Archduke Ernest of Austria

Not to be confused with Archduke Ernest of Austria (1824–1899).

Archduke Ernest of Austria (German: Ernst von Österreich; 15 June 1553 – 20 February 1595)^[1] was an Austrian prince, the son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria of Spain.

Ernest of Austria
Portrait by Martino Rota c. 1580
Born	15 June 1553[1] Vienna, Archduchy of Austria
Died	20 February 1595(1595-02-20) (aged 41)[1] Brussels, Duchy of Brabant
House	Habsburg
Father	Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Maria of Spain

Tomb of Archduke Ernest of Austria

Biography

Born in Vienna, he was educated with his brother Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, in the court of Spain.^[1] He was a candidate in the 1573 Polish–Lithuanian royal election for the throne of Poland. He lost his election as the Polish nobility feared that he might attempt to become an autocrat and revoke the privileges that Polish nobles enjoyed.^[2] From 1576 onwards, he was governor in the Archduchy of Austria, where he promoted the Counter-Reformation. In 1590, he became governor of Inner Austria as regent for his young cousin Ferdinand, and from 1594 to 1595 he served as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

He died in Brussels on 20 February 1595 and was eventually succeeded in the Netherlands by his brother Albert. Ernest owned the Months of the Year cycle series of works painted by Pieter Bruegel the Elder; one painting, High Spring (showing April or May) is lost):

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  The Gloomy Day (February/March)
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  A 1565 Brugel sketch "Spring" although not part of the Months cycle series it could very well be similar to what Bruegel had in mind when he painted "High Spring" {April/May)
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  The Hay Harvest (June/July)
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  The Harvesters (August/September)
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  The Return of the Herd (October/November)
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  The Hunters in the Snow (December/January)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Archduke Ernest of Austria

8. Philip I of Castile[3] 4. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor[4] 9. Joanna I of Castile[5] 2. Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor 10. Vladislas II of Bohemia and Hungary[6] 5. Anne of Bohemia and Hungary[4] 11. Anne of Foix-Candale[6] 1. Archduke Ernest of Austria 12. Philip I of Castile[7] (= 8) 6. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor[8] 13. Joanna I of Castile[7] (= 9) 3. Maria of Austria 14. Manuel I of Portugal[9] 7. Isabella of Portugal[8] 15. Maria of Aragon[9]

Male-line family tree

v t e House of Habsburg[n 1]
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   Lorraine Maria Theresa HRE 1740–1780 Francis I HRE 1745–1765   Habsburg-Lorraine Joseph II HRE 1765–1790 Leopold II HRE 1790–1792 Francis II HRE 1792–1806
Notes: "Habsburg family tree". Habsburg family website. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2001.