Joseph II (13 March 1741 ¨C 20 February 1790) Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1765 ¨C 1790). The eldest son of Mary Theresa and Franz I. Born in Vienna on 13 March 1741 and died in Vienna on 20 February 1790.

After the death of his father in 1765, he became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and co-regulated the dynasty with his mother. He ruled separately after the death of his mother in 1780. He fully pursued and developed the cause of reform of Mary Theresa, committed to the establishment of a centralized unified German-speaking state relying on the support of the army and officials. His claims and policies were known as Josephism.

Joseph II promoted the Enlightenment monarchy and carried out a series of reforms in the country. He established German immigration zones in Galicia, Bukovina, Hungary and West Belgrade, rewarded the development of regional German noble property and German capital, prioritized the recruitment of Germans as civilian officers; implemented customs protection policies, rewarded the development of industrial commerce, increased fiscal income; issued a decree on religious policy in 1781, issued a decree in 1781-1782, abolished the personal dependence of peasants in the territory of the world, restricted the privileges of the nobles, confiscated part of church property, and disbanded some monasteries; implemented a strict system of letter inspection, and established a permanent police organization.

In foreign policy, the pro-Russian anti-Putin policy sought to strengthen Austria's position in Germany and Europe. In 1772 participated in the first division of Poland and gained Galicia. In 1781 the Austrian Union was signed, attempting to divide the Balkans, but failed due to repeated failures in the war against Turkey.

The second wife of Joseph II, Princess Mary of Parma

Emperor Franz Joseph I.

Queen Mary Theresa