Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria (1521-1527) and King of Hungary and Bohemia (1527-1531), is here depicted in the wide brimmed hat in a pose familiar through the painted portraits by Hans Maler of the Prince at the age of 21. The portrait, copied earlier by the medallist Hans Daucher, included a large gold hat badge, the only element missing in the Magdeburger portrait. The date 1529, and the legend, which can be translated as 'Give me strength against my enemies Lord, for you are my helper', refer to Ferdinand's campaigns against the Turks, who were laying siege to Vienna at the time. Ferdinand was elected king of Rome (1531-1558), and on the abdication of his brother, Charles V, he became Holy Roman Emperor (1558-1564).