Albert I of the Holy Roman Empire

Albert I of the Holy Roman Empire (c. 1255-1308), Holy Roman Emperor (1298-1308) and duke of Austria (1282-1308). He received the duchy of Austria in 1282 from his father, Rudolf I of Habsburg, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor. After Rudolf's death in 1291, the German imperial electors refused to recognize Albert's claim to the throne and named Adolf of Nassau king of Germany. With the help of a coalition of German princes, Albert deposed and succeeded Adolf in 1298. Pope Boniface VIII recognized him as Holy Roman Emperor in 1303, but he was never crowned. During his reign he adopted measures beneficial to serfs, Jews, and the mercantile class; obtained the crown of Bohemia for his son Rudolf; and in 1307 waged an unsuccessful war against Thuringia. He was murdered by his nephew, John of Swabia, whose inheritance he had withheld. He was succeeded by Henry of Luxembourg, Holy Roman Emperor as Henry VII.