I
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.
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 Louis II .