Albert Habsburg (1559 - 1621)

Born 3 Nov 1559 in Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria, Austria

Ancestors

Died 13 Jul 1621 at age 61 in Brussels, Brabant, Belgium

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Biography

From Wikipedia:^[1]

Albert VII (German: Albrecht VII; 3 November 1559 – 13 July 1621) was the ruling Archduke of Austria for a few months in 1619 and, jointly with his wife, Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1598 and 1621. Prior to this, he had been a cardinal, archbishop of Toledo, viceroy of Portugal and Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands. He succeeded his brother Matthias as reigning archduke of Lower and Upper Austria, but abdicated in favor of Ferdinand II the same year, making it the shortest (and often ignored) reign in Austrian history.

Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia had three children who died at a very young age, in 1605, 1607 and 1609. As the years passed, it became clear that they would have no more offspring. When Albert's health suffered a serious breakdown in the winter of 1613-1614, steps were taken to ensure the accession of Philip III of Spain in accordance to the Act of Cession. As a result, the States of the loyal provinces swore to accept the King as heir of the Archduke and Archduchess in a number of ceremonies between May 1616 and January 1617. Philip III however predeceased his uncle on 31 March 1621. The right to succeed the couple thereupon passed to his eldest, Philip IV.

Albert's health again deteriorated markedly in the closing months of 1620. As the Twelve Years' Truce would expire the next April, he devoted his last energies to securing its renewal. In order to reach this goal he was prepared to make far reaching concessions. Much to his frustration, neither the Spanish Monarchy, nor the Dutch Republic took his pleas for peace seriously. His death on 13 July 1621 therefore more or less coincided with the resumption of hostilities.

The engraving portrait of Albert includes confirmation of his titles: he was Archduke of Austria as well as Duke of Burgundy.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Albert VII, Archduke of Austria

See also:

• Duerloo, Luc (2012). Dynasty and Piety: Archduke Albert (1598-1621) and Habsburg Dynastic Culture in an Age of Religious Wars. Ashgate. ISBN 9780754669043. online review.
• Le Portrait dans l'histoire du pays de Luxembourg, par Raymond Weiller, edition 1983 en collaboration du Musée de l'Etat du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg.