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Ferdinand III (July 13, 1608 – April 2, 1657) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1637 – 1657. He was also King of Hungary (1625), King of Bohemia (1627), Archduke of Austria (1621), and King of the Romans (Germany) (1636). He served as titular head of the Imperial Army during the Thirty Years' War from 1634 until its final phases.
Ferdinand III in 1632[]
After the arrival of Grantville caused a realignment of alliances, Ferdinand III lost the throne of Bohemia to Albrecht von Wallenstein. Shortly after his father's death, he publicly renounced all claims to the title of "Holy Roman Emperor" (a title he never actually held) and assumed the title Emperor of Austria-Hungary, effectively marking the end of the Holy Roman Empire. As he was already styled Ferdinand III in his capacity as King of Hungary, he kept that style as Emperor of Austria-Hungary, so as to avoid confusion.
In 1635, Ferdinand had initially wanted to intervene on behalf of Brandenburg and Saxony, but allowed himself to be dissuaded by Janos Drugeth.[1] Trying to go through Bohemia would have restarted the war with Wallenstein, who was allied to the USE; and going through Poland to get around Bohemian territory would have been time-consuming. Also, Ferdinand could not assume that Wallenstein would not attack if he saw an opportunity.
In March of 1636, Ferdinand agreed to attempt private communications with the USE, using Francisco Nasi's office in Prague as an intermediary. Later on he would agree to Austria-Hungary entering an alliance with both the USE and Bohemia.
Notes on children[]
Internal references in 1634: The Bavarian Crisis suggest that "Ferdinand the Most Recent" was likely born in September or October of 1633. Since he has only been mentioned as an infant and toddler, it is not clear how similar he is to the OTL's Ferdinand IV.
There is no mention of Ferdinand III's wife being pregnant in 1634, and the reference to "the baby" near the end of 1636: The Viennese Waltz is to "Ferdinand the Most Recent". His other children were conceived much too long after the Ring of Fire to exist in the NTL.
References[]
- ↑ 1635: The Eastern Front, ch. 6
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor |
King of Hungary King of Bohemia 1627–1657 with Ferdinand IV of Hungary |
Succeeded by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Holy Roman Emperor (elect) Archduke of Austria 1637–1657 | ||
| King in Germany (formally King of the Romans) 1636–1653 |
Succeeded by Ferdinand IV of Hungary | |
| Regnal titles (1632) | ||
| Preceded by Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor |
King of Bohemia 1627-1633 |
Succeeded by Albrecht von Wallenstein |
| Preceded by Newly declared |
Emperor of Austria-Hungary 1634- |
Succeeded by Incumbent |