“El emperador le tiene por más españolado de lo que querría”. Adam von Dietrichstein y la influencia española en la corte del emperador Maximiliano II

Abstract

The article focuses on the role of Austrian noble Adam von Dietrichstein on the court of Maximilian II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1564-1576). Dietrichstein stayed for all his life in the service of the house of Habsburg. As a prototype of a career-oriented aristocrat of Early Modern age, he served to the governing dynasty in diplomatic and court offices. Since the beginning of his career, he showed his inclination to the Spanish branch of the Habsburg family. It culminated during his diplomatic mission in Madrid (1563-1573), when he created close bonds to the Spanish monarchy. After his return to Central Europe, Dietrichstein belonged to the highest ranks of the hierarchy of the imperial court. As a client of Spanish king Philip II, he was pretending to influence the emperor in intentions of the politics of his Spanish relatives. This tentatives of Dietrichstein were then reflected in the dynamics of his relation with Maximilian II, which is described in this article.

Keywords

• adam von dietrichstein
• philip ii
• maximilian ii
• mary of austria
• court
• patronage
• clientelism
• diplomacy
• influence
• habsburgs