Rudolf II: Eccentric Holy Roman Emperor Whose Occult Interest And Mistakes Led To The Thirty Years’ War

Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Some people are destined to rule and some are simply obliged to follow in the footsteps of their family.

Being an emperor was a nightmare to Rudolf II, and he hated every minute of it. He was a man more interested in great minds, art, culture, and the occult than in the exercise of his power. To him, the duty of ruling was demanding, tiresome, and utterly boring. He missed his privacy and could not stand people who always wanted something from him.

Everyone expected him to make decisions concerning uninteresting events, places, and people. With such an indifferent attitude, it is no wonder his mistakes led to the Thirty Years’ War that remains one of the longest and most brutal wars in human history, with more than 8 million casualties.

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