Margrave Andrew of Burgau explained

Type:cardinal
Margrave of Burgau
Prince-Bishop of Contance
Abbot of Murbach
Prince-Bishop of Brixen
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Nuova
Andreas von Österreich
Church:Roman Catholic Church
Province:Mainz
Metropolis:Mainz
Diocese:Constance
Term Start:1589
Term End:12 November 1600
Other Post:Abbot of Murbach,
Bishop of Brixen
Cardinal:March 1574
Created Cardinal By:Pope Gregory XIII
Rank:Cardinal-Priest
Birth Date:15 June 1558
Birth Place:Březnice Castle Březnice, Kingdom of Bohemia
Buried:Santa Maria dell'Anima, Rome

Andreas von Österreich, Margrave of Burgau, also known as Andrew of Austria (15 June 1558 at Březnice Castle in Březnice, Bohemia  - 12 November 1600 in Rome) was a cardinal, Bishop of Constance and of Brixen. He belonged to the Austrian nobility, descending from its ruling dynasty, the House of Habsburg.

Youth

Andrew and his younger brother Charles grew up at Bresnitz Castle in Březnice, Bohemia, and later at Ambras Castle in Innsbruck, Tyrol. The marriage of their parents, Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria and Philippine Welser, was morganatic. This meant that the brothers were not considered members of the Habsburg dynasty and could not use their father's title, Archduke of Austria, bearing instead that of Margrave of Burgau.

His father decided that Andrew should have a career in the clergy. In March 1574, Andrew travelled to Rome, where Pope Gregory XIII made him a cardinal, with Santa Maria Nuova as his titular church. Andrew was only 17 years old, his father having obtained the position for him.[1]

Later life

Andrew was Abbot of Murbach from 1587 until his death. From 1589, he was also Bishop of Constance and from 1589 Bishop of Brixen. In 1598 and 1599, he briefly served as acting Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands while Archduke Albert VII travelled to Spain to marry Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia.

In 1600, he traveled to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee, afterwards visiting Naples. On his return journey, he fell ill and died after receiving the last rites from the Pope himself. He was buried in Santa Maria dell'Anima in Rome. His marble funeral monument in the church was completed by the sculptors Gillis van den Vliete and Nicolas Mostaert around 1600 and includes a portrait of Andrew kneeling in prayer.[2]

Issue

Andrew had two illegitimate children, Hans-Georg Degli Abizzi (b. 1583) and Susanna Degli Abizzi (1584–1653). They were raised by his brother Charles.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Sigrid-Maria Größing, Leidenschaftliches Habsburg, Verlag A&M
  2. https://www.academia.edu/41387723/Gillis_van_den_Vliete_e_la_comunit%C3%A0_tedesca_della_chiesa_di_Santa_Maria_dellAnima Tancredi Farina, Gillis van den Vliete e la comunità tedesca della chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Anima