Editing Albert II of Germany (section)

==Biography==
[[File:Karel Svoboda (1824-1870) - Korunovace císaře Albrechta II. za krále českého roku 1438.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Coronation of Albert II in 1438 as King of Bohemia, by [[Karel Svoboda (artist)|Karel Svoboda]], 1848–1856]]
Albert was born in [[Vienna]] as the son of [[Albert IV, Duke of Austria]], and [[Joanna Sophia of Bavaria]].{{sfn|Previté-Orton|1978|p=792}}

He succeeded to the Duchy of Austria at the age of seven on his father's death in 1404. His uncle [[William, Duke of Austria|Duke William of Inner Austria]], then head of the rivaling [[Leopoldinian line]], served as regent for his nephew, followed by his brothers [[Leopold IV, Duke of Austria|Leopold IV]] and [[Ernest, Duke of Austria|Ernest the Iron]] in 1406. The quarrels between the brothers and their continued attempts to gain control over the [[Albertinian line|Albertinian]] territories led to civil war-like conditions. Nevertheless, Albert, having received a good education, undertook the government of Austria proper on the occasion of Leopold's death in 1411 and succeeded, with the aid of his advisers, in ridding the duchy of the evils which had arisen during his minority.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Albert II. (German king)|display=Albert II.|volume=1|page=496}} Endnote: see [[Wilhelm Altmann|W. Altmann]], ''Die Wahl Albrecht II. zum römische Könige'' (Berlin, 1886).</ref>

In 1422 Albert married [[Elisabeth of Bohemia (1409-1442)|Elisabeth of Luxemburg]], the daughter and heiress of the King [[Sigismund of Hungary]] (later also [[Holy Roman Emperor]] and [[Kingdom of Bohemia|King of Bohemia]]), and his second wife, the Slovenian noblewoman [[Barbara of Celje]].{{sfn|Jackson-Laufer|1999|p=130}} Besides Hungary, Albert's marriage brought him claims to several Slavic kingdoms and principalities as well.

[[File:Albrecht II as Roman-German king.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Albert II as Roman-German king]]
Albert assisted his father-in-law Sigismund in his campaigns against the [[Hussites]], involving the Austrian duchy in the [[Hussite Wars]]. In return Sigismund designated him as his successor and granted him the title of a [[Margraviate of Moravia|Margrave of Moravia]] in 1423. The Austrian lands were devastated several times and Albert also participated in the 1431 [[Battle of Domažlice]] where the Imperial troops suffered an embarrassing defeat. While his lands were harmed it was a showing of loyalty to the church as the church was trying to consolidate its influence and power.<ref name=":0" />

When Sigismund died in 1437, Albert was crowned king of Hungary on 1 January 1438, and just as his predecessor did, he moved his court to the Hungarian Kingdom from where he later oversaw his other domains. Although crowned king of Bohemia six months after ascending to the Hungarian throne, he was unable to obtain possession of the country. He was engaged in warfare with the Bohemians and their Polish allies, when on 17 March 1438, he was elected as "[[King of the Romans]]" at [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Decaluwé |editor-first1=Michiel |editor-last2=Izbicki |editor-first2=Thomas M. |editor-last3=Christianson |editor-first3=Gerald |date=November 2016 |title=A Companion to the Council of Basel |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |page=28 |isbn=9789004222649 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Companion_to_the_Council_of_Basel/CyZoDQAAQBAJ?hl=en |access-date=February 3, 2025}}</ref> Albert was never crowned as [[Holy Roman Emperor]].

Afterwards engaged in defending Hungary against the attacks of the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]], he died on 27 October 1439 at [[Neszmély]] and was buried at [[Székesfehérvár]]. Albert was an energetic and warlike prince, whose short reign as a triple king gave great promise of usefulness for the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name="EB1911"/>