Lot 20 Dα

Charles VI (1685-1740) was the younger son of Emperor Leopold I. After his father's death in 1705 his older brother was elected emperor as Joseph I. Charles was intended to become heir to the Spanish kingdom, but could not succeed in the War of Spanish Succession. After the unexpected death of his brother without a male heir at the age of only 32 years, Charles became his successor to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in 1711. Since he, like his brother, had no male heirs, his daughter Maria Theresa finally succeeded him as ruler of the Habsburg lands after his death in 1740.
We thank Dr. Lilian Ruhe, Arnhem, for identifying the sitter.