Ferdinand III Emperor and music composer
Ferdinand III was born in Graz (Austria) on July 13th. 1608.
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Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Source picture: Wikipedia
His parents were Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor and
Maria Anna of Bavaria.
Rule
Ferdinand III was elected King of the Romans at the Diet of Regensburg
on 22 December, 1636. Upon the death of his father on 15 February 1637,
Ferdinand became Emperor.
on 22 December, 1636. Upon the death of his father on 15 February 1637,
Ferdinand became Emperor.
By the time Ferdinand became Emperor, vast sections of the imperial
territories had been absolutely devastated by two decades of war.
The population was completely exhausted and massively diminished,
countless people were impoverished, disabled, sick, homeless, many
had lost their families and had abandoned all moral standards.
Ferdinand did not endeavour to continue the war. But the
momentum of the war, the political circumstances and his
reluctance to act prevented a quick end to the war
territories had been absolutely devastated by two decades of war.
The population was completely exhausted and massively diminished,
countless people were impoverished, disabled, sick, homeless, many
had lost their families and had abandoned all moral standards.
Ferdinand did not endeavour to continue the war. But the
momentum of the war, the political circumstances and his
reluctance to act prevented a quick end to the war
Any hope to make early peace with France and Sweden did not
materialize.
materialize.
Despite many losses, the constitutional position of the
emperor after the Peace of Westphalia permitted an active
imperial policy in cooperation with parts of the estates.
In the Habsburg monarchy the prerequisites for the
development of a uniform absolutist state remained intact.
Thus, imperial policies of the peace negotiations succeeded
in this respect - despite the failure to meet some of the original
negotiation goals.
emperor after the Peace of Westphalia permitted an active
imperial policy in cooperation with parts of the estates.
In the Habsburg monarchy the prerequisites for the
development of a uniform absolutist state remained intact.
Thus, imperial policies of the peace negotiations succeeded
in this respect - despite the failure to meet some of the original
negotiation goals.
Ferdinand III with Maria Anna
Love and Marriage
He married three times:
1/ Maria Anna of Spain.
2/ Maria Leopoldine of Austria.
3/ Eleonora Gonzaga.
Death
Ferdinand died on 2 April 1657, and rests in the Capuchin Crypt
in Vienna. His interior organs were separately buried in the
Ducal Crypt. He was succeeded by Leopold I.
in Vienna. His interior organs were separately buried in the
Ducal Crypt. He was succeeded by Leopold I.
A patron
Ferdinand III was a well-known patron of music and even a composer.
He studied music under Giovanni Valentini, who bequeathed his
musical works to him, and had close ties with Johann Jakob Froberger,
one of the most important keyboard composers of the 17th century.
He studied music under Giovanni Valentini, who bequeathed his
musical works to him, and had close ties with Johann Jakob Froberger,
one of the most important keyboard composers of the 17th century.
Froberger lamented the emperor's death and dedicated to him one
of his most celebrated works, Lamentation faite sur la mort
très douloureuse de Sa Majesté Impériale, Ferdinand le troisième;
a tombeau for Ferdinand III's death was composed by the
renowned violinist Johann Heinrich Schmelzer.
of his most celebrated works, Lamentation faite sur la mort
très douloureuse de Sa Majesté Impériale, Ferdinand le troisième;
a tombeau for Ferdinand III's death was composed by the
renowned violinist Johann Heinrich Schmelzer.
Some of Ferdinand's own compositions survive in manuscripts:
masses, motets, hymns and other sacred music, as well as a
few secular pieces. His Drama musicum was praised by
Athanasius Kircher, and the extant works, although clearly
influenced by Valentini, show a composer with an individual
style and a solid technique.
masses, motets, hymns and other sacred music, as well as a
few secular pieces. His Drama musicum was praised by
Athanasius Kircher, and the extant works, although clearly
influenced by Valentini, show a composer with an individual
style and a solid technique.
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Source pictures: Wikipedia
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