Archduke Alexander Leopold of Austria
Archduke Alexander Leopold | |
---|---|
Habsburg-Lorraine | |
Father | Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor |
Mother | Maria Luisa of Spain |
Archduke Alexander Leopold of Austria (Alexander Leopold Johann Josef;
Early life
Archduke Alexander Leopold was born in Florence, Tuscany, as the sixth child and fourth son of Leopold I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor), and Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain. During his education, Alexander Leopold excelled in mathematics and chemistry. He had a fine physique and his father thus wanted him to pursue a military career, with the intent to eventually appoint him president of the Hofkriegsrat.[1]
Palatine
In 1790, Grand Duke Leopold succeeded his brother, Joseph II, as Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia. Hungary had been ruled by governors since 1765, but the Emperor-King wished to reinstate the office of palatine and allowed the Diet of Hungary to elect a new officeholder. The Diet elected Archduke Alexander Leopold, who thus became the first member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to occupy the post. In 1792, his father died; from then on, Alexander Leopold served his elder brother who had succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor Francis II.[1]
As palatine, Archduke Alexander Leopold initially led a moderate government. However, he changed his policy after the
Death
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Maria_Teresa_di_Borbone-Napoli.jpg/220px-Maria_Teresa_di_Borbone-Napoli.jpg)
Archduke Alexander Leopold, suffering from poor health, left Hungary for Vienna in 1795, after dealing with the conspiracy. His memorandum, written during his stay in Vienna, shows a rather conservative worldview. He argued that differences between classes should not be overcome, especially when it comes to education.[6]
Because of his interest in chemistry and especially in pyrotechnics, Archduke Alexander Leopold decided to prepare a
His body is buried in the
References
- ^ ISBN 9639116033.
- ^ ISBN 0543959759.
- ^ ISBN 1402185243.
- ^ Lendvai, Paul (1999). "Verräter für die Freiheit". Die Zeit. Zeit Online. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ Danubian Historical Studies. Akadémiai Kiadó. 1988.
- ISBN 3486493418.
- ^ "DIE KAISERGRUFT". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2013.