Karl II of Inner Austria (1540-1590)

Nobility, Archduke of Austria. He was the youngest son of Emperor Ferdinand I and his wife Anna Jagiello of Bohemia in Vienna. After the death of Queen Mary of England, his father intended for him to marry Mary's successor Elizabeth, but after a decade of negotiations no marriage contract was signed. Talks regarding a marriage between Karl and Mary Stuart were also unsuccessful. He finally married his niece Maria Anna of Bavaria on August 26, 1571 in Vienna. Karl and his wife were Catholic, nearly fanatically. While he granted his Protestant nobles freedom of faith he also called the Jesuits to Graz but was unable to counter the Reformation. His son Ferdinand, since 1619 Holy Roman Emperor, was more successful in this. Karl was also a patron of arts and founded the 'Grazer Kunstkammer' and the famous stud farm in Lipizza near Triest in 1580.

Bio by: Lutetia