Rudolf von Habsburg-Lothringen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Styles of Rudolf Cardinal von Habsburg-Lothringen |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Olomouc |
His Most Illustrious and Reverend Eminence Rudolf Johannes Joseph Rainier Cardinal von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke and Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia (January 8, 1788-24 July 1831) was an Archbishop of Olomouc and member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
Born in Pisa, Italy, he was the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II and Maria Louisa of Spain. He was elected archbishop of Olomouc in 1819 and became cardinal in the same year.
He was born in Florence then part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II.
In 1803 or 1804, Rudolf began taking lessons in piano and composition from Ludwig van Beethoven. The two became friends, and Rudolph became a supporter and patron of Beethoven; their meetings continued until 1824. Beethoven dedicated 14 compositions to Rudolph, including the Archduke Trio and his great Missa Solemnis. Rudolph, in turn, dedicated one of his own compositions to Beethoven. The letters Beethoven wrote to Rudolph are today kept at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna.
At the age of 31 on 24 March 1819 he was appointed Archbishop of Olomouc in the present day Czech Republic but then part of the Austrian Empire. He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest of the titular church of S. Pietro in Montorio by Pope Pius VI on 4 June 1819.
He chose to be ordained and was done so on 29 August 1819. He was consecrated a bishop on 26 September 1819.
He died on 23 July 1831 in Baden at the age of 43 and was interred in the Imperial Crypt Vaults in Imperial Crypt in Vienna; his heart was buried in the crypt in Saint Wenceslas cathedral in Olomouc.
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