1600
Bezoars are concretions found in the stomachs of ruminants. Smaller ones were ground up and used for medicinal purposes. Many different craftsmen were involved in the decoration of these sought-after curiosities. Charles V possessed an elaborately set bezoar and there were two examples in Rudolf II’s chamber of art and curiosities. These objects were the expression of a combination of scientific interest and occult beliefs.
The Habsburg dynasty: Here you can read potted biographies, examine portraits from seven centuries and dip into the historical contexts of past epochs.
Select a period in Habsburg history, from the beginnings of Habsburg rule in the Middle Ages to the collapse of the Monarchy during the First World War.
The map shows the territorial development of the Habsburg Monarchy as it evolved into a sprawling, geographically fragmented empire.
Monarchical rule was legitimized by descent. The classic form of representing these relationships is the genealogical table or family tree.
Collected themes - browse stories and anecdotes from the history of the Habsburg Monarchy.
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Journey through the different epochs of Habsburg history from the Middle Ages to the First World War.
All the members of the Habsburg dynasty. Read biographical notes and explore the historical context.
