Global InformationArchduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria information
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Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria | |
|---|---|
 Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, by Pieter Thijs | |
| Born | 5 January 1614 Wiener Neustadt |
| Died | 20 November 1662 (aged 48) Vienna |
| Allegiance |  Holy Roman Empire |
| Years of service | 1640 to 1656 |
| Commands held | Governor, Spanish Netherlands 1647-1656 |
| Battles/wars | Thirty Years' War Second Breitenfeld Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659) Gravelines Lens |
| Relations | Emperor Ferdinand III brother Leopold I nephew |
| Other work | Prince-bishop Halberstadt Passau Breslau Olmütz Strasbourg Grand Master, Teutonic Order 1641–1662 |
Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria (5 January 1614 – 20 November 1662), younger brother of Emperor Ferdinand III, was an Austrian soldier, administrator and patron of the arts.
He held a number of military commands, with limited success, and served as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, before returning to Vienna in 1656. Despite being nominated as Holy Roman Emperor after Ferdinand's death in 1657, he stood aside in favour of his nephew Leopold I.
His main interest was in art, and he patronised artists including David Teniers the Younger, Frans Snyders, Peter Snayers, Daniel Seghers, Peter Franchoys, Frans Wouters, Jan van den Hoecke and Pieter Thijs. His collection of 17th century Venetian and Dutch paintings are now held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.