Summary: Archduke Ferdinand II has gone down in history as an outstanding personality amongst the rulers of his generation: a spearhead figure in the Counter-Reformation but at the same time a highly educated humanist and lover of art. The younger brother of the future Emperor Maximilian II, in 1547 he became Governor of the Kingdom of Bohemia, taking up residence in Prague. 450 years ago this year, Archduke Ferdinand made his ceremonial entry into the city of Innsbruck, where for over thirty years he was to rule over the county of Tyrol and the Habsburg possessions of Further Austria to its west. In 1557 Archduke Ferdinand married Philippine Welser, the daughter of a rich Augsburg merchant - but in secret, because as a commoner Philippine was far below Ferdinand's station as the son of the Holy Roman Emperor. Defying all opposition, Ferdinand rebuilt Ambras Castle for Philippine, making it into one of most important examples of Renaissance architecture in all Europe. In so doing, he also laid the foundations for his unique armouries and remarkable chamber of art and wonders - and thus for a vast collection of arms and armour, coins, books and manuscripts, portraits, and masterpieces of fine craftsmanship.

Contents: Vaclav Bt1zek, The Habsburgs in Sixteenth-Century Europe ; Jaroslava Hansenblasova, Archduke Ferdinand II - 'Administrator and Governor of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown ; Heinz Noflatschcr, Archduke Ferdinand U as Sovereign Ruler of Tyrol ; Sylva Dobalova & Ivan P. Muchka, Archduke Ferdinand II as Architectural Patron in Prague and Innsbruck ; Eliska Fucikova, Prague Castle under Archduke Ferdinand II, Rebuilding and Decoration ; Bianka Kubikova, The image of Archduke Ferdinand II in his portraits ; Franz Gratl, Music at the court of Archduke Ferdinand II within the network of dynastic relationships ; Katharina Seidl, '... how to assuage all outer and inner malady…' - Medicine at the court of Archduke Ferdinand II ; Alfred Auer, Of Paradises, Gardens and Plants ; Veronika Sandbichler, 'Innata omnium pulcherrimarum rerum inquisitio', Archduke Ferdinand II as a Collector ; Thomas Kuster, 'Dies heroische theatrum' - The Heldenrüstkammer at Ambras Castle ; Paulus Rainer, On Art and Wonders in an Extra-Moral Sense ; Ivo Purs, The Library of Archduke Ferdinand II in Ambras Castle ; CATALOGUE - 'Serenissimo Principe', Ferdinand IIs entry into Innsbruck in 1567 ; 'The royal prince' - Family ties ; Secretly united, Ferdinand & Philippine ; Representing the King, Ferdinand II as Governor of Bohemia ; 'Noble, well-born, learned' , Ferdinand II as Sovereign Ruler of Tyrol ; The Ambras Collections - Rüst Camer' - 'Grosse Kunst Carner' / Art versus Nature - Ordering - 'Bibliotheca oder bücchcr Künst Camer' - Historiography and Natural Science - With trumpets and drums, Music at the court of Ferdinand II - 'Called from this vale of tears', At the close of life.

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