Ferdinand IV, King of the Romans

Ferdinand IV (8 September 1633 – 9 July 1654) was made and crowned King of Bohemia in 1646, King of Hungary and Croatia in 1647, and King of the Romans on 31 May 1653. He also served as Duke of Cieszyn.

Early life Born in Vienna on 8 September 1633, and baptised as Ferdinand Franz, Ferdinand IV was the eldest son of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and his first wife Maria Anna, the daughter of Philip III of Spain.

Biography Ferdinand had been the hope of the Habsburg dynasty during the final stages of the Thirty Years' War. According to his father Emperor Ferdinand III's succession plan, he was expected to lead the Habsburg monarchy into a period of stability after the Peace of Westphalia.

At a young age, Ferdinand IV took his father's place as Archduke of Austria. In 1646, Ferdinand IV became King of Bohemia, sharing the role and that of Duke of Cieszyn with his father Emperor Ferdinand III. He was crowned on 5 August 1646. Ferdinand IV also shared the role of King of Hungary and Croatia with his father; his coronation took place on 16 June 1647 in Pressburg, present-day Slovakia. However, Ferdinand IV unexpectedly died of smallpox in Vienna on 9 July 1654. 5 = 5. Maria Anna of Bavaria 7 = 7. Margaret of Austria 9 = 9. Maria Anna of Bavaria 11 = 11. Renata of Lorraine 13 = 13. Anna of Austria (= 8) 15 = 15. Maria Anna of Bavaria (= 9, ≠ 5)

Male-line family tree