Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, is represented in this anonymous portrait as a young archduke in his native Spain. He left Spain in his early twenties, to start his life as future
King of the Romans and successor to his grandfather,
Maximilian I. His older brother
Charles eventually succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor, but Ferdinand was elected after Charles's abdication. Philip, Charles's son, inherited Spain and became King
Philip II of Spain. Ferdinand ruled between 1558 and 1564, for nearly six years.
Artist: Unknown