Holy Roman Emperor Matthias

[Heinrich_IV]

Matthias von Habsburg
* 14 February 1557 Vienna
† 20 March 1619 ibid.

Governor of the Netherlands 1577-1581
King of Hungary 1608-1619 (as Matthias II)
King of Bohemia 1611-1619
Holy Roman Emperor 1612-1619

Matthias was the younger son of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II (1564-1576). His brother Rudolph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1576 to 1612.
Matthias was not born to be Holy Roman Emperor, but he disempowered his disabled brother Rudolph II in the so-called "Bruderzwist" (c. 1600-1611). In 1611, Rudolph didn't have any real power; he only was a powerless Emperor, and died in 1612. In this year, Matthias reached his dream: he was elected Holy Roman Emperor. But from this time, he wasn't the energetic man which he was before - he was very old for this time (over 55).
He died shortly after the "Prager Fenstersturz" of 1618 in early 1619, aged 62.

Does anyone have good pictures of Matthias?

[Daniela]

A link to a wikipedia bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathias,_Holy_Roman_Emperor

Daniela

[MarieCharlotte]

Dear Heinrich,

Matthias' wife Anna founded the famous Kaisergruft in Vienna. The couple were the first who were laid to rest there ("Gründergruft").

By the way: Rudolf didn't allow Matthias to marry Anna. That's why they were finally able to marry in 1611 - shortly before Rudolf's death.

[MarieCharlotte]

You can find some more information about Matthias on the website of the Kaisergruft:

http://www.kaisergruft.at/kaisergruft/matthias.htm

[Heinrich_IV]

Thank you very much for you replies!

[Marc]

Hi,I would like to know more about Archduchess Anna of Austria who later became Empress of the Holy Roman Empire.She lived from 1585-1618 and married to her cousin Emperor Matthias.I was trying to google but there are so many Anna's of Austria that could find allmost nothing.Does anyone know more about her and her husband?She was daughter of Archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol and Princess Anna Catherina Gonzaga...

[umigon]

She was not a pretty girl, but her body was attractive by the standards of the time. She was very young when she was suggested as a possible bride to Emperor Rudolf. As usual, Rudolf hesitated so long that it was Matthias who finally married her. They got along well, and it seems they were quite fond of each other. The marriage was saddened, however, by the lack of children, bringing depression to Anna. I don't think I know much more, but I'm sure others will be able to add more light to her biography.

By the way, there was some kind of arguement with her father's inheritance, but I can't remember what the thing was about.

[Marc]

Could be,since she was in interesting situation...Her only sister was a nun and other children of her father(with Philippine Welser) were styled Fürsten von Burgau and I think they didn't have dynastic rights,so her fathers inheritance schould be split by her and her sister Maria,but as she was a nun and Anna married into the family there could be some sort of agreement about her father's last will...are there any pictures of her?

[CountessKate]

I believe this is Anna, by Franz Pourbus.  As Umigon says, not a pretty girl.

[britt.25]

A good book on the unusual emperor Rudolf II. is "Der Alchimist von Prag" by J. Dauxois
Some people say that he was just crazy, but actually he was a very interesting figure of his time, even when different from the others of his family. Even concerning his confession etc he was some kind of outsider. He hated the spanish inquisition. Very interested in studied of alchemy, astrology etc etc, his political descisions and talents were very discussed. He made his palace in Prague to a famous place for scienstis and alchimists from all over Europe. Later on Matthias took the chance and took away his crown, as he saw that he wasn´s able to rule anymore! Yes, Rudolf didn´t want to marry, that´s true. There were four brides for him, but he could never decide himself. But he had children by a mistress. On of them Don Cesar was very brutal, he rapped a lady, killed her, hacked her into pieces and then divided them in the whole room. Then he committed suicide. There were strange genes in the family of Rudolf. Even Rudold himself made strange things, he shall have threatened one of his people with a dagger and other things like that. The book on him was very interesting!

[MarieCharlotte]

Anna was born on October 4th 1585 in Innsbruck. She was brought up at Tyrol by her mother Anna Katharina who attached great importance to a very strict catholic education. Anna Katharina founded a lot of monasteries and churches at Tyrol (Grabkirche at Innsbruck, Maria Loretokirche near Hall).
In 1611 Anna, aged 26, was married to her cousin Matthias. In fact Anna and Matthias wanted to marry much earlier, but Emperor Rudolf was against it. After Rudolf's death, Anna became Empress. In 1613 she was crowned Queen of Hungary and in 1616 Queen of Bohemia.
Anna and Matthias came along quite well. Although there were many rumours about Anna being pregnant, the couple didn't have children.

Just like her mother and her sister, who spent a great part of their lives in a monastery at Innsbruck, Anna was a very pious woman. She even had a whip to flagellate herself. You can still see it in a museum at Vienna.

Empress Anna supported the Capuchins and made them settle down at Vienna. She founded the monastery of the Capuchins and it was her last will to be laid to rest at a crypt under this monastery. So she was the founder of the famous Kaisergruft.

Anna died on December 14th 1618 (some sources say December 15th). Matthias died three months later.

[britt.25]

Interesting and new was the fact to me that Rudolf II. was against the marriage of his brother Matthias with Anna of Tyrol. I can´t remember to have read this. I only seem to remember that there were four brides for Rudolf, but he never decided himself for any of them. Wasn´t Anna among them? It is already some years ago that I read the mentioned book on emperor Rudolf, so I might have forgotten it. Where did you get your infos on that point? From which book? Thanks for your source!

[Marc]

Do you know who were the 4 candidates?It would be interesting to know...One more question?Was her sister Maria ever considered as a bride for someone?We don't know much about her and she lived longer then her sister(1584-1649) so I am sure she ''left some trace''...

[MarieCharlotte]

Rudolf was engaged to Isabella Clara Eugenia Infanta of Spain who later married his brother Albrecht. I also read in Die Habsburger by Brigitte Vacha, etc. that there were some protestant candidates for him. The Pope was not very happy about that, of course.

[Eutropius]

I've read that another candidate was Maria de' Medici, who later married Henri IV, King of France.  I can't quite recall the source for this.  I will try to find it.