Maximilian II, 1527–76, Holy Roman emperor

Maximilian II, 1527–76, Holy Roman emperor (1564–76), king of Bohemia (1562–76) and of Hungary (1563–76), son and successor of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I. Before acceding he evidenced a sympathy for Lutheranism that caused grave concern in imperial and papal circles and led Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to urge that his son King Philip II of Spain succeed Ferdinand. However, Maximilian yielded and in 1562 swore to remain a Catholic and to allow his immediate heirs to be educated in Spain. He thereupon was elected king of the Romans, or Holy Roman emperor-elect (1562), and king of Hungary (1563). On Ferdinand's death (1564) he took full direction of imperial affairs. He obtained funds from the diet for the defense of Austria against the Turks but did not press his advantage, and by the truce of 1568 with Selim II he agreed to continue paying tribute to the sultan for his part of Hungary. Maximilian granted a large degree of religious toleration in his Bohemian and Austrian possessions. His policy of neutrality, however, also allowed the Counter Reformation to make considerable gains in some parts of the empire. A candidate for the throne of Poland to succeed Henry of Anjou (Henry III Henry III, 1551–89, king of France (1574–89); son of King Henry II and Catherine de' Medici. He succeeded his brother, Charles IX. As a leader of the royal army in the Wars of Religion (see Religion, Wars of ) against the French Protestants, or Huguenots,
..... Click the link for more information. of France), he was elected (1575) by the Polish diet as rival king to Stephen Báthory Stephen Báthory (bä`tôrĭ), Pol.
..... Click the link for more information. . Maximilian died, refusing the sacraments, while preparing to invade Poland. His son succeeded him as Rudolf II.

Maximilian II, 1811–64, king of Bavaria

Maximilian II, 1811–64, king of Bavaria (1848–64), son and successor of Louis I Louis I, 1786–1868, king of Bavaria (1825–48), son and successor of King Maximilian I. He was chiefly responsible for transforming Munich into one of the handsomest capitals of Europe and for making it a center of the arts.
..... Click the link for more information. . He had liberal tendencies and was a patron of art and learning. He hoped to create a union of small German states under Bavarian leadership as a counterweight to Austrian and Prussian influence in German affairs, but he was unable to do so. His son, Louis II, succeeded him.

Maximilian II

(born Nov. 28, 1811, Munich—died March 10, 1864, Munich) King of Bavaria (1848–64). Son of King Louis I, he succeeded to the throne on his father's abdication in 1848. He proposed a league of smaller states as a “third force” in German affairs but was opposed by the dominant states of Austria and Prussia. He successfully introduced liberal reforms in Bavaria, including freedom of the press and ministerial responsibility. He made Munich a centre of culture and gave support to such scholars as Leopold von Ranke. He was succeeded by his son Louis II.

Maximilian II

(born July 31, 1527, Vienna, Austria—died Oct. 12, 1576, Regensburg) Holy Roman emperor (1564–76). Son of the future emperor Ferdinand I, he was a humanist Christian who favoured compromise between Catholics and Protestants. He became king of Bohemia in 1562 and succeeded to the imperial throne in 1564. He extended religious tolerance and worked for reform of the Roman Catholic church. He failed to achieve his political goals; an unsuccessful campaign against the Turks ended in a truce in 1568 that compelled him to continue to pay tribute to the sultan.