Albert II of Germany

He played a significant role in the Hussite Wars, assisting his father-in-law Sigismund and suffering defeats like the Battle of Domažlice in 1431. Crowned King of Hungary in 1438, he struggled to control Bohemia and fought against Polish-Bohemian forces. He later became King of the Romans but died in 1439 while defending Hungary from the Ottomans. His reign saw anti-Hussite and anti-Jewish persecutions, continuing medieval crusades against perceived heretics. Austrian Jews faced increased taxation and expulsions, culminating in the 1420 Vienna pogrom, partly driven by accusations of aiding the Hussites.

Biography

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

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.

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. 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 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 show of loyalty to the church as the church was trying to consolidate its influence and power.[failed verification]

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 17 March 1438, he was elected as "King of the Romans" at Frankfurt. Albert 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.

Hussite Wars and persecution

Beginning with the First Crusade in the year 1095, those who were not adherents to the Catholic faith were deemed by the religious authorities to be heretics, and were to be persecuted, destroyed or converted. While the papal call for violence against non-Christians applied to Muslims originally, it was applied against other religious and social groups. Jews and lepers were the main targets along with Muslims in the crusade to destroy "devilry." The persecution of Jews came as no surprise in connection with the Hussite Wars.[clarification needed] 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. If the heretics did not convert to Christianity they were massacred, usually burned.[citation needed]

Jewish persecution

Beginning in the 11th century, Jews began to migrate from rural areas to the cities of Western Europe, where they came to assume an important economic role in commercial activity and especially as moneylenders. This economic transformation was accompanied by a deterioration of relations between Jewish and Christian populations, with an increase of violent persecutions (Pogrom) by the latter towards the former. The first major instance of Jewish persecution coincided with the call of the First Crusade in the fall of 1095. Summoned by Pope Urban II with the aim of conquering the Holy Land, crusaders interpreted the papal call to use violence against non Christians as a command to attack and destroy Jewish communities in France and the Rhineland. These German-Austrian massacres were arguably a great influence on Albert V and his Jewish persecutions and expulsions.[citation needed]

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 were used to fund a crusade army. Albert V of Austria followed suit, keeping his good standing with the Catholic Church while he was in power. When Albert V came of age in 1411 and interfered in the Hussite Wars, he repeatedly established new taxes on the Jewish community to finance his campaigns, to destroy "devilry" and "imprudence". Like the Hussites, Jews were seen as an enemy to Christendom. 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]

Title and names

In Early New High German his titles are Albrecht von Gots Gnaden Römischer Kunig zu allen Zeiten Merer des Reichs, und zu Hungern, Dalmacien, Croacien ic. Kunig, Erwelter Kunig zu Behem, Herzog zu Oesterreich u. Marggraf zu Mern (Albert, by the Grace of God, King of the Romans, ever-increaser [August] of the Reich, and of Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, etc., King; Elected King of Bohemia, Duke of Austria and Margrave of Moravia).

In English he is sometimes known as Albert the Grave or Albert the Magnanimous; this is possibly due to a confusion with the 16th-century ruler Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, who is called the Magnanimous (der Großmütige) in German.

Family

His children with Elizabeth of Luxembourg were:

Anne of Austria (1432–1462), who married William III, Duke of Saxony. William became (1457–69) Duke of Luxembourg, in right of his wife
Elisabeth (c. 1436–1439 to 1505), who married Casimir IV of Poland, 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

Male-line family tree

vteHouse of Habsburg
Original line Albert Count of Habsburg c.1188–1239 Rudolf I of Germany c.1218–1291 Albert I of Germany 1255–1308Hartmann 1263–1281Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307Frederick the Fair c.1289–1330Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358Henry the Friendly 1299–1327Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339John Parricida c.1290–1312/1313 Albertinian line Leopoldian line Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365Frederick III 1347–1362Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404William Duke of Austria c.1370–1406Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 Albert II of Germany 1397–1439Frederick III HRE 1415–1493Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 Spanish / Iberian line Austrian / HRE line Charles V HRE 1500–1558Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 Philip II of Spain 1527–1598Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568Philip III of Spain 1578–1621Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612Ernest of Austria 1553–1595Matthias HRE 1557–1619Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632Charles of Austria 1590–1624 Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665Charles of Austria 1607–1632Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646Charles II of Spain 1661–1700Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654Leopold I HRE 1640–1705Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 Joseph I HRE 1678–1711Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 Lorraine Maria Theresa HRE 1740–1780Francis I HRE 1745–1765 Habsburg-Lorraine Joseph II HRE 1765–1790Leopold II HRE 1790–1792 Francis II HRE 1792–1806
												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 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
																									Lorraine
																						Maria Theresa HRE 1740–1780	Francis I HRE 1745–1765

																							Habsburg-Lorraine


																						Joseph II HRE 1765–1790	Leopold II HRE 1790–1792

																								Francis II HRE 1792–1806
Notes:

Ancestry

Ancestors of Albert II of Germany
8. Albert II, Duke of Austria4. Albert III, Duke of Austria9. Joanna of Pfirt2. Albert IV, Duke of Austria10. Frederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg5. Beatrice of Nuremberg11. Elisabeth of Meissen1. Albert II, King of Germany12. Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor6. Albert I, Duke of Lower Bavaria13. Margaret II, Countess of Holland3. Joanna Sophia of Bavaria14. Louis I, Duke of Brzeg7. Margaret of Brieg15. Agnes of Głogów
		8. Albert II, Duke of Austria



	4. Albert III, Duke of Austria



	9. Joanna of Pfirt



	2. Albert IV, Duke of Austria



	10. Frederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg



	5. Beatrice of Nuremberg



	11. Elisabeth of Meissen



	1. Albert II, King of Germany



	12. Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor



	6. Albert I, Duke of Lower Bavaria



	13. Margaret II, Countess of Holland



	3. Joanna Sophia of Bavaria



	14. Louis I, Duke of Brzeg



	7. Margaret of Brieg



	15. Agnes of Głogów

Notes

Hödl, Günther (1978). Albrecht II. Königtum, Reichsregierung und Reichsreform 1438–1439.
Jackson-Laufer, Guida Myrl (1999). . 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). . Vol. 2. Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society. ISBN 0-87169-127-2.

External links

Entry about in the database Gedächtnis des Landes on the history of the state of Lower Austria (Lower Austria Museum)
14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
Illustration by Francesco Terzio from 1569: Albertus II, Imp. ()
in the German National Library catalogue
in the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library)

Regnal titles
Albert II of GermanyHouse of HabsburgBorn: 10 August 1397Died: 27 October 1439
Preceded bySigismund	King of Hungary and Croatia 1437–39	Succeeded byLadislaus V Vladislaus Ias contenders
King of Germany 1438–39	Succeeded byFrederick III
King of Bohemia 1438–39	VacantTitle next held byLadislaus
Preceded byAlbert IV	Duke of Austria 1404–39