Today in History - May 16th. 1609 - Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria
Don Fernando de Austria was born on May 16th. 1609 in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
(Kingdom of Spain).
(Kingdom of Spain).
Cardinal Infante Ferdinand of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia
His parents were King Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria.
When Ferdinand was 10 years old, his father asked the pope to gave his son
the title Cardinal although he never was ordained.
In 1634 Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria entered Antwerp, as governor
of the Spanish Netherlands. This event became a big party.
As patron of Arts he ordered many portraits by inter alia Rubens and
Anton van Dyck.
Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria also was a very talented general.
He spent a lot of time @ the battlefield (between the Flemings against the French).
Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria died on November 9th. 1641 in Brussels,
after he became ill during a battle.
His body was brought to Spain in 1643, where he was buried in the Royal Crypt.
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