Rudolf II and the Renaissance Court of Prague

Rudolf II, born in Vienna on July 18, 1552, was a Holy Roman Emperor from the House of Habsburg who famously relocated the imperial court from Vienna to Prague in 1583. Under his patronages, Prague blossomed into a major European center for art, science, and Mannerist culture. Rudolf II patronized famous astronomers such as Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, while amassing vast collections of art and curiosities. However, his later reign was marked by political instability, the Long Turkish War, and conflicts with his brother Matthias, leading to a gradual loss of actual power.

Other languages