Leopold “Türkenpoldl” Habsburg (1640-1705)

King of Austria, Bohemia and Hungary. Fifth-born son of Ferdinand III, he was the forty-sixth emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and eleventh of the Habsburg dynasty (1658-1705). He ascended the throne due to the premature death of his brother Ferdinando IV (1654) who, as the firstborn, was destined to succeed to the father. According to historians, he was a ruler of considerable musical culture and an excellent polyglot and good composer. His election as Emperor, after obtaining the crown of Croatia and Slavonia, was the subject of controversy due to the interference of France and in particular of Cardinal Mazarin who, to avoid the Habsburg dominance, would have preferred an emperor of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria. During his long reign he was constantly at war against Louis XIV's France, but Leopold I is above all known for his victories against the Turkish armies (1660-1663) and in particular for the battle in defense of the attempted Ottoman invasion of Vienna (1683).

Bio by: Lucy & Chris