Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor

Joseph II (Joseph Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) is Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790.

He is the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I, and is the brother of Marie Antoinette.

He is thus the first ruler in the Austrian dominions of the House of Lorraine, styled Habsburg-Lorraine (von Habsburg-Lothringen in German).

Joseph is a proponent of enlightened absolutism; however, his commitment to modernizing reforms subsequently engenders significant opposition, which eventually culminates in an ultimate failure to fully implement his programs.

He has been ranked, with Catherine II of Russia and Frederick II of Prussia, as one of the three great Enlightenment monarchs.

His policies are now known as Josephinism.

He dies with no sons and is succeeded by his younger brother, Leopold.

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