Charles, Margrave of Burgau
| Charles | |
|---|---|
| Margrave of Burgau | |
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Charles, Margrave of Burgau, copper engraving by Dominicus Custos, after 1606
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| Spouse(s) | Sibylle of Jülich-Cleves-Berg |
| Noble family | Habsburg |
| Father | Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria |
| Mother | Philippine Welser |
| Born |
22 November 1560 Bürglitz Castle in Bohemia |
| Died | 30 October 1618 (aged 57) Überlingen |
| Buried | Capuchin monastery in Günzburg |
Charles, Margrave of Burgau, also known as Charles of Austria, (22 November 1560 at Bürglitz Castle in Bohemia – 30 October 1618 in Überlingen), was the son of Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria and his first morganatic marriage to Philippine Welser. He was the brother of Andrew of Austria.
Charles of Burgau pursued a military career. He unsuccessfully led a Spanish regiment in the war against the Netherlands and was then deployed in the Long War against the Ottoman Empire. Here, he recorded some successes — at the expense of his soldiers, who were hungry and unpaid; some of them deserted — and was promoted to Field Marshal.
His father died in 1595. Since Charles was born from a morganatic marriage, he was not entitled to inherit the archduchy. He was, however, amply compensated financially and given some territories. His most important possession was the Margraviate of Burgau. He also held the Landgraviate of Nellenburg and the County of Hohenberg. Contemporary sources describe his magnificent court at his residence, Günzburg Castle.
Charles was not popular among his subjects, whom he forbade to drink wheat beer. Nor was he popular among the noble residents of his margraviate, who included the Bishop of Augsburg, the Counts of Fugger and the free imperial cities of Ulm and Augsburg, and with whom he had conflict about tax increases and about their sovereign rights.
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Wikipedia