Kinlight · The House of Habsburg

Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor

1741 – 1790 · Generation XVII · Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1765–1790) · Habsburg-Lorraine

Portrait of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor

Joseph (1741 – 1790). Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1765–1790). Married Isabella in 1760. Married Maria Josepha in 1765. Eldest son of Maria Theresa; the reforming emperor; died with no surviving legitimate offspring. An apostle of enlightened absolutism, he ranks with Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great among the crowned reformers of his age. His programme — toleration in religion, a church subordinated to the state, peasants relieved of feudal dues, trade and learning unshackled — drove secularising, modernising change so hard that opposition swelled and much of it could not be carried through; the approach is remembered as Josephinism. Abroad his adventurism won a little territory but cost Austria nearly every friend it had. He was a devoted supporter of the arts, championing composers including Mozart and Salieri, and a brother of Marie Antoinette. His brother Leopold followed him on the throne.

One of 20 people of Habsburg-Lorraine (from 1736) in this archive. Maria Theresa’s marriage carried the inheritance into a new name, which its heirs still bear.

Line of descent: Rudolf I of Germany → Albert I of Germany → Albert II, Duke of Austria → Leopold III, Duke of Austria → Ernest, Duke of Austria → Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor → Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor → Philip I of Castile → Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor → Charles II, Archduke of Austria → Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor → Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor → Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor → Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor → Maria Theresa → Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.

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Life

  • 1741 — Born
  • 1760 — Married Isabella
  • 1765 — Married Maria Josepha
  • 1790 — Died

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