Archduke Maximilian Ernest of Austria

Maximilian Ernest of Austria
Archduke Maximilian Ernest with a hunting dog, by Joseph Heintz the Elder, c. 1604
Born	(1583-11-17)November 17, 1583 Graz, Duchy of Styria
Died	February 18, 1616(1616-02-18) (aged 32) Archduchy of Austria
Burial	Seckau Abbey
House	Habsburg
Father	Charles II, Archduke of Austria
Mother	Maria Anna of Bavaria

Maximilian Ernest of Austria (17 November 1583 – 18 February 1616), was an Austrian prince member of the House of Habsburg and by birth Archduke of Austria.

He was the son of Charles II, Archduke of Austria, in turn, the son of Emperor Ferdinand I, and Maria Anna of Bavaria. His elder brother Archduke Ferdinand, succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor in 1619.

Life

Born in Graz, little is known about his first years of life. His first notable presence was in 1592, when Maximilian Ernest and his mother accompanied his older sister Anna to marry King Sigismund III of Poland.

Together with his brother Ferdinand and his cousins Maximilian III and Matthias, Maximilian Ernest signed a document dated 25 April 1606 in Vienna, under which his cousin, Emperor Rudolf II, was declared incapable of governing because of his mental illness and Matthias could assume the headship of the Habsburg territories as regent.

Maximilian riding behind King Sigismund III, at his sisters Constance entry in Krakow 1605.

His cousin Maximilian III, called the German Grand Master (der Deutschmeister), allowed Maximiliam Ernest to join the Teutonic Knights in 1615, and one year later, in 1616, he appointed him Landkomtur of the Bailiwick of Austria. Already named Coadjutor of the Teutonic Order was determined that Maximilian Ernest would succeed his cousin in the office of Grand Master, but he died unexpectedly aged thirty-two, unmarried and childless (however he left an illegitimate son, Don Carlos d'Austria, who died in 1638). He was buried in the Seckau Abbey.

Ancestors

showAncestors of Archduke Maximilian Ernest of Austria

8. Philip I of Castile 4. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor 9. Joanna I of Castile 2. Charles II, Archduke of Austria 10. Vladislas II of Bohemia and Hungary 5. Anne of Bohemia and Hungary 11. Anne of Foix-Candale 1. Archduke Maximilian Ernest of Austria 12. William IV, Duke of Bavaria 6. Albert V, Duke of Bavaria 13. Marie of Baden-Sponheim 3. Maria Anna of Bavaria 14. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (= 4) 7. Anna of Austria 15. Anne of Bohemia and Hungary (= 5)

Male-line family tree

showHouse of Habsburg
Original line Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 Hartmann 1263–1281 Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313   Albertinian line   Leopoldian line Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 Frederick III 1347–1362 Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 Philip I of Castile 1478–1506   Spanish / Iberian line   Austrian / HRE line Charles V HRE 1500–1558 Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 Matthias HRE 1557–1619 Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 Charles of Austria 1590–1624 Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 Charles of Austria 1607–1632 Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 Charles VI HRE 1685–1740
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