Leopold I of the Holy Roman Empire

Leopold I of the Holy Roman Empire (1640-1705), Holy Roman Emperor (1658-1705), King of Bohemia (1656-1705), and King of Hungary (1655-1687), who extended the Habsburg possessions, created a standing imperial army, and consolidated the central Austrian administration. He was born in Vienna, the son of Emperor Ferdinand III. His reign was marked by wars, particularly against the Ottoman Turks and France. The first war against the Turks was concluded by a compromise in 1664, but when the Turks besieged Vienna in 1683, they were defeated by John III Sobieski of Poland, leading the combined Polish and imperial forces. Leopold's general, Prince Eugene of Savoy, finally defeated the Turks at Senta in 1697, and the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) acknowledged Habsburg control over virtually all Hungary.

Leopold's wars with France were less successful. The first ended in the Treaty of Nijmegen (1679), which enhanced Louis XIV's power. Leopold later joined the League of Augsburg and the Grand Alliance against France. Hostilities came to an end with the Peace of Ryswick (1697), but four years later Leopold was again embroiled with France in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). He did not, however, live to see it to a conclusion; he died on May 5, 1705, and was succeeded by his son, Joseph I.