Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459-1519), belonged to the imperial House of Habsburg, and the imperial electors made him King of the Romans in 1486 during his father's lifetime, thus establishing him as his successor. He jointly ruled with his father until the latter's death in 1493, then steadily gained power until he was appointed Holy Roman Emperor in 1508. A unique emperor, Maximilian was quite clever about how he managed diplomacy and war with other European rulers of the time. He is particularly known for his strategic expansion of the House of Habsburg through important dynastic marriages and inspired the famous maxim, "Let others wage war; you, O happy Austria, marry."
This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at https://www.worldhistory.org/Maximilian_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor/.
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