Lexi Webster
Leopold II, born in Vienna on 5 May 1747, was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor and ruled from 1790 until his death in 1792. He was also the Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and Grand Duke of Tuscany. Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism and is remembered for his diplomatic and administrative talents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter Leopold Josef Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard |
| Date of Birth | 5 May 1747 |
| Date of Death | 1 March 1792 |
| Title | Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Tuscany |
| Period of Rule in Austria | 1790 to 1792 |
| Period of Rule in Tuscany | 1765 to 1790 |
| Parentage | Son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I |
| Notable Achievements | Abolished the death penalty and torture in Tuscany, patron of the arts and Italian opera |
| Notable Events | Signed the Treaty of Pillnitz with Prussia in 1792, threatening war with France |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Leopold II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1790 to 1792
Leopold II, born in Vienna, was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor, serving from 1790 until his death in 1792. He was also King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria during this period. Leopold was a son of Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa, and brother to Emperor Joseph II, Queen Marie Antoinette of France, Queen Maria Carolina, Duchess Maria Amalia of Parma, and several other prominent siblings.
Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism, like his brother, Joseph II. He was a reformer and one of the 18th-century "enlightened despots". During his rule in Tuscany, he abolished the death penalty and torture, making it the first nation in modern history to do so. He also had a strong interest in the arts and culture of Tuscany and Vienna, particularly Italian opera.
Leopold's rule as Holy Roman Emperor was marked by external pressures from the French Revolution and the aggressive ambitions of Catherine II of Russia. He was a skilled diplomat and administrator, and he used these talents to strengthen the empire by pacifying the Netherlands and Hungary and making agreements with Prussia and Turkey. Leopold also kept in force Joseph's decrees that emancipated the peasantry and granted increased religious liberty to non-Catholics.
Leopold died suddenly from pneumonia in Vienna on 1 March 1792, barely two years after becoming Holy Roman Emperor. He was buried in the Tuscan Crypt within the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.
Living Abroad: An American's Austrian Dream
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He was a major patron of the arts and culture
Leopold II (Peter Leopold Josef Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard) was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor, as well as King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria from 1790 until his death in 1792. He was also the Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790.
Leopold II was a major patron of the arts and culture. He had a significant impact on the arts and culture of Tuscany and Vienna, with a particular passion for Italian opera as practised in Florence. As the Grand Duke of Tuscany, he was a prominent patron of the composer Tommaso Traetta, sponsoring the costs of staging many of his new and innovative operas, including the first staging in Florence of Traetta's 1763 masterpiece, "Ifigenia in Tauride". He was also a patron of the opera singers Giovanni Manzuoli, Giusto Fernando Tenducci, and Tommaso Guarducci.
Upon becoming Holy Roman Emperor in 1790, Leopold II brought his love for Florentine opera to the Vienna court, bringing many of the musicians and opera singers he had supported in Tuscany to Vienna. He made significant changes to the staffing of artists, dismissing many of the singers, librettists, and composers previously active at the Vienna court, such as librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.
Leopold II's patronage extended beyond opera to the visual arts as well. He and his brother, Joseph II, bore a strong resemblance to one another, as depicted in a portrait by Pompeo Batoni, which shows the two together. During his rule in Tuscany, Leopold II granted the Academy of Georgofili his protection.
Leopold II was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism, similar to his brother, Joseph II. He was ahead of his time in his opposition to the death penalty and torture, abolishing them in Tuscany during his rule, making it the first nation in modern history to do so. This act is commemorated annually since 2000 by a regional custom known as the Feast of Tuscany, held every 30th of November.
Austria's COVID-19 Cases: Tracking the Numbers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Leopold was a proponent of enlightened absolutism
Leopold II (Peter Leopold Josef Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard) was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor, as well as King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria from 1790 to 1792. He was a son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, and the brother of Queen Marie Antoinette of France, Queen Maria Carolina, Duchess Maria Amalia of Parma, and Emperor Joseph II.
Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism, like his brother, Joseph II. Enlightened absolutism, also called enlightened despotism, refers to the conduct and policies of European absolute monarchs during the 18th and early 19th centuries who were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, espousing them to enhance their power. The concept originated during the Enlightenment period in the 18th and into the early 19th centuries. An enlightened absolutist is a non-democratic or authoritarian leader who exercises their political power based upon the principles of the Enlightenment. Enlightened monarchs distinguished themselves from ordinary rulers by claiming to rule for their subjects' well-being.
Leopold was a man of industry and education, and he showed some political ability later in his life. He was greatly influenced by the Jesuits and was a staunch proponent of the Counter-Reformation. Leopold was never popular with his Italian subjects, as his disposition was cold and retiring. However, his steady, consistent, and intelligent administration brought the grand duchy to a high level of material prosperity.
Leopold developed and supported many social and economic reforms. Smallpox inoculation was made systematically available, and an early institution for the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents was founded. Leopold also introduced radical reforms to the system of neglect and inhumane treatment of those deemed mentally ill. On 23 January 1774, the "legge sui pazzi" (law on the insane) was established, the first of its kind to be introduced in Europe, allowing steps to be taken to hospitalize individuals deemed insane. A few years later, Leopold undertook the project of building a new hospital, the Bonifacio Hospital. He put a young physician, Vincenzo Chiarugi, at its head, and Chiarugi and his collaborators introduced new humanitarian regulations in the running of the hospital and caring for the mentally ill patients, including banning the use of chains and physical punishment.
Leopold also abolished the death penalty and torture in Tuscany in 1786, making it the first nation in modern history to do so. This act has been commemorated since 2000 by a regional custom known as the Feast of Tuscany, held every 30 November.
Austria's Northern Neighbor: Exploring the Country Above
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He was King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia
Leopold II, born in Vienna on 5 May 1747, was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor. He was also King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria from 1790 until his death in 1792. He was the third son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, and brother to Queen Marie Antoinette of France, Queen Maria Carolina, Duchess Maria Amalia of Parma, and Emperor Joseph II.
Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism, like his brother, Joseph II. He was a reformer and one of the most capable 18th-century 'enlightened despots'. During his rule, he pacified the Hungarian rebels and recognised the Estates of his different dominions as "the pillars of the monarchy". He also negotiated the Convention of Reichenbach in 1790 with Prussia, preventing them from taking advantage of Austria's troubles by acquiring its territories.
Leopold was a patron of the arts and had a notable impact on the arts and culture of Tuscany and Vienna. He was particularly passionate about Italian opera, especially in Florence. He was also a major patron of the composer Tommaso Traetta, subsidising the costs of staging many new innovative operas.
Leopold's reforms were radical and distinguished by an institutionalised anticlericalism, yet they met with less opposition than those of his brother, Joseph. Leopold discussed his reforms beforehand with representatives of the local nobility and bourgeoisie, and his policies were less against the grain.
Austria's World Cup Qualification: Possible or Pipe Dream?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Leopold was the Archduke of Austria
Leopold II, born Peter Leopold Josef Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria from 1790 to 1792. He was the son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, and brother to Queen Marie Antoinette of France, Queen Maria Carolina, Duchess Maria Amalia of Parma, and Emperor Joseph II. Leopold was a moderate proponent of enlightened absolutism, like his brother, and was known for his progressive policies.
During his rule in Tuscany, Leopold displayed a tendency to grant his subjects a constitution. When he became Archduke of Austria, he made large concessions to interests that had been offended by his brother's policies. He recognised the Estates of his different dominions as "the pillars of the monarchy", and pacified the Hungarians and Bohemians. When these concessions failed to restore order, he resorted to using troops to re-establish his authority.
Leopold was also a patron of the arts, particularly Italian opera in Florence. He was a major patron of the composer Tommaso Traetta and sponsored the costs of staging many new innovative operas. Leopold's rule as Archduke of Austria was short-lived, as he died suddenly from pneumonia in Vienna on March 1, 1792.
There have been other notable Archdukes of Austria with the name Leopold, including Leopold V, Archduke of Further Austria, and Archduke Leopold Ferdinand of Austria, who was the eldest son of Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Alice of Bourbon-Parma. Leopold Ferdinand renounced his title in 1903 and adopted the name Leopold Wölfling.
Innsbruck's May Weather: Sun, Snow, and Everything In-Between
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Leopold II ruled Austria from 1790 to 1792.
Leopold II and Joseph II were brothers. Leopold II succeeded Joseph II as Holy Roman Emperor after his death in 1790.
Leopold II was a capable and reformist ruler. He pacified the Netherlands and Hungary, negotiated with Prussia and Turkey, and reacquired Belgrade and Walachia. He was also a patron of the arts and culture, particularly Italian opera.
