Maximilian I
Maximilian I (1459–1519) Holy Roman Emperor (1493–1519), son and successor of Frederick III. Maximilian was one of the most successful members of the Habsburg dynasty. He gained Burgundy and the Netherlands by marriage, and defended them against France. He was less successful in asserting control over the German princes, and involvement in the Italian Wars led to his defeat by the Swiss in 1499. Maximilian strengthened the Habsburg heartland in Austria and through marriage diplomacy ensured that his grandson and successor, Charles V, inherited a vast European empire.
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Maximilian I
