Margrave Andrew of Burgau

Andreas von Österreich, Margrave of Burgau, also known as Andrew of Austria (15 June 1558 at Březnice Castle in Březnice, Bohemia – 12 November 1600 in Rome) was a cardinal, Bishop of Constance and of Brixen. He belonged to the Austrian nobility, descending from its ruling dynasty, the House of Habsburg.

His Eminence

Andreas von Österreich
Margrave of Burgau
Prince-Bishop of Contance
Abbot of Murbach
Prince-Bishop of Brixen
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Nuova
Late 16th century portrait
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ProvinceMainz
MetropolisMainz
DioceseConstance
Installed1589
Term ended12 November 1600
Other post(s)Abbot of Murbach,
Bishop of Brixen
Orders
Created cardinalMarch 1574
by Pope Gregory XIII
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born15 June 1558
Březnice Castle Březnice, Kingdom of Bohemia
Died12 November 1600(1600-11-12) (aged 42)
Rome, Papal States
BuriedSanta Maria dell'Anima, Rome
Andrew's coat of arms
His coat of arms when he was Bishop of Constance

Youth

Andrew and his younger brother Charles grew up at Bresnitz Castle in Březnice, Bohemia, and later at Ambras Castle in Innsbruck, Tyrol. The marriage of their parents, Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria and Philippine Welser, was morganatic. This meant that the brothers were not considered members of the Habsburg dynasty and could not use their father's title, Archduke of Austria, bearing instead that of Margrave of Burgau.

His father decided that Andrew should have a career in the clergy. In March 1574, Andrew travelled to Rome, where Pope Gregory XIII made him a cardinal, with Santa Maria Nuova as his titular church. Andrew was only 17 years old, his father having obtained the position for him.[1]

Later life

Andrew was Abbot of Murbach from 1587 until his death. From 1589, he was also Bishop of Constance and from 1589 Bishop of Brixen. In 1598 and 1599, he briefly served as acting Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands while Archduke Albert VII travelled to Spain to marry Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia.

In 1600, he traveled to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee, afterwards visiting Naples. On his return journey, he fell ill and died after receiving the last rites from the Pope himself. He was buried in Santa Maria dell'Anima in Rome. His marble funeral monument in the church was completed by the sculptors Gillis van den Vliete and Nicolas Mostaert around 1600 and includes a portrait of Andrew kneeling in prayer.[2]

Issue

Andrew had two illegitimate children, Hans-Georg Degli Abizzi (b. 1583) and Susanna Degli Abizzi (1584–1653). They were raised by his brother Charles.

Notes
  1. Sigrid-Maria Größing, Leidenschaftliches Habsburg, Verlag A&M
  2. Tancredi Farina , Gillis van den Vliete e la comunità tedesca della chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Anima in: 'In corso d'opera 2. Ricerche dei dottorandi in Storia dell'Arte della Sapienza', a cura di C. Di Bello, R. Gandolfi, M. Latella (Collana Ricerche dei dottorandi - 2), Campisano Editore, Rome, 2019, pp. 123-130 (in Italian)

References
  • Heinrich Benedikt (1957), "Burgau, Andreas", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 3, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 43–44; (full text online)
  • Margot Rauch: Karl von Burgau und Kardinal Andreas von Österreich, in: Philippine Welser & Anna Caterina Gonzaga: Die Gemahlinnen Erzherzog Ferdinands II., catalogue for an exhibition, Innsbruck, 1998
  • Margot Rauch: Kardinal Andreas von Österreich, in: Ambras — Das Schloss der Philippine Welser, permanent presentation, Innsbruck, 2007
  • Eduard Widmoser: Kardinal Andreas von Österreich, Markgraf von Burgau (1558-1600), in: Lebensbilder aus dem Bayerischen Schwaben, vol. 4, Munich, 1955, p. 249-259.
  • Constantin von Wurzbach: , in: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich
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