Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ferdinand II
Portrait by Francesco Terzi
Archduke of Further Austria
Reign	25 July 1564 – 24 January 1595
Predecessor	Ferdinand I
Successor	Matthias
Born	(1529-06-14)14 June 1529 Linz, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Died	24 January 1595(1595-01-24) (aged 65) Innsbruck, County of Tyrol, Holy Roman Empire
Spouse	Philippine Welser ​ ​ (m. 1557; died 1580)​ Anne Juliana Gonzaga ​ (m. 1582)​
Issue more...	Andrew, Margrave of Burgau Charles, Margrave of Burgau Archduchess Anna Eleonore Archduchess Maria Anna, Holy Roman Empress
House	Habsburg
Father	Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Anna of Hungary

Ferdinand II, Archduke of Further Austria was an important ruler in the Holy Roman Empire. He was born in Linz on June 14, 1529, and passed away in Innsbruck on January 24, 1595.

Ferdinand became the ruler of Further Austria and the County of Tyrol in 1564. He was the son of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. His first wife was Philippine Welser. Later, he married Anna Juliana Gonzaga. Their daughter, Anna of Tyrol, became a future Holy Roman Empress.

Ferdinand's Early Life and Roles

Archduke Ferdinand at a young age

Ferdinand of Austria was the second son of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. His mother was Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. He was also the younger brother of Emperor Maximilian II.

In 1547, his father asked him to manage the region of Bohemia. He also led a military campaign against the Turks in Hungary in 1556.

His Marriages and Family

In 1557, Ferdinand secretly married Philippine Welser. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant family from Augsburg. They had several children together.

Emperor Ferdinand I agreed to the marriage in 1559, but only if it remained a secret. Their children could use the name "of Austria." However, they could only inherit royal titles if the main House of Habsburg family line ended.

The sons from this marriage received the title "Margrave of Burgau." This was an old Habsburg territory in Further Austria.

After his first wife Philippine passed away in 1580, Ferdinand married his niece. This was Anna Caterina Gonzaga, in 1582. She was the daughter of William I, Duke of Mantua.

Ruling Tyrol and His Collections

When his father died in 1564, Ferdinand became the ruler of Tyrol. He also governed other parts of Further Austria. He stayed as governor of Bohemia in Prague until 1567.

In his own lands, Ferdinand worked to strengthen the Catholic Church. This was part of a movement called the Counter-Reformation. He also strongly supported the Renaissance in central Europe.

Ferdinand was a passionate collector of art and rare objects. He built a special museum to house his famous collections. This museum was at Ambras Castle.

Ambras Castle became the oldest museum in the world. It is also the only Renaissance-era "Cabinet of Curiosities" still in its original place. A "Cabinet of Curiosities" was a room filled with amazing and unusual items.

Ferdinand started his collection while he was in Bohemia. He later moved it to Tyrol. His collections of art, portraits, and armor were very expensive. This caused Ferdinand to get into a lot of debt.

Some of his collections stayed in Innsbruck. Other parts were later moved to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Later Life and Legacy

Archduke Ferdinand passed away on January 24, 1595. His sons from his first marriage could not inherit his main titles. His second marriage produced only daughters who survived him.

Because of this, Tyrol was reunited with other Habsburg lands. His daughter from his second marriage, Anna Caterina, became Empress Anna. She married Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor. Matthias then received Ferdinand's Further Austrian inheritance.

Children

Philippine Welser, Ferdinand's first wife

Anne Catherine Gonzaga, Ferdinand's second wife

Ferdinand and his first wife, Philippine Welser, had four children:

• Margrave Andrew of Burgau (born 1558 – died 1600). He became a cardinal and later a bishop.
• Charles, Margrave of Burgau (born 1560 – died 1618). He married his cousin, Sibylle.
• Philip of Austria (born and died 1562). He was a twin.
• Maria of Austria (born and died 1562). She was Philip's twin.

On May 14, 1582, Ferdinand married his niece, Anna Caterina Gonzaga. They had three daughters:

• Archduchess Anna Eleonore of Austria (born 1583 – died 1584).
• Archduchess Maria of Austria (born 1584 – died 1649). She became a nun.
• Archduchess Anna of Austria (born 1585 – died 1618). She married her cousin, Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor.

Male-line family tree

Images for kids

• 

  Coat of arms of Archduke Ferdinand II

See also

In Spanish: Fernando II de Austria para niños