Leopold II (1747-1792) - Find a Grave Memorial

Holy Roman Emperor. Born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard von Österreich, at Schloss Schonbrunn, Vienna, Austria, the third son of Franz I Stephan of Lorraine and Maria Theresia von Österreich. With the death of his eldest brother, Karl, he succeeded to the title of Grand duc di Toscana in 1765, contingent upon his marriage to Maria Luisa de Bourbon, the Spanish Infanta. The couple would produce 16 children. Under his leadership, Tuscany flourished and saw the reform of the penal code, abolishing the death penalty and banning torture. Upon the death of his elder brother, Joseph II, he succeeded to the title of Emperor Leopold II of the Holy Roman Empire in September 1790. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in October at Frankfurt; and he succeeded to the title of King of Bohemia and Hungary on in November, the last crowned king of Bohemia. Wary of the unrest in his sister, Marie Antoinette's kingdom, he and the King of Prussia drew up a declaration of their readiness to intervene in France if and when their assistance was called for. At home, to pacify his own subjects, he repealed most of Joseph II's reforms. His success in Tuscany could not be duplicated during his abbreviated reign. He died suddenly some 18 months following his ascension at age 44, and was succeeded by his son Franz II.

Bio by: Iola