Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria

Coin of Ferdinand Charles, Struck 1649
Obverse: (Latin) FERDIN[AND] CAROL D[EUS] G[RATIA] ARCHIDA AV, in English: "Ferdinand Charles, By the Grace of God, Archduke of Austria." Reverse: (Latin) COM[ES] TYROLIS DVX BURGVND, in English: "Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy and Count of Tyrol."

Ferdinand Charles (17 May 1628 – 30 December 1662) was the Archduke of Further Austria, including Tyrol, from 1646 to 1662.

As the son of Archduke Leopold V and Claudia de' Medici, he took over his mother's governatorial duties when he came of age in 1646. To finance his extravagant living style, he sold goods and entitlements. For example, he wasted the exorbitant sum which France had to pay to the Tyrolean Habsburgs for the cession of their fiefs west of the Rhine (Alsace, Sundgau and Breisach). He also fixed the border to Graubünden in 1652.

Ferdinand Charles was an absolutist ruler, did not call any diet after 1648 and had his chancellor Wilhelm Biener executed illegally in 1651 after a secret trial. On the other hand, he was a lover of music: Italian opera was performed in his court.

He died in Kaltern.

Ancestors

Marriage and children

Ferdinand Charles married Anna de' Medici. She was a daughter of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Maria Magdalena of Austria (+1631). They had two children:

External links

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Leopold V		 Archduke of Further Austria
1630–1662		 Succeeded by
Sigismund Francis