Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria

Charles Joseph (7 August 1649 – 27 January 1664) was an Archduke of Austria and Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (1662–1664). He was also the Bishop of Olmütz, and Breslau, Passau.

Life

Charles Joseph was born on 7 August 1649, in Vienna to parents Ferdinand III and Maria Leopoldine. Destined for a life in the clergy, he was appointed as the Bishop of Passau and Olmütz at the young age of 13, following in the footsteps of his uncle Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. He also became the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order.

In spite of this, there were still strong rumors that Charles Joseph could marry his niece Margaret Theresa of Spain, who was already betrothed to his brother Leopold, and in case the future King Charles II of Spain died, then Margaret and Charles Joseph would become the next Spanish monarchs. The fact that the young Archduke was Catholic and a Habsburg made him completely acceptable for the Spanish court, which would never accept a member of another dynasty and even less a Protestant as a marriage candidate for Margaret Theresa. In any case, the rumors about a marriage between the Spanish Infanta and the Archduke came to nothing and Margaret remained betrothed to Emperor Leopold.

Due to his youth, Charles Joseph was unable to attain higher orders as a bishop. He died at the age of 14 on 27 January 1664, in Linz, Austria, exhausted from battling an illness. His remains were transported by ship to Vienna, where he was laid to rest in the Imperial Crypt on 21 February 1664. 5 = 5. Maria Anna of Bavaria 7 = 7. Claudia de' Medici (= 12) 9 = 9. Maria Anna of Bavaria 11 = 11. Renata of Lorraine (= 8) 13 = 13. Maria Anna of Bavaria 15 = 15. Christina of Lorraine

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