Habsburgs

The Habsburgs

• They held possessions in Swabian territories and in present-day Alsace.
• In 1273, Rudolf became German king; he no longer had Italian ambitions and sought to strengthen the power of his own family.
• In 1282, after defeating Ottokar, King of Bohemia, he acquired the Duchy of Austria.
• Until the 14th century, no Habsburg sat on the imperial throne.
• In the 14th century, Albert was also King of Bohemia and Hungary.
• In the 15th century, Frederick III became emperor.
• Through fortunate marriages, they gained new territories by inheritance ("Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube" – "Let others wage war; you, fortunate Austria, marry"):
• Frederick III's son, Maximilian, married the Duchess of Burgundy and gained a vast inheritance.
• Maximilian's son, Philip the Handsome, married the Spanish heiress to the throne (bringing American territories, Naples, and Aragon-Castile).
• Philip the Handsome's son, Charles, ruled an empire over which "the sun never set."
• The acquired empire later had to be defended through wars.
• Until the 19th century, they provided the emperors (the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist in 1806).