The second volume of Derek Beales's comprehensive biography explores the life and reign of Emperor Joseph II, highlighting his ambitious reforms and complex personality. It delves into his efforts to modernize the Habsburg Empire, his struggles with tradition, and his relationships with key figures of his time. Through detailed analysis, the book captures the challenges and achievements of a ruler who sought to balance enlightenment ideals with the realities of governance.
Derek Beales Book order (chronological)
Joseph II.
I. In the Shadow of Maria Theresa 1741-1780
The emperor Joseph II (1741-90) tried to carry through something like a 'revolution from above' in the vast, varied, and mainly backward provinces of the Austrian Monarchy. This volume carries the story down to 1780. It describes the claustrophobic atmosphere, in which Joseph was trained to rule, his tragic marriages, and his attempts after 1765 as co-regent with his formidable mother, empress Maria Theresa, to dictate the domestic and foreign policy of the monarchy. The author shows that previous historians have been deceived by false sources and that the picture they have given of the emperor, his strange character, his tempestuous relationship with his mother, and his political aims, needs drastic revision.
From Castlereagh to Gladstone 1815-1885 is the seventh volume of the Norton Library History of England.