The Emperor Ferdinand III died on 2 April 1657. He was the third but eldest surviving son of Ferdinand II and Maria Anna of Bavaria. As a sickly child, he grew up in a loving family circle and received a careful education in languages and sciences. From an early age, he was praised for his modest, tactful, and understanding nature.
Most of Ferdinand’s lifetime was overshadowed by the Thirty Years’ War, which was particularly devastating for the German lands. In stark contrast to his father, a staunch Catholic and firm supporter of the Counter-Reformation, Ferdinand was tolerant of different Christian confessions. Soon after ascending to the throne, he sought reconciliation and compromise between the warring factions. Eventually, the Peace of Westphalia was concluded in 1648, securing freedom of religion and bringing an end to the conflict.
Although Ferdinand III had eleven children from his three marriages, the succession was far from assured, as only one of his six sons survived to adulthood. A passionate music lover, he was the first emperor known to compose in his leisure time, contributing to Vienna’s emergence as a centre of Baroque music in the following century.
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