History

Maximilian I.

* 1459 - 1519

Albrecht, Dürer, Kaiser Maximilian I., 1519
© Kunsthistorisches Museum

Short biography

Maximilian I laid the foundation for the Habsburg Empire through heritage, wars and marriages. Especially the Tyrol was considerably enlarged during his reign. In 1490, he took over the governance in the Tyrol from Duke Sigismund and started to expand the residence in Innsbruck, to revitalize the country, to promote mining and coining and to establish a considerable arm industry. In 1500, Lienz and the Pustertal were incorporated into the Tyrol through a contract of inheritance. During the War of Bavarian Succession, he was able to win the court districts of Kufstein, Rattenberg and Kitzbühel in 1505. The largest extensions of power, however, he achieved through marriage: he himself married Mary of Burgundy and received the rich Burgundian heritage. Through the marriages of family members, he also won Spain, Bohemia and Hungary for the Habsburg.

The acquisition of Burgundy, however, also led to many years of armed conflicts: Within 40 years, he conducted 25 wars. In 1486, he was elected King of the Holy Roman Empire. After the death of his father in 1493, Maximilian succeeded him as the reigning Roman-German king. His coronation as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, however, proved difficult. Only in 1508, he declared himself "Elected Roman Emperor" in Trento – without the traditional coronation through the Pope. The way to Rome was blocked due to a conflict with Venice.

Based on the model of Burgundy, he created a central administration responsible for all Austrian states that also assumed control of the Viennese authorities. Less successful were his attempts at reform in the Holy Roman Empire, where the various estates forced him into many compromises. His reform efforts and wars led to many financial constraints. After his death, Maximilian left behind not only an empire but also an enormous mountain of debt.

In 1519, Maximilian died in Wels. His pompous grave in Innsbruck was only finished in 1584 and remained empty. Maximilian was buried in the St. George's Chapel in Wiener Neustadt. His heart, however, is buried in Bruges with his first wife, Mary of Burgundy.

Source: www.habsburger.net

Milestones

1459 1473 1477 1478 1479 1480 1482 1486 1488 1490 1491 1493 1494 1496 1497 1500 1505 1506 1508 1510 1511 1515 1516 1517 1519

Birth of Maximilian I

22.03.

Maximilian I was born on March 22, 1459 as the only surviving son of Emperor Frederick III (1415-1493) and Eleanor of Portugal (1436-1467) in Wiener Neustadt. From his childhood, he was prepared for his role as a sovereign.

Imperial Diet of Trier

On the occasion of the Imperial Diet of Trier, Emperor Frederick III negotiated with Charles the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy, the marriage of Maximilian and Charles' daughter Mary of Burgundy.

Marriage with Mary of Burgundy

19.8.

It took Maximilian about four months to travel from Vienna to Ghent in the Netherlands, a city that belonged to the Dukedom of Burgundy. On the day of their marriage, the couple saw each other for the first time - ...

Birth of son Philip

On July 22, Mary gave birth to her first child Philip in Bruges.

Maximilian's victory over France

During the War of Burgundian Succession, Maximilian successfully fended off France that since the death of Charles the Bold had made continuous attempts to invade Burgundian lands.

Birth of daughter Margaret

10.1.

Margaret, the second child of Mary and Maximilian, was born on January 10 in Brussels.

Mary of Burgundy dies

27.03.

The passionate hunter Mary fell from her horse and died from the consequences of this accident a few weeks later.

Election as Roman-German King

16.02.

The Holy Roman Empire comprised large parts of Central and Western Europe as well as Northern Italy with continuously changing boarders and was a supra-national construction.

Imprisonment in Bruges

After Mary's death, Maximilian took over the reign of the Netherlands and entered another conflict with France.

Archduke Sigismund hands over THE Tyrol to Maximilian

Sigismund (nickname: rich in coin), born and deceased in the Tyrol, was an archduke of Austria.

Maximilian makes peace with Hungary

The Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus was a long-term enemy of Frederick III who also invaded Austria and occupied parts of Lower Austria.

Death of emperor Frederick III

19.08.

On August 19, Emperor Frederick III dies in Linz after a long illness and after an amputation of his leg - one of the most famous and best documented surgical procedures of the Middle Ages.

Marriage of Maximilian and Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan

Although it was said that Maximilian mourned his first wife Mary his entire life, on November 30, 1493, he married the daughter of a Duke, Bianca Maria Sforza, in Milan ...

Marriage of Philip the Handsome and Joanna of Castile and Aragon

21.10.

On October 21, Maximilian's son married Infanta Joanna of Castile and Aragon.

Marriage of Margaret with John, prince of Castile and Aragon

Six months after her brother Philip, Margaret married John of Castile and Aragon on April 3, 1497.

Birth of grandson Charles (February 24) x

24.02.

Charles V was born on February 24, 1500 as the son of Philip the Handsome and Joana of Castile and Aragon.

Death of Leonhard of Gorizia (April 12)

12.04.

The last Meinharder count, Leonhard of Gorizia, remained childless and shortly before his death he concluded a contract of inheritance with Maximilian about the earldom of Gorizia that comprised territories in the southeastern Alpine region.

Imperial Diet in Cologne

In June and July 1505, the Imperial Diet in Cologne took place. It is known as the peak of Maximilian's reign.

Death of son Philip

25.09.

On September 25, Philip the Handsome dies. Joanna, who was very much in love with her husband, outlived him for 48 years.

Treaty of Vienna

In 1505, the rising conflicts between the nationalistic Hungarian estates and the Hungarian king Vladislav II led to a short war between Maximilian and Hungary.

Maximilian becomes elected Roman emperor

04.02.

Finally being the emperor: Maximilian was obsessed by this thought and in 1507 he started towards Rome in order to receive the traditional coronation through the Pope.

Death of Bianca Maria Sforza

31.12.

On December 31, Maximilian's second wife dies in Innsbruck at the age of 38. She bore no children.

Landlibell

23.06.

On June 23 and in accordance with the Tyrolean estates, Emperor Maximilian issued the Landlibell, a defensive order that remained applicable until the 20th century.

Congress of princes and double wedding

Based on the Treaty of Vienna in 1506, Emperor Maximilian was entitled to the Hungarian heritage.

Death of Ferdinand of Aragon

The son of Philip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad, Charles, took over the reign of Spain from his grandfather Ferdinand and became the new king of Aragon and Castile. He also reigned Navarra, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia as well as territories in America and the Pacific Rim.

Publication of the autobiographical „Theuerdank“

It was very important for Emperor Maximilian that he would be commemorated after his death.

Death of Emperor Maximilian

12.01.

On January 12, 1519, Maximilian dies on his way from Innsbruck to Vienna in Wels.