Ferdinand becomes Emperor of Austria on March…
March 1835 CE
He suffers from epilepsy, hydrocephalus, neurological problems, and a speech impediment.
The eldest son of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily, his poor health is possibly as a result of his parents' genetic closeness (they are double first cousins).
He had been educated from 1809 until 1814 by Baron Josef Kalasanz von Erberg and his wife Josephine, by birth a Countess von Attems.
Ferdinand has been depicted as feeble-minded and incapable of ruling, but although he has epilepsy, he keeps a coherent and legible diary and has even been said to have had a sharp wit, but having as many as twenty seizures per day severely restricts his ability to rule with any effectiveness.
Though he is not declared incapacitated, a Regent's Council (Archduke Louis, Count Kolowrat, and Prince Metternich) steer the government.
When Ferdinand married Princess Maria Anna of Savoy, the court physician had considered it unlikely that he would be able to consummate the marriage.
When he tried to consummate the marriage, he had five seizures.
He is best remembered for his command to his cook: when told he could not have apricot dumplings (Marillenknödel) because apricots were out of season, he said "I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings!" (German: Ich bin der Kaiser und ich will Knödel!).
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