Not Just the Tudors29 Sep 2025

Rudolf II, the "Mad Habsburg Emperor"

In the final episode of her short series on the Habsburg dynasty, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb turns to one of the most fascinating and misunderstood rulers of early modern Europe: Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. Often remembered—if at all—as the "mad emperor" who withdrew from politics and lost his grip on power, Rudolf’s story is far richer than the stereotype. Instead of governing from Vienna or Madrid, he relocated his imperial court to Prague, transforming it into a dazzling hub of art, science, alchemy, and astrology. Was he truly unfit to rule, or has history been unfair? Suzannah is joined by Professor Thomas Kaufmann to re-examine Rudolf II's reign not as decline, but as a bold, eccentric vision of imperial rule during a turbulent age of religious wars, Protestant uprisings, Ottoman expansion, and dynastic rivalries.

MORE:

Rise of the Habsburgs

Chales V, Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

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