MATTIA d'Asburgo, EMPEROR. - Born 24 Feb. 1557 in Vienna, died 20 May 1619. Son of the emperor Massimiliano II and of Maria di Spagna, he was the younger brother of the emperor Rodolfo II. Together with his other brothers, M. gradually deprived Rodolfo of all power, justifying his action by referring to the dangers that the Habsburg monarchy might incur because of the indifference with which the emperor regarded political affairs. Recognized by the other archdukes as head of the house of Austria, M., by the agreement of Lieben near Prague, had Rodolfo II cede to him in 1608 sovereignty over Austria, Hungary, and Moravia. In 1611 Rodolfo was likewise compelled to renounce the Bohemian crown, again in favor of M. Upon Rodolfo’s death, in 1612, M. was elected emperor. M. had Cardinal Klesl as a trusted adviser.
Matthias of Habsburg, Emperor
BIBL.: G. Miskolczy, M., in Euc. Ital., XXII, pp. 597-98, with bibliography: H. Hentsch, Die Geschichte Österreichs, I, 2nd ed., Graz-Vienna 1947, passim, especially p. 314 ff. On the influence of Klesl cf. E. Tomek, Kirchengeschichte Österreichs, II, Innsbruck-Vienna 1949, especially p. 494 ff. Silvio Furlani
Cite this article
“MATTIA D'ASBURGO, IMPERATORE.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VIII (1952), p. 309. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/mattia-d-asburgo-imperatore.