Duchy of Habsburg (Merveilles des Morte)

Duchy of Habsburg
1489 – Present
Flag Coat of arms
Duchy of Habsburg (red) in 1551, with the Alsace League (light red)
Common languages	German
Religion	Catholicism (Official)
Government	Feudal monarchy
Duke
• 1533-1561	Leopold II
• 1556–1601	Leopold III
Historical era	Middle Ages Early modern period
• Lenzburg-Premyslid War	1489
• Leopold II declared King of Germany	1550
• Disestablished	N/A
Population
• 1489	100000

The Duchy of Habsburg was a feudal duchy in the Holy Roman Empire, located in Swabia (southern Germany) and ruled by the House of Habsburg. The duchy was created in 1489 following the Lenzburg-Premyslid War, which saw the return of the Habsburgs to power in Germany following their ousting from the Duchy of Austria a century prior. Under the direction of Henry VIII, Holy Roman Emperor, the Habsburg territory was created from a collection of Swiss fiefdoms, many of which the Habsburgs had previous claim to.

The Duchy of Habsburg would become an important nation within the Empire in the subsequent two centuries, becoming one of the preeminent Catholic states in central Europe. During conflicts such as the Amiens War, the Duchy of Habsburg established itself as hegemon over a collection of neighboring states, known as the Alsace League, and gradually began a process of expansion and consolidation. The war culminated in an imperial civil war against Henry X, which saw Duke Leopold II of Habsburg crowned as an antiking. The Duchy of Habsburg after Leopold II's death would play an important role in the Italian Wars and the numerous wars of religion in Europe. During the reign of Leopold II's grandson, Leopold III, the Duchy became one of the leaders of Catholic Germany and led the creation of a strong alliance and army raises from Catholic states. This allowed the Catholic alliance to achieve early victories during the Forty Years' War.