THE ARCHDUKE ALBERT OF AUSTRIA (1559-1621) WAS THE SON OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN II. ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR A CAREER IN THE CHURCH, HE RENOUNCED HIS CHURCH OFFICES IN ORDER TO MARRY HIS COUSIN ISABELLA OF AUSTRIA IN 1598, WHO BROUGHT WITH HER AS DOWRY THE CATHOLIC PORTION OF THE LOWLANDS AND THE FRANCHE-COMTé. TOGETHER THEY RULED A SATELLITE STATE CREATED BY ISABELLA'S FATHER, PHILIP II OF SPAIN, DURING SOME OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS DECADES OF THE HISTORY OF THE SPANISH LOWLANDS. PORTRAITS OF THEM, PAINTED BY RUBENS IN 1609, ARE IN THE KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM, VIENNA.