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Ferdinand IV of Bohemia

Eldest son of Emperor Ferdinand III, crowned king of Bohemia and Hungary and elected King of the Romans in 1653. He died of smallpox in 1654 before succeeding his father.

1633 – 1654KingHabsburg · ES
Explore this family · Spanish AtlasBack to people
Portrait of Ferdinand IV of Bohemia
Historical portraitFerdinand IV, King of the RomansFrans Luycx · 1647–1668Museo Nacional del Prado · P001267Public domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 8 September 1633 Documented

Death: 9 July 1654 Documented

Role: King

Dynasty: Habsburg · ES

Territories: Bohemia (ES) · Hungary (ES) · Germany (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
King · Bohemia · Reign Documented1646–1654Co-rulerCrowned during Ferdinand III's lifetime; his father retained imperial and shared royal authority.
King · Hungary · Reign Documented1647–1654Co-rulerCrowned during Ferdinand III's lifetime, with shared royal authority.
King of the Romans · Germany · Reign Documented1653–1654Co-rulerElected as successor to Emperor Ferdinand III; he died before his father and never became emperor.
Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents
Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Ferdinand IV of Bohemia. Each title retains its own status.

Governments in 1653

  • Crown of Saint WenceslausKing
    View titles and jurisdictions
    • Bohemia · ESKing · Co-ruler1646–1654 · Crowned during Ferdinand III's lifetime; his father retained imperial and shared royal authority.

    The Lands of the Bohemian Crown (Corona regni Bohemiae), constituted by Charles IV in 1348 and placed under Saint Wenceslaus’s patronage: the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Margraviate of Moravia and the Silesian duchies effectively governed by this person. Provincial titles are retained; Prussian Silesia is not assigned to a Habsburg monarch. Source for this grouping

  • Crown of Saint StephenKing
    View titles and jurisdictions
    • Hungary · ESKing · Co-ruler1647–1654 · Crowned during Ferdinand III's lifetime, with shared royal authority.

    The kingdoms of the Hungarian crown and, before its eastern separation, the voivodeship of Transylvania. Each title retains its identity; an independent Transylvanian prince or an Ottoman tributary is not included merely because of a shared ruler or proximity. Source for this grouping

  • Holy Roman Empire (Germany)King of the Romans
    View titles and jurisdictions
    • Germany · ESKing of the Romans · Co-ruler1653–1654 · Elected as successor to Emperor Ferdinand III; he died before his father and never became emperor.

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

How these titles came together
  1. 1646 · BohemiaAppointment

    Crowned king during his father Ferdinand III's lifetime. His royal title coexisted with his father's imperial and territorial authority.

    Die Welt der Habsburger · Fernando IV
  2. 1647 · HungaryAppointment

    Crowned king during Ferdinand III's lifetime. His father continued reigning; the entry records co-rule.

    Die Welt der Habsburger · Fernando IV
  3. 1653 · GermanyElection

    Elected King of the Romans and designated heir to Emperor Ferdinand III; he predeceased his father and never became emperor.

    Die Welt der Habsburger · Fernando IV

Selected explained accessions. Other titles remain in the profile’s list of recorded governments.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

10 recorded claims · 0 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
Family and relationships (2/2 with a precise source)
Governments (3/3 with a precise source)
Successions (3/3 with a precise source)
Biographical and contextual references (3)
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · His Hungarian and Roman kingships, Bohemian coronation, family links and dates are documented. The House of Habsburg dates the coronations and election; he died before his father and was never emperor.

Keep exploring

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