MAXIMILIAN I. (1459-1519), Roman emperor, son of the emperor Frederick III. and Leonora, daughter of Edward, king of Portugal, born at Vienna Neustadt on March 22, On Aug. 18, 1477, he was married at Ghent to Mary, who had inherited Burgundy and the Netherlands from her father Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy. He at once undertook the defence of his wife's dominions from an attack by Louis XI., king of France, and defeated the French forces at Guinegatte, the modern Enguinegatte, on Aug. 7, 1479. But Maximilian was regarded with suspicion by the States of the Netherlands, and after suppressing a rising in Gelderland his position was further weakened by the death of his wife on March 27, 1482. He claimed to be recog nized as guardian of his young son Philip and as regent of the Netherlands, but some of the States refused to agree to his demands and disorder was general. Maximilian was compelled to assent to the treaty of Arras in 1482 between the States of the Netherlands and Louis XI., which provided that Maxi milian's daughter Margaret should marry Charles, the dauphin of France, and have for her dowry Artois and Franche-Comte, two of the provinces in dispute, while the claim of Louis on the duchy of Burgundy was tacitly admitted.
Maximilian did not, however, abandon the struggle in the Netherlands. Having crushed a rebellion at Utrecht, he compelled the burghers of Ghent to restore Philip to him in 1485, and returning to Germany was chosen king of the Romans, or German king, at Frankfort on Feb. 16, 1486, and crowned at Aix-la Chapelle on April 9. Again in the Netherlands, he made a treaty with Francis II., duke of Brittany, whose independence was threatened by the French regent, Anne of Beaujeu, and the strug gle with France was soon renewed. This war was very unpopular with the trading cities of the Netherlands, and early in 1488 Maximilian, having entered Bruges, was detained there. as a prisoner for nearly three months, and only set at liberty on the approach of his father with a large force. He delayed his depart
ure for nearly a year and took part in a punitive campaign against his captors and their allies. On his return to Germany he made peace with France at Frankfort in July 1489, and in October several of the States of the Netherlands recognized him as their ruler and as guardian of his son. In March 1490 the county of Tirol was added to his possessions through the abdication of his kinsman, Count Sigismund, and this district soon became his favourite residence.
Meanwhile the king had formed an alliance with Henry VII. king of England, and Ferdinand II., king of Aragon, to defend the possessions of the duchess Anne, daughter and successor of Francis, duke of Brittany. Early in 1490 he was betrothed to the duchess, and later in the same year the marriage was celebrated by proxy; but Brittany was still occupied by French troops, and Maximilian was unable to go to the assistance of his bride. In Dec. 1491 Anne was married to Charles VIII., king of France, and Maximilian's daughter Margaret, who had resided in France since her betrothal, was sent back to her father. Maximilian took no action, being occupied in Hungary, where the death of king Matthias Corvinus had brought about a struggle for this throne. The Roman king, who was an unsuccessful candidate, took up arms, drove out the Hungarians from Austria, and regained Vienna, which had been in the possession of Matthias since 1485 ; but he was compelled by want of money to retreat, and on Nov. 7, 1491 signed the Treaty of Pressburg with Ladislaus, king of Bohemia, who had obtained the Hungarian throne, agreeing that Maximilian should succeed to the crown in case Ladislaus left no legitimate male issue. Having defeated the invading Turks at Villach in 1492, the king was eager to take revenge upon the king of France; but the States of the Netherlands would afford him no assistance. The German diet was indifferent, and in May 1493 he agreed to the peace of Senlis and regained Artois and Franche-Comte.