Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor

Reign: 1619 – 1637
Life: 1578–1637

In 1590, when Ferdinand was 11 years old, they sent him to study at the Jesuits' college in Ingolstadt because they wanted to isolate him from the Lutheran nobles. A few months later, his father died, and he inherited Inner Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and smaller provinces. Rudolf II also charged him with the command of the defense of Croatia, Slavonia, and southeastern Hungary against the Ottoman Empire. Ferdinand regarded the regulation of religious issues as a royal prerogative and introduced strict Counter-Reformation measures from 1598.

During Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor's reign, Charles I of England ruled England, Shah Jahan ruled Mughal Empire, and Louis XIII of France ruled France.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire by Peter H. Wilson

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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