Archduke Ernest of Austria

Archduke Ernest of Austria (July 15, 1553 in Vienna – February 12, 1595 in Brussels) was a son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria of Spain. In German he is Ernst von Österreich.

He was educated with his brother Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, in the court of Spain. In 1573 and 1587, he was a candidate for the throne of Poland. From 1576 onwards, he was governor in the Archduchy of Austria, where he promoted the counterreformation. In 1590, he became governor of Inner Austria as regent for his young cousin Ferdinand, and from 1594 to 1595 he served as governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

Ancestors

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**Ernest's ancestors in three generations**
Archduke Ernest of Austria	Father: Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor	Father's father: Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor	Father's father's father: Philip I of Castile
			Father's father's mother: Joanna of Castile
		Father's mother: Anna of Bohemia and Hungary	Father's mother's father: Ladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary
			Father's mother's mother: Anne de Foix
	Mother: Maria of Spain	Mother's father: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor	Mother's father's father: Philip I of Castile
			Mother's father's mother: Joanna of Castile
		Mother's mother: Isabella of Portugal	Mother's mother's father: Manuel I of Portugal
			Mother's mother's mother: Maria of Aragon

Preceded by Count Peter Ernst von Mansfeld	Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands 1594-1595	Succeeded by Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes