Archduke Ernest of Austria

Ernst ( III.) von Habsburg, Archduke of Austria (* June 15, 1553 in Vienna, † 20 February 1595 in Brussels ) was governor ( Regent ) of Lower Austria, ( in custody ) in Inner Austria, and the Netherlands.

Life

Ernst, the second son of Emperor Maximilian II and thus the younger brother of Emperor Rudolf II was He is the only confidant of the emperor, and was intended as his successor.

In 1572, the House of Habsburg tried it, to win the crown of the Kingdom of Poland - Lithuania. The candidate was Archduke Ernst, who, however, in the choice by the Sejm of the French candidate, Henry of Valois, was defeated.

1590 the guardianship of the young Archduke Ferdinand of Inner Austria was conferred on him by which he became regent there. In 1592 he suffered in Hungary by the Turks defeat.

In the same year he confided King Philip II of Spain, the government of the Netherlands, but met Ernst in Brussels until 1594, where he had died early in 1595.

His governorship in the Netherlands was too short to have any political significance, however, is relevant to the history of the Habsburg collections, as he became aware of Pieter Bruegel in the Netherlands and recommended him to his brother. This is the basis of Bruegelsammlung of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Archduke Ernst was a supporter of the Counter-Reformation, was so honored by King Philip II and Pope Sixtus V, but had in any of the areas that he reigned long-term success.