Leopold I of Austria (9 June 1640-5 May 1705) was the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1658 to 1705, succeeding Ferdinand III of Germany and preceding Joseph I of Austria. During his reign, Austria became its own empire, losing influence in Germany as states such as Prussia became independent by 1700.
Biography[]
Leopold I was the son of Ferdinand III of Austria and Maria Anna of Spain, and he became fluent in Latin, Italian, German, French, and Spanish, with Italian being a favored language at his court in addition to German. Leopold had traits common in the House of Habsburg, being cold and reserved in public and socially awkward. In 1755, he became king of Hungary; in 1657, he would become king of Bohemia and Croatia, and then Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire on the death of his father in 1658. Leopold would fight against the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, and he also fought against Kingdom of France in the late 17th century.