Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Leopold II was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary, and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, and Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790.
He was the earliest opponent of capital punishment in modern history. He was a son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Francis I, and the brother of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Maria Carolina of Austria and Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism. He granted the Academy of Georgofili his protection.
Despite his brief reign, he is highly regarded. The historian Paul W. Schroeder called him one of the most shrewd and sensible monarchs ever to wear a crown.
Leopold was born in Vienna as his parents' third son. Initially selected for a clerical career he received education with focus on theology. In 1753, he was engaged to Maria Beatrice d'Este, heiress to the Duchy of Modena. The marriage was never consummated and Maria Beatrice instead married Leopold's brother, Archduke Ferdinand. Upon the early death of his older brother Archduke Charles in 1761, the family decided that Leopold was going to succeed his father as Duke of Tuscany. Tuscany had been envisioned and designated as a Secundogeniture, a territory and title bestowed upon the second born son, which was greater than an Appanage. On 5 August 1764 Leopold married the Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain, daughter
He was the earliest opponent of capital punishment in modern history. He was a son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Francis I, and the brother of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, Maria Carolina of Austria and Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism. He granted the Academy of Georgofili his protection.
Despite his brief reign, he is highly regarded. The historian Paul W. Schroeder called him one of the most shrewd and sensible monarchs ever to wear a crown.
Leopold was born in Vienna as his parents' third son. Initially selected for a clerical career he received education with focus on theology. In 1753, he was engaged to Maria Beatrice d'Este, heiress to the Duchy of Modena. The marriage was never consummated and Maria Beatrice instead married Leopold's brother, Archduke Ferdinand. Upon the early death of his older brother Archduke Charles in 1761, the family decided that Leopold was going to succeed his father as Duke of Tuscany. Tuscany had been envisioned and designated as a Secundogeniture, a territory and title bestowed upon the second born son, which was greater than an Appanage. On 5 August 1764 Leopold married the Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain, daughter
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