Emperor Ferdinand III (1608-1657) in blue coat with white lawn collar with lace trim, wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece

Emperor Ferdinand III held the title of King of Hungary and King of Bohemia before succeeding his father, Emperor Ferdinand II, as Holy Roman Emperor. He held the post of Head of the Imperial Army in the Thirty Years War and led the peace party at court, taking part in the negotiations for the Peace of Prague with the Protestant States. Ferdinand married three times, firstly to his cousin, the Infanta Maria Anna of Spain who bore him two sons: Ferdinand IV and Leopold. The young Ferdinand succeded his father to the throne on his death in 1657