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Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III
Historical Figure
Year of Birth: July 13 1608
Year of Death: April 2 1657
Religion: Catholicism
Occupation: Holy Roman Emperor
Parents: Ferdinand II of Austria (father)
Maria Anna of Bavaria (mother)
Spouse: Maria Anna of Spain
Maria Leopoldine of Austria (b. 6 April 1632)
Eleanor of Mantua
Children: Ferdinand IV (b. September 8, 1633)
Mariana of Austria (b. December 24, 1634)
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor (b. June 9, 1640)
Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria (b. August 7, 1649)
Eleanor of Austria (b. May 31, 1653)
Archduchess Maria Anna Josepha of Austria (b. December 30, 1654)
Relatives: Maria Anna of Austria (sister)
Cecilia Renata (sister)
Leopold Wilhelm (brother)
Fictional Appearances:
1632 series
POD: May, 1631
Appearance(s): 1634: The Bavarian Crisis
Ring of Fire II
1635: The Eastern Front
1636: The Saxon Uprising
1636: The Viennese Waltz
Type of Appearance: Direct
Children: "Ferdinand the Most Recent"

Ferdinand III (July 13, 1608 – April 2, 1657) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1637 – 1657. He was also King of Hungary (1625), King of Bohemia (1627), Archduke of Austria (1621), and King of the Romans (Germany) (1636). He served as titular head of the Imperial Army during the Thirty Years' War from 1634 until its final phases.

Ferdinand III in 1632

After the arrival of Grantville caused a realignment of alliances, Ferdinand III lost the throne of Bohemia to Albrecht von Wallenstein. Shortly after his father's death, he publicly renounced all claims to the title of "Holy Roman Emperor" (a title he never actually held) and assumed the title Emperor of Austria-Hungary, effectively marking the end of the Holy Roman Empire. As he was already styled Ferdinand III in his capacity as King of Hungary, he kept that style as Emperor of Austria-Hungary, so as to avoid confusion.

In 1635, Ferdinand had initially wanted to intervene on behalf of Brandenburg and Saxony, but allowed himself to be dissuaded by Janos Drugeth.[1] Trying to go through Bohemia would have restarted the war with Wallenstein, who was allied to the USE; and going through Poland to get around Bohemian territory would have been time-consuming. Also, Ferdinand could not assume that Wallenstein would not attack if he saw an opportunity.

In March of 1636, Ferdinand agreed to attempt private communications with the USE, using Francisco Nasi's office in Prague as an intermediary.

Notes on children

Internal references in 1634: The Bavarian Crisis suggest that "Ferdinand the Most Recent" was likely born in September or October of 1633. Since he has only been mentioned as an infant and toddler, it is not clear how similar he is to the OTL's Ferdinand IV.

There is no mention of Ferdinand III's wife being pregnant in 1634, and the reference to "the baby" near the end of 1636: The Viennese Waltz is to "Ferdinand the Most Recent". His other children were conceived much too long after the Ring of Fire to exist in the NTL.

References

This article is a stub because the work is part of a larger, as-of-yet incomplete series.


Regnal titles
Preceded by
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
King of Hungary
King of Bohemia

1627–1657
with Ferdinand IV of Hungary
Succeeded by
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor (elect)
Archduke of Austria

1637–1657
King in Germany
(formally King of the Romans)

1636–1653
Succeeded by
Ferdinand IV of Hungary
Regnal titles (1632)
Preceded by
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
King of Bohemia
1627-1633
Succeeded by
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Preceded by
Newly declared
Emperor of Austria-Hungary
1634-
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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