Individual Details
King of Bohemia and Hungary Albrecht V-II Emperor Elect
(10 Aug 1397 - 27 Oct 1439)
153 Knight of the Garter - 1438 not installed
Albrecht was born in Vienna on 10 August 1397, the son of Albrecht IV, duke of Austria, and Johanna-Sofia of Bavaria. He was a slight, very tall, blond young man with extremely large eyes. Once grown up he was a good head taller than the rest. He had a dark tan, and, it was said that his eyes could be frightening. Not having received a very good education, he could not understand Latin nor speak Hungarian, which was probably the reason he was not loved in Hungary or Bohemia. However, he was loved and respected in Austria. Declared to be of age at fourteen, he was the opposite of his father; he had clear vision and an energetic will, preferred action above words, and was a passionate hunter and a good military leader, always caring for his men. In the first years he was assisted by able men such as Hubmeister Berthold von Mangen, who was responsible for the country's finances from 1412 to 1436. Albrecht's reforms of the justice laws brought remarkable order, and Thomas Ebendorfer commented that the country was so secure and safe that 'you could carry gold openly through the land'.
He also focused on Church reforms, being convinced to pursue a conciliatory policy because of the disintegration of the papacy, with three anti-popes in 1409.
On 28 September 1421 in Esztergom he married Elisabeth de Luxembourg, princess of Bohemia and Hungary, daughter of the Emperor Sigismund and Barbara von Celje. They had four children of whom two daughters would have progeny. He was an active and vigorous supporter of the emperor; as a result in 1438 he became emperor-elect, the emperor's successor. However a year later he was dead of dysentery, aggravated by a surfeit of melons consumed in a river campaign against the Turks. His son Ladislaus, born posthumously, died aged eighteen. Meanwhile the duchy of Austria had gone to Albrecht's nephew Friedrich, who was elected emperor in 1440.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Albrecht was born in Vienna on 10 August 1397, the son of Albrecht IV, duke of Austria, and Johanna-Sofia of Bavaria. He was a slight, very tall, blond young man with extremely large eyes. Once grown up he was a good head taller than the rest. He had a dark tan, and, it was said that his eyes could be frightening. Not having received a very good education, he could not understand Latin nor speak Hungarian, which was probably the reason he was not loved in Hungary or Bohemia. However, he was loved and respected in Austria. Declared to be of age at fourteen, he was the opposite of his father; he had clear vision and an energetic will, preferred action above words, and was a passionate hunter and a good military leader, always caring for his men. In the first years he was assisted by able men such as Hubmeister Berthold von Mangen, who was responsible for the country's finances from 1412 to 1436. Albrecht's reforms of the justice laws brought remarkable order, and Thomas Ebendorfer commented that the country was so secure and safe that 'you could carry gold openly through the land'.
He also focused on Church reforms, being convinced to pursue a conciliatory policy because of the disintegration of the papacy, with three anti-popes in 1409.
On 28 September 1421 in Esztergom he married Elisabeth de Luxembourg, princess of Bohemia and Hungary, daughter of the Emperor Sigismund and Barbara von Celje. They had four children of whom two daughters would have progeny. He was an active and vigorous supporter of the emperor; as a result in 1438 he became emperor-elect, the emperor's successor. However a year later he was dead of dysentery, aggravated by a surfeit of melons consumed in a river campaign against the Turks. His son Ladislaus, born posthumously, died aged eighteen. Meanwhile the duchy of Austria had gone to Albrecht's nephew Friedrich, who was elected emperor in 1440.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 10 Aug 1397 | Vienna, Austria | |||
| Marriage | 28 Sep 1421 | Esztergom, Hungary - Elisabeth of Luxembourg Princess of Bohemia and Hungary | |||
| Death | 27 Oct 1439 | Neszmely, nr Esztergom |
Families
| Spouse | Elisabeth of Luxembourg Princess of Bohemia and Hungary (1409 - 1442) |
| Child | Duchess Elisabeth of Austria (1437 - 1505) |
| Father | Albrecht IV Duke of Austria (1377 - 1404) |
| Mother | Johanna Sofia von Bavaria (1377 - 1410) |