Emperor Matthias I was born on 24 February 1557. As the second son of Maximilian II, he was not originally intended to become a monarch. Raised in the shadow of his elder brother Rudolf, he was a rather average personality, with no remarkable talents or ambitions.
Matthias stood in stark contrast to Rudolf, arguably the most eccentric ruler ever to sit on the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. Although well-educated and a great admirer of the arts, Rudolf began to show signs of mental instability. At a time when the empire was threatened by political turbulence and escalating tensions between Catholics and Protestants, the emperor became increasingly superstitious and unstable, dedicating himself to occultism and alchemy.
At the height of the crisis, the Habsburg family council decided to replace the childless Rudolf with his brother Matthias, who was next in line to the throne. This move prevented the overthrow of the dynasty but ultimately failed to stabilise the political situation in the long run.
Peace-loving, tolerant, yet politically weak, Matthias died in 1618. He was the first emperor to be buried in the Capuchin Crypt, founded by Empress Anna of Tyrol. As they had no children, the imperial throne passed to his nephew, Ferdinand II.
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