Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian (the future emperor of Mexico), dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Navy; copy after Franz Xaver Winterhalter, oil paintig, 2nd half of 19th century

Ferdinand Maximilian

As archduke of Austria, Ferdinand Maximilian (non-ruling member of the dynasty); as Emperor of Mexico (1864–1867) Maximilian I

Born 6 July 1832 (Vienna)
Died 19 June 1867 (Querétaro, Mexico)

Luckless Emperor of Mexico

The younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph, Maximilian was viceroy of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia until 1859. He was commander-in-chief of the Imperial Navy and commissioned a number of buildings, most notably the castle at Miramare, which he never saw completed. Made Emperor of Mexico with the support of Napoleon III, he was taken prisoner in Querétaro by Republican forces and shot.

Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian (the future emperor of Mexico), dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Navy; copy after Franz Xaver Winterhalter, oil paintig, 2nd half of 19th century