Maximilian I

Maximilian I, future Holy Roman Emperor, was born to Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, and Eleanor of Portugal in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

At the age of 10, Maximilian is named Duke of Austria by his father, Emperor Frederick III, marking the beginning of his political career.

Maximilian marries Mary of Burgundy, securing the wealthy and powerful Burgundian inheritance for the Habsburgs, significantly expanding their territory.

Maximilian is appointed Governor of the Netherlands, managing the Burgundian territories after the death of his wife, Mary of Burgundy, in a riding accident.

Maximilian is elected King of the Romans, effectively making him the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, a position that solidifies his power and influence.

Maximilian successfully reclaims the Austrian territories from the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus, strengthening his control over the Habsburg lands.

Upon the death of his father, Frederick III, Maximilian becomes the de facto ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, though he is not formally crowned until 1508.

Maximilian attends the first Imperial Diet in Worms, where he begins to modernize the administration of the Holy Roman Empire, introducing reforms and centralization.

Maximilian arranges the marriage of his daughter Margaret to the Spanish heir, Prince John, strengthening the Habsburg alliance with Spain and securing future dynastic ties.

Maximilian is defeated by the Swiss Confederacy at the Battle of Dornach, leading to the Swiss recognition of independence and the end of Habsburg claims over Swiss territories.

Maximilian establishes the Order of the Golden Fleece, a prestigious chivalric order to promote Christian values and loyalty to the Habsburg dynasty.

Maximilian is formally crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Julius II, solidifying his position as the head of the Holy Roman Empire and the most powerful ruler in Europe.

Maximilian leads the Burgundian Wars against France, aiming to reclaim lost territories and expand Habsburg influence in the region, though the campaign is ultimately inconclusive.

Maximilian secures the succession of his grandson, Charles V, as King of the Romans, ensuring the continuation of Habsburg rule and the stability of the empire.

Maximilian I dies in Wels, Austria, leaving behind a legacy of modernization, expansion, and the foundation of the Habsburg Empire's dominance in European affairs.