1477: Marriage with Mary of

Marriage with Mary of Burgundy

1477

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 - legend has it that it was love at first sight. The marriage was celebrated on August 19 in the castle chapel and the days after many celebrations and tournaments followed.

At the beginning, the couple could only converse in Latin but Maximilian quickly learned French and Flemish. Although the couple married for political reasons, they got along very well. Maximilian and Mary shared a passion for hunting and tournaments but also for arts. However, a shadow was cast over the young couple since France regularly attempted to occupy Burgundian territory.

Maximilian und seine Gattin Maria. Illustration aus dem Weißkunig

Maler: Hans Burgkmair d. Ä,
Entstehungszeit: um 1500

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.

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.