Albert of Austria Habsburg 1 2
- Born: 10 Aug 1397
- Marriage: Elizabeth of Bohemia on 28 Nov 1421
- Died: 27 Oct 1439 aged 42
General Notes:
Albert II Habsburg, German ruler, king of Bohemia and Hungary, and (as Albert V) duke of Austria, was the son of Albert IV of Habsburg, duke of Austria. From 1438 until his death in 1439 he was emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Albert succeeded to the duchy of Austria on his father's death in 1404. After receiving a good education, he undertook the government of Austria in 1411, and succeeded, with the aid of his advisers, in ridding the duchy of the evils which had arisen during his minority. He assisted the German emperor Sigismund, who was also king of Hungary and Bohemia, in his campaigns against the Hussites, and in 1422 married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Sigismund, who designated him as his successor. (Note that she was not the daughter of Sigismund's first wife Mary of Hungary, and thus not descended from the old Arpád kings of Hungary.)
When Sigismund died in 1437, Albert was crowned king of Hungary on January 1, 1438, and although crowned king of Bohemia six months later, he was unable to obtain possession of the country. He was engaged in warfare with the Bohemians and their Polish allies, when on March 18, 1438 he was chosen German emperor at Frankfurt, an honour which he does not appear to have sought.
Afterwards engaged in defending Hungary against the attacks of the Turks, he died on October 27, 1439 at Langendorf, and was buried at Stuhlweissenburg. Albert was an energetic and warlike prince, whose short reign gave great promise of usefulness for Germany.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: Duke of Austria, 1404.
• He was a King of Hungary/Bohemia.
• Acceded: Holy Roman Emperor, 1438.
Albert married Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of Sigismund of Bohemia and Barbara Celjska, on 28 Nov 1421. (Elizabeth of Bohemia was born on 27 Nov 1409 and died in 1442.)
Marriage Notes:
Their children were:
1) Anne of Austria, (1432-1462), who married William III, Duke of Saxony;
2) Elizabeth (1438-1505), who married Casimir IV of Poland, and whose son Ladislas VI of Bohemia later became king of Bohemia and Hungary;
3) Ladislas V Posthumus of Bohemia (1440 - 1457), King of Hungary and Bohemia. 2
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