Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1741 – 1790 · Generation XVII · Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1765–1790) · Habsburg-Lorraine
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.
Place in the family
- Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor was a son of Maria Theresa.
- Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor was the eldest of 9 children of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa recorded in this archive.
One of 24 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.
Parents
- Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (1708 – 1765)
- Maria Theresa (1717 – 1780)
Siblings
- Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen (1742 – 1798)
- Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1743 – 1808)
- Maria Amalia, Duchess of Parma (1746 – 1804)
- Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (1747 – 1792)
- Maria Carolina of Austria (1752 – 1814)
- Ferdinand Karl, Archduke of Austria-Este (1754 – 1806)
- Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793)
- Archduke Maximilian Francis of Austria (1756 – 1801)
Partners
- Married Isabella of Parma (1741 – 1763) in 1760
- Married Maria Josepha of Bavaria (1739 – 1767) in 1765
Life
- 1741 — Born
- 1760 — Married Isabella
- 1765 — Married Maria Josepha
- 1790 — Died