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Ferdinand IIIHoly Roman Emperor
Date of Birth: 13.07.1608
Country:  Austria |
Content:
- Biography of Ferdinand III
- Desire for Leadership
- Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
- Narrow Escape and Peace Treaty
- Italian Campaign and Alliance
- Death
Biography of Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, the eldest son of Emperor Ferdinand II and Maria Anna, daughter of the Duke of Bavaria, was born on July 13, 1608, in Graz. He received his education from the Jesuits. In 1625, he was crowned as the King of Hungary, and in 1627, as the King of Bohemia.
Desire for Leadership
Ferdinand desired to lead the imperial army during the Thirty Years' War, but he was prevented from doing so by Wallenstein, who was the chief commander of the imperial forces at that time. When Wallenstein was killed in 1634, Ferdinand seized Regensburg and Donauworth and was nominally considered the victor at the Battle of Nordlingen (where Matthias Gallas actually commanded).
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
In 1636, Ferdinand was elected as the King of the Romans, and after the death of his father in February 1637, he became the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Ferdinand aimed to end the Thirty Years' War, but he did not want to grant religious freedom to the Protestants.
Narrow Escape and Peace Treaty
In 1647, Ferdinand narrowly avoided being captured by the Swedish leader of the partisan cavalry, Helmold Wrangel. His rescue was a difficult task. In 1648, Ferdinand finally agreed to the signing of the Peace of Westphalia, which granted certain rights to the Protestants (Reformed and Lutherans). It was only in 1654 that Ferdinand managed to rid his territories of the marauding military and bandit gangs.
Italian Campaign and Alliance
In 1656, Ferdinand sent an army to Italy, forming an alliance with the Spanish against the French. In 1657, he signed a treaty with Poland for joint actions against King Charles X of Sweden.
