Albert II of Germany

IssueHouseHabsburgFatherAlbert IV, Duke of AustriaMotherJoanna Sophia of Bavaria

Albert the Magnanimous KG, elected King of the Romans as Albert II (10 August 1397 – 27 October 1439), was king of the Holy Roman Empire and a member of the House of Habsburg. By inheritance he became Albert V, Duke of Austria. Through his wife (jure uxoris) he also became King of Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, and inherited a claim to the Duchy of Luxembourg.^[1]

Biography

Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Joanna Sophia of Bavaria.^[2]

He succeeded to the Duchy of Austria at the age of seven on his father's death in 1404. His uncle Duke William of Inner Austria, then head of the rivaling Leopoldinian line, served as regent for his nephew, followed by his brothers Leopold IV and Ernest the Iron in 1406. The quarrels between the brothers and their continued attempts to gain control over the Albertinian territories led to civil war-like conditions. Nevertheless, Albert, having received a good education, undertook the government of Austria proper on the occasion of Leopold's death in 1411 and succeeded, with the aid of his advisers, in ridding the duchy of the evils which had arisen during his minority.^[3]

In 1422 Albert married Elisabeth of Luxemburg, the daughter and heiress of the King Sigismund of Hungary (later also Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia), and his second wife, the Slovenian noblewoman Barbara of Celje.^[4] Besides Hungary, Albert's marriage brought him claims to several Slavic kingdoms and principalities as well.

Albert assisted his father-in-law Sigismund in his campaigns against the Hussites, involving the Austrian duchy in the Hussite Wars. In return Sigismund designated him as his successor and granted him the title of a Margrave of Moravia in 1423. The Austrian lands were devastated several times and Albert also participated in the 1431 Battle of Domažlice where the Imperial troops suffered an embarrassing defeat. While his lands were harmed it was a showing of loyalty to the church as the church was trying to consolidate it's influence and power.^[5]

When Sigismund died in 1437, Albert was crowned king of Hungary on 1 January 1438, and just as his predecessor did, he moved his court to the Hungarian Kingdom from where he later oversaw his other domains. Although crowned king of Bohemia six months after ascending to the Hungarian throne, he was unable to obtain possession of the country. He was engaged in warfare with the Bohemians and their Polish allies, when on 18 March 1438, he was chosen "King of the Romans" at Frankfurt, an honor which he does not appear to have sought.^[6] He was never crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.

Afterwards engaged in defending Hungary against the attacks of the Turks, he died on 27 October 1439 at Neszmély and was buried at Székesfehérvár. Albert was an energetic and warlike prince, whose short reign as a triple king gave great promise of usefulness for the Holy Roman Empire.^[3]

The Hussite Wars and Widespread Persecution

Beginning with the first crusade in the year 1095 persecution against those not within the Catholic faith were deemed as heretical and were to be destroyed, or converted.^[7] While the papal call for the end to heresy applied to Muslims traditionally, there was widespread violence that spread to other religious or social groups.^[8] Jews and lepers were the main targets along with Muslims in the crusade to destroy "devilry."^[9][10] The persecution of Jews came as no surprise in connection with the Hussite Wars. The call to arms against Heretics meant the call to arms against all who are not Christian, with the hopes of their destruction or conversion.^[10] However, the crusaders saw that as an opportunity to convert all who were not Christian, the Jews and lepers included not just the intended Muslims.^[9] If the heretics did not convert to Christianity they were massacred, usually burned. This would apply later in the Hussite Wars, which was a continuation of the crusades, as Albert II came to power as Duke of Austria, who was a willing participant in the fight against heresy. The Hussite Wars is a series of crusades against heresy in the Middle ages spanning from 1418-1437 and through his loyalty to the church and the persecutive works of his contemporaries, he would embark on his own persecutive journey against the Jews.^[11]

Jewish persecution

Beginning in the 11th century Jews started to define themselves as a people garnering a foothold as money lenders within their communities.^[5] Respectively, by the 13th century Jews in Europe and Austria had found themselves as a people with their own social identity.^[5] With this newfound identity persecution followed. Jewish people were subject to plundering and land stealing beginning in the 13th century as they were regarded as outsiders.^[5] However, the first major instance of Jewish persecution came with the First Crusade in the fall of 1095 and is thought of to be the beginning of a long line of Anti-Jewish persecution involving violence.^[7] Summoned by Pope Urban II with the hope of conquering the Holy Land, violence against the Jewish population came with inspiration from the rumor of a papal call to use violence against non-Christians, actually meaning Muslims.^[8] Pogroms were also organized to destroy Jewish communities which were highly effective.^[5] Overtime, historiographical works have tended to focus on the German-Austrian massacres due to how much evidence there is present.^[5] These German-Austrian massacres were arguably a great influence on Albert V and his Jewish persecutions and expulsions. The persecution of Jews would grow to encompass all of Europe for many centuries in which Albert V as Duke of Austria also took part in when he came to power.

Though the Jews in the Austrian duchy had been subject to local persecutions during the 13th and 14th century, their position remained relatively safe. Jewish communities prospered in several towns like Krems or the area around the Judenplatz at Vienna. During the confusion after the death of Duke Albert IV in 1404 their situation worsened sharply, culminating in the blaze of the Vienna synagogue on 5 November 1406, followed by riots and lootings.^{[citation needed]}

With the ordering of campaign preparations against the Hussites by King Sigismund in the beginning of the 15th century taxes would be used to fund a crusade army.^[10] Albert V of Austria would follow suit keeping his good standing with the Catholic Church while he was in power.^[11] When Albert V came of age in 1411 and interfered in the Hussite Wars, he repeatedly established new taxes imposed on the Jewish community to finance his campaigns. Taxes would be established to destroy "devilry" and "imprudence".^[10] Like the Hussites, Jews were seen at this point as an enemy to Christendom.^[5] After the Hussites had devastated the duchy, the Austrian Jews were accused of collaboration and arms trade in favor of the enemies. The accusations of a host desecration at Enns in 1420 gave Albert pretext for the destruction of the Jewish community.^{[citation needed]}

According to the 1463 Chronica Austriae by chronicler Thomas Ebendorfer, the duke on 23 May 1420, at the behest of the Church, ordered the imprisonment and forcible conversion of the Jews. Those that had not converted or escaped were sent off in boats down the Danube, while wealthy Jews remained under arrest, several of them tortured and stripped of their property. The forced baptism of Jewish children was stopped on intervention by Pope Martin V. On 12 March 1421 Albert sentenced the remaining Jews to death. Ninety-two men and 120 women were burned at the stake south of the Vienna city walls on 12 March 1421. The Jews were placed under an "eternal ban" and their synagogue was demolished. The persecutions in several Austrian towns are explicitly described in a 16th-century script called Vienna Gesera.^{[citation needed]}

Full title

Full titulature Albert possessed went as follows: Albert, by the grace of God elected King of the Romans, always August, King of Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, Rama, Serbia, Galicia, Lodomeria, Cumania and Bulgaria, elected King of Bohemia, duke of Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, margrave of Moravia, Lord of the Wendish March and Port Naon, Count of Habsburg, Tyrol, Ferrete and Kyburg, etc. Margrave of Burgau and landgrave of Alsace.

In practise he often used a shorter version: Albert, by the grace of God elected King of the Romans, always August, King of Hungary, Dalmatia and Croatia, etc. elected King of Bohemia, duke of Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, Margrave of Moravia and Count of Tyrol, etc.

Albert II's Importance

Albert II is an important figure in the historiography of the Middle Ages and the subsequent persecution that follows. By studying and examining Albert and his actions it can be better understood his position within the widespread persecution of heresy and the Jews, and also why he committed his actions. It can also better provide historians with the answer to why he persecuted both groups at the same time thereby solidifying his role as an important figure in the persecution occurring during the Middle Ages.

Family

His children with Elizabeth of Luxembourg were:

• Anne of Austria (1432–1462), who married William III, Duke of Saxony.^[2] William became (1457–69) Duke of Luxembourg, in right of his wife
• Elisabeth (c. 1436–1439 to 1505), who married Casimir IV of Poland,^[2] and whose son Vladislaus II of Bohemia later became king of Bohemia and Hungary
• George (born and died at Vienna on 16 February 1435)
• Ladislas V Posthumus of Bohemia, King of Hungary and Bohemia^[4]

Ancestors

Male-line family tree

v t e House of Habsburg[n 1]
Original line Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 Hartmann 1263–1281 Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313   Albertinian line   Leopoldian line Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 Frederick III Duke of Austria 1347–1362 Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 Philip I of Castile 1478–1506   Spanish / Iberian line   Austrian / HRE line Charles V HRE 1500–1558 Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 Matthias HRE 1557–1619 Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 Charles of Austria 1590–1624 Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 Charles of Austria 1607–1632 Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 Charles VI HRE 1685–1740
Notes: ^ "Habsburg family tree". Habsburg family website. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

See also

• Kings of Germany family tree. He was related to every other German king.

Notes

References

• Hödl, Günther (1978). Albrecht II. Königtum, Reichsregierung und Reichsreform 1438–1439.
• Jackson-Laufer, Guida Myrl (1999). Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576070918.
• Previté-Orton, C. W., ed. (1978). Cambridge Medieval History, Shorter. Vol. II:The Twelfth Century to the Renaissance. Cambridge University Press.
• Setton, Kenneth M. (1978). The Papacy and the Levant (1204–1571), Volume II: The Fifteenth Century. Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society. ISBN 0-87169-127-2.

External links

• Entry about Albert II of Germany in the database Gedächtnis des Landes on the history of the state of Lower Austria (Lower Austria Museum)
• Tripota – Trier portrait database
• Illustration by Francesco Terzio from 1569: Albertus II, Imp. (Digitized)
• Literature by and about Albrecht II. in the German National Library catalogue
• Works by and about Albert II of Germany in the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library)

Albert II of Germany House of Habsburg Born: 10 August 1397  Died: 27 October 1439
Regnal titles
Preceded by Sigismund	King of Hungary and Croatia 1437–39	Succeeded by Ladislaus V Vladislaus I as contenders
	King of Germany 1438–39	Succeeded by Frederick III
	King of Bohemia 1438–39	Vacant Title next held by Ladislaus
Preceded by Albert IV	Archduke of Austria 1404–39