Archduke of Austria" was invented in the forged Privilegium Maius (1358–1359) by Duke Rudolf IV of Austria , called Rudolf the Founder (German: Rudolf der Stifter). Rudolf originally claimed
870-627: The 16th century onward, "Archduke" and its female form, "Archduchess", came to be used by all the members of the House of Habsburg (e.g. Queen Marie Antoinette of France was born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria). Upon extinction of the male line of the Habsburgs and the marriage of their heiress, the Holy Roman Empress-consort Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary and Archduchess of Austria , to Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorraine , who
928-587: The German theatre. Negotiations for a peace agreement began in 1644 in Münster and Osnabrück and lasted until 1648 while the war continued. The negotiations in Westphalia turned out to be difficult and began with a dispute over the rules of procedure. The emperor had to give in to pressure from France and Sweden and to admit all imperial estates to the congress and receive the ius belli ac pacis . In addition to peace between
986-615: The Higher and Lower Silesia, of Württemberg and Teck, Prince of Swabia, Count of Habsburg, Tyrol, Kyburg and Goritia, Marquess of the Holy Roman Empire, Burgovia, the Higher and Lower Lusace, Lord of the Marquisate of Slavonia, of Port Naon and Salines, etc. etc. See also Archduke of Austria The territory ruled by an archduke or archduchess was called an archduchy. All remaining archduchies ceased to exist in 1918. The current head of
1044-659: The Imperial court in Vienna and was involved in the arrangements on his second deposition in early 1634. He married the Spanish Infanta , his cousin Maria Anna of Spain , after years of negotiations with Spanish relatives in 1631. Although it was in the middle of the war, the elaborate wedding was celebrated over fourteen months. The marriage produced six children, including his successors, Ferdinand IV of Hungary and Emperor Leopold I . His loving and intelligent wife and her brother,
1102-613: The Law on the Abolition of Nobility ( Gesetz vom 3. April 1919 über die Aufhebung des Adels, der weltlichen Ritter- und Damenorden und gewisser Titel und Würden ). Thus those members of the Habsburg family who are residents of the Republic of Austria are simply known by their first name(s) and their surname Habsburg-Lothringen . However, members of the family who reside in other countries may or may not use
1160-567: The Low Countries. Archduke was initially borne by those dynasts who ruled a Habsburg territory —i.e., only by males and their consorts, appanages being commonly distributed to cadets . But these "junior" archdukes did not thereby become sovereign hereditary rulers, since all territories remained vested in the Austrian crown. Occasionally a territory might be combined with a separate gubernatorial mandate ruled by an archducal cadet. From
1218-483: The Lower Austrian estate, a union of the local nobility) and Christoph Simon von Thun (the head of Ferdinand's Imperial court and household) had greatly influenced the education of the young archduke. Simon von Thun instructed Ferdinand in military matters. Ferdinand is said to have spoken several languages, but how many and to what degree is unclear. After the deaths of his brothers Karl (1603) and Johann Karl (1619), he
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#17330853744201276-577: The Spanish Cardinal Infante Ferdinand , had a great influence on Ferdinand and formed the most important link between the Habsburg courts in Madrid , Brussels and Vienna in the difficult period of the war for the Habsburgs after the death of Wallenstein. After Wallenstein's assassination, Ferdinand III personally took command over the Imperial army on 2 May 1634 and was supported by the generals Matthias Gallas and Ottavio Piccolomini ,
1334-671: The Spanish Kings since the days of the Habsburg dynasty on the royal throne (1516–1700). Hence, no member of the royal family other than the King bears the (additional) title of "Archduke". The insignia of the Archduke of Lower and Upper Austria was the archducal hat , a coronet which is kept in Klosterneuburg Monastery . Johann Kaspar von Stadion Johann Kaspar von Stadion (21 December 1567 – 21 November 1641)
1392-578: The Swedes in Pomerania until severe lack of supplies forced him to retreat back to Bohemia in late 1638. At the same time, Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar , a German Protestant in French service, took the Habsburg possessions in Alsace and the stronghold of Breisach after a long siege . To check the advance of Swedish General Johan Banér , who invaded Bohemia via Saxony in 1639, Ferdinand had to recall Piccolomini's army from
1450-614: The beginning of the war, a further (eighth) electoral estate being created in the Palatinate. The implementation of the Counter-Reformation in the core countries of Ferdinand was sanctioned. Only in some parts of Silesia were certain concessions made to the Protestants. From now on, the institutions of the empire would be equally occupied by Catholics and Protestants. The imperial estates could enforce considerable rights. That included
1508-571: The city, the emperor circled the city in a large procession with an image of the Virgin Mary . As the Swedish army drew closer, Ferdinand left the city. Archduke Leopold Wilhelm managed to drive off the opponents. At times, Ferdinand managed to get Prince George I Rákóczi of Transylvania , an ally of France and Sweden, on his side. In the 1645 Peace of Linz, the emperor had to guarantee the Hungarian estates
1566-543: The content of the peace treaties in Münster and Osnabrück under imperial law should become part of the imperial constitution. The emperor managed to postpone some of the constitutional questions that were particularly dangerous for his power. The fact that some of the nobles who had been raised by his father to the rank of prince gained a seat and a vote in the Reichstag also speaks for his growing strength. At this Reichstag, he also made an alliance with Poland-Lithuania against Sweden . His empire came to Poland's support during
1624-502: The decisive victory of the Battle of Nördlingen , a joint effort with the help of the Spanish forces under Cardinal Infante Ferdinand . As a consequence, the Swedes lost control over southern Germany and retreated to the northern Germany. Ferdinand gained a wider political influence even if his personal contribution in Nördlingen had been rather limited. His influence increased further after
1682-466: The dynasty ever used the title. Emperor Frederick III himself simply used the title "Duke of Austria", never Archduke , until his death in 1493. The title was first granted to Frederick's younger brother, Albert VI of Austria (d. 1463), who used it at least from 1458. In 1477, Frederick III also granted the title of Archduke to his first cousin, Sigismund of Austria , ruler of Further Austria ( German : Vorderösterreich ). Frederick's son and heir,
1740-524: The emperor after the Peace of Westphalia permitted an active imperial policy in co-operation with parts of the estates. In the Habsburg monarchy, the prerequisites for the development of a uniform absolutist state remained intact. Thus, imperial policies of the peace negotiations succeeded in that respect despite the failure to meet some of the original negotiation goals. At the Nuremberg peace congress of 1649/1650,
1798-585: The empire, Sweden received Rügen and Western Pomerania , as well as the bishoprics of Bremen-Verden and the city of Wismar , as Imperial fiefs. The Tyrolean cadet line of the Habsburgs lost the Sundgau and Breisach in the Upper Rhine to France, as well as supremacy over the Décapole . Further transfers of property took place in various regions of the empire. Bavaria retained its electoral dignity that it had won at
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1856-692: The estates discussed possible peace arrangements. It turned out to be problematic that the Emperor had excluded princes, who had previously been on the opposing side, as well as the Protestant administrators of various princes of the Imperial Diet. However, it finally succeeded in making all imperial estates agree with the exception of the Electoral Palatinate , the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Hesse-Kassel to
1914-418: The fall of the powerful Imperial minister, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg , who had domineered the politics of Ferdinand II. In 1635, Ferdinand III worked as Imperial commissioner in the negotiations for the Peace of Prague , as he tried to persuade the prince electors to adopt the idea of concerted warfare. He also advocated the inclusion of the still-reluctant Protestant estates into the peace process. Even after
1972-403: The final withdrawal of foreign troops and the political settlement of the relationship with Sweden and France were carried out during which hostilities nearly started again. Empress Maria Anna of Spain had died giving birth to her last child on 13 May, 1646. Ferdinand remarried to another first cousin, Maria Leopoldine of Austria (1632–1649), on 2 July 1648. The wedding ceremony, held in Linz ,
2030-462: The future Emperor Maximilian I , started to use the title, but apparently only after the death of his wife Mary of Burgundy (d. 1482), as Archduke never appears in documents issued jointly by Maximilian and Mary as rulers in the Low Countries (where Maximilian is still titled "Duke of Austria"). The title appears first in documents issued under the joint rule of Maximilian and his son Philip in
2088-422: The imperial territories had been absolutely devastated by two decades of war. The population was completely exhausted and massively diminished; countless people were impoverished, disabled, sick or homeless; and many had lost their families and had abandoned all moral standards. Ferdinand did not endeavour to continue the war, but the momentum of the war, the political circumstances and his reluctance to act prevented
2146-547: The instructions for the peace talks for Trautmannsdorf, who left for Westphalia as chief negotiator. The documents were kept strictly secret and were published only in 1962. Reviews revealed that Ferdinand had surrendered numerous previous claims and was ready for greater concessions than were ultimately necessary. The empire suffered considerable territorial losses. The Three Bishoprics , effectively under French control since 1552, were officially ceded to France. The Netherlands and Switzerland gained complete independence. Within
2204-647: The military adviser Johann Kaspar von Stadion and the political adviser Obersthofmeister (Lord Chamberlain) Maximilian von und zu Trauttmansdorff . He achieved his first major military successes in July 1634 by regaining the city of Regensburg , which had been captured and occupied by the Swedish Empire in November 1633. In August 1634, the city of Donauwörth was recaptured, which had been occupied by Sweden since April 1632. In September 1634, those successes were surpassed by
2262-426: The parties involved, the internal constitution of the empire was also newly regulated. The Imperial Court received weekly reports on the negotiations. Even though the reports had been produced by officials, the process also proved to be an extremely busy time for the emperor since despite all of his advisers, he had to make the decisions. The study of the documents suggests that Ferdinand was a monarch with expertise with
2320-449: The position of Prime Minister of Austria and chief diplomat but was replaced by Johann Ludwig von Nassau-Hadamar in 1647 because of health, which had begun to deteriorate. Trauttmansdorff was succeeded as Obersthofmeister by the later Prime Minister Johann Weikhard of Auersperg , who also taught the royal heir, Ferdinand IV. Unlike his father, Ferdinand III employed no spiritual counsellor. When Ferdinand became emperor, vast sections of
2378-427: The remains of the Imperial army that was soon to show great effectiveness under his successor, Leopold I. Under Ferdinand the fortifications of Vienna were massively expanded and updated, as he invested a total sum of over 80,000 fl . Despite a considerable loss of authority in the empire, Ferdinand remained active in imperial politics. He would also re-establish his positions in the empire's institutions. Ferdinand had
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2436-406: The resignation of the supreme command, Ferdinand continued to occupy himself with theoretical military issues. Raimondo Montecuccoli later dedicated one of his works to him. Ferdinand III was elected as king of the Romans at the Diet of Regensburg on 22 December, 1636. Upon the death of his father on 15 February 1637, Ferdinand became emperor. His political adviser Trauttmansdorff advanced to
2494-582: The resolutions of the Diet. In 1641, a preliminary peace was signed in Hamburg between Ferdinand, Spain, France and Sweden, and a final peace congress was to convene in Osnabrück and Münster . An alliance between Sweden and France was fully effective since 1642. The Swedes won the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1642. One year later, France decisively defeated Spain at the Battle of Rocroi and could now dedicate more troops to
2552-611: The right of imperial representation and freedom of religion for the Protestants, which prevented the Counter-Reformation and future absolutist rule in Hungary. The Habsburgs could no longer win the war without the support of their Spanish allies. Domestic difficulties stopped Spanish financial and military support for Ferdinand in 1645. Without foreign military funds, the Imperial troops were incapable of offensive operations, which weakened Ferdinand's position in negotiations. He reissued
2610-447: The right to form alliances with foreign powers even if they were not allowed to be directed against the emperor or the empire. The largest territories benefited most from those regulations. Ferdinand's attempt at absolutist rule of the empire failed, but the empire and the imperial office remained significant. The emperor considered the peace agreement to be no catastrophic defeat, and thanks to Trautmannsdorff's negotiating skills, worse
2668-597: The title in the form palatinus archidux ("palatine archduke"). The title was intended to emphasize the claimed precedence (thus "Arch-") of the Duchy of Austria , in an effort to put the Habsburgs on an even level with the Prince-Electors of the Holy Roman Empire, as Austria had been passed over when the Golden Bull of 1356 assigned that dignity to the four highest-ranking secular Imperial princes and three Archbishops. Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV refused to recognise
2726-545: The title, as did all the other ruling dynasties of the member countries of the Empire. But Duke Ernest the Iron and his descendants unilaterally assumed the title of Archduke . The archducal title was only officially recognized in 1453 by Emperor Frederick III , when the Habsburgs had solidified their grip on the throne of the de jure elected Holy Roman Emperor , making it de facto hereditary. Despite that imperial authorization of
2784-520: The title, in accordance with laws and customs in those nations. For example, Otto Habsburg-Lothringen (1912–2011), the eldest son of the last Habsburg Emperor, was an Austrian, Hungarian and German citizen. As he lived in Germany, where it is permitted to use hereditary titles as part of the civil surname (including indications of origin, such as von or zu ), his official civil name was Otto von Habsburg (literally: Otto of Habsburg), whereas in Austria he
2842-465: The title, which showed a Holy Roman Emperor from the Habsburg dynasty deciding over a title claim of the Habsburg dynasty, many ruling dynasties of the countries which formed the Empire refused to recognize the title "Archduke". Ladislaus the Posthumous , Duke of Austria, who died in 1457, never got in his lifetime the imperial authorization to use it, and accordingly, neither he nor anyone in his branch of
2900-477: The war quickly. After military defeats and against a background of declining power, Ferdinand was compelled to abandon the political stances of his Habsburg predecessors in many respects to open the long road towards the much-delayed peace treaty . Although his authority as emperor was weakened after the war, his position in Bohemia, Hungary and Austria was stronger than that of his predecessors before 1618. Ferdinand
2958-429: Was a daughter of Leopold V, Archduke of Austria , and Claudia de' Medici . They were first cousins as male-line grandchildren of Charles II, Archduke of Austria , and Maria Anna of Bavaria . They had a single son: On 30 April 1651, Ferdinand III married Eleonora Gonzaga . She was a daughter of Charles IV Gonzaga, Duke of Rethel . They were parents to four children: Ferdinand III was a well-known patron of music and
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#17330853744203016-517: Was designated as his father's successor and systematically prepared to take over the reign. Like his father, he was a devout Catholic , but he had a certain aversion to the influence of the Jesuits, who had ruled his father's court. Ferdinand became Archduke of Austria in 1621. On 8 December 1625, he was crowned King of Hungary, on 27 November 1627 King of Bohemia. Ferdinand enhanced his authority and set an important legal and military precedent by issuing
3074-590: Was elected Holy Roman Emperor, their descendants formed the House of Habsburg-Lorraine . After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire this usage was retained in the Austrian Empire (1804–1867) and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918). The official use of titles of nobility and of all other hereditary titles, including Archduke , has been illegal in the Republic of Austria for Austrian citizens since
3132-663: Was notably splendid. The marriage, however, lasted little more than a year and ended with Maria Leopoldine's own premature death in childbirth. Ferdinand's last marriage was to Eleonora Magdalena Gonzaga of Mantua-Nevers in 1651. Empress Eleonora was very pious and donated, among other things, for the Ursuline monastery in Vienna and the Order of the Starry Cross for noble women. She was also well educated and interested in art. She also composed music and wrote poetry and, together with Ferdinand,
3190-517: Was prevented. As a matter of fact, the consequences for the Austrian hereditary lands were comparatively favourable. The expropriations in Bohemia and the Verneuerte Landesordnung (Renewed Regional Order) of 1627 remained untouched. Upper Austria , which had been pledged to Bavaria, stayed under Habsburg house rule without paying a refund. Despite many losses, the constitutional position of
3248-602: Was registered as Otto Habsburg. The King of Spain also bears the nominal title of Archduke of Austria as part of his full list of titles, as the Bourbon dynasty adopted all the titles previously held by the Spanish Habsburgs when they took over the Spanish throne. However, "Archduke" was never considered by the Spanish Bourbons as a substantial dignity of their own dynasty, but rather as a traditional supplementary title of
3306-582: Was the centre of the Italian Academy. Ferdinand's sovereign power in the Austrian hereditary lands, as well his royal power in Hungary and Bohemia , was significantly greater than his predecessor's had been before 1618. Princely power was strengthened, and the influence of the estates was massively reduced. The church reform towards the Counter-reformation continued. Ferdinand formed a standing army from
3364-567: Was the first Habsburg monarch to be recognised as a musical composer. Ferdinand was born in Graz as the third son of Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg and his first wife, Maria Anna of Bavaria , and was baptised as Ferdinand Ernst . He grew up in Carinthia with loving care from his parents and developed great affection for his siblings and his father with whom he always found a consensus in future disagreements. At his father's court, he received religious and scholarly training from Jesuits . The Maltese knights Johann Jacob von Dhaun (member of
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