Joseph II

Enlightened Despot. Ruler of the Habsburg dominions. Holy Roman Emperor. Married to @IsabelladeParma (RP)

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

We once had jesters to amuse the court. Now they are elected.

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

If leaders stoke fear of ‘the other,’ it is because they have nothing else to offer.

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

My wife just told me I had BPE …

Big Phantom Energy

#PhantomoftheOpera

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

*sings softly, sadly*
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you…
~Christine, I love you~

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

@SawyerSchultz11 @PresZachTaylor First of all it’s “you’re”, Sawyer. Secondly, the 140 character limit won’t allow us to list /everything/ he did wrong.

[Inviting History @invitinghistory]

During his visit to France in 1778, Joseph II visited a local hospital incognito. In the 'Anecdotes of the reign of Louis XVI' published that year, the author noted that a patient who once served under Joseph II, recognized him during the visit. Joseph gave him a purse of money.

[Eduard Habsburg @EduardHabsburg]

Women would be surprised if they knew how often their husbands think about the Holy Roman Empire!

[Holy Roman Empire Association - HREA 🏛 @HREAssociation]

In 1788, the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II established an Order of knighthood for the knights of the canton of Odenwald, similar to the order of the direct imperial knighthood of the Swabian circle of knights. The purpose of the foundation was to raise funds for the founding of a noble women's foundation. The decoration of the order consisted of a gold-framed, white-enamelled Maltese cross with the inscription (to the Emperor and the Empire). In the center was a medallion with the imperial double-headed eagle. The reverse shows a medallion with the coat of arms of the canton. Only knights with eight ancestors who were wealthy in the Odenwald could be accepted. Below is the Foundation deed of the Odenwald Order of Knights. @HREAssociation

[warm human @w000rm]

spring:
depressed in a hopeful way

summer:
depressed in a manic way

fall:
depressed in a nostalgic way

winter:
depressed in a depressed way

[Holy Roman Empire Association - HREA 🏛 @HREAssociation]

Reichskrone - The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire (German: Reichskrone), a hoop crown (German: Bügelkrone) with a characteristic octagonal shape, was the coronation crown of the Holy Roman Emperor, probably from the late 10th century until 1806. The crown was used in the coronation of the King of the Romans, the title assumed by the Emperor-elect immediately after his election. It is now kept in the Imperial Treasury (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer) at the Hofburg in Vienna, Austria.

The crown of eight hinged golden plates was probably made in Western Germany for the Imperial coronation of Otto I in 962, with later additions by Conrad II. The first preserved mention of it is from the 12th century, assuming (as is probable) it is the same crown.

The crown is decorated with 144 precious stones including sapphires, emeralds and amethysts (blue, green and purple precious stones being proper to emperors in Byzantine imperial protocol), and about the same number of pearls. Similar gem-studded decoration was used for other precious objects of the early and high Middle Ages, e.g. reliquaries, processional or altar crosses (crux gemmata), or precious book covers such as those of the Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram and Codex Aureus of Echternach.

The smaller four plaques, or 'picture-plates' (Bildplatten), bear pictorial representations of figures and scenes from the Bible and inscriptions in cloisonné enamel in Byzantine "sunk" (Senkschmelz) style. Each of these enamelled plates is surrounded by blue sapphires and pearls in raised filigree settings.

The Front Right Plate shows Christ in Majesty between two cherubim beneath the inscription in red enamel "By me kings reign" (PME REGES REGNANT; Proverbs 8:15).

The Back Right Plate shows the Prophet Isaiah standing and speaking to King Hezekiah, who is shown sitting on his bed. Isaiah holds a scroll with the words, "Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life" (II Kings 20:6). Above both Isaiah and Hezekiah are their names in red enamel (ISAIAS PPHETA · EZECHIAS REX).

The Front Left Plate shows King Solomon holding a scroll with the words, "Fear the Lord and flee from evil" (Proverbs 3:7), with his name above in red enamel "King Solomon" (REX SALOMON).

The Back Left Plate shows King David holding a scroll with the words, "The renowned king delights in doing justice" (Psalm 99:4), beneath the inscription naming him in red enamel (REX DAVID).

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

@HapsburgHottie Well, since you ask *excited grin* I’d like to discuss a few (hundred) reforms I’ve been working on. Mainly social, economical, religious, *keeps naming off reforms, lost in my own world, links my arm with yours to walk together as I talk and talk… (Colin Robinson-like)

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

@HapsburgHottie If you were to open this box *points* it would be the start of problems… for me. However, when /I/ open this box, all my problems *cups box and shoves it my breeches again* *makes poof sound* Hm? *nods, smart grin*

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

@HapsburgHottie *groans, stamps foot* Fine. *pulls the sniff box from my pocket and presents it to you in the palm of my hand*

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

@HapsburgHottie *straightens, cups my snuff box and shoves it in my breeches* Nothing, nothing ..it’s nothing *ahem* Your dress is lovely, Mutti. Is that a new shade of black?

[Maria Theresa @HabsburgHottie]

@Emp_Joseph_II *clears throat in a most dramatic fashion* What are you doing, child? Stand in a manner that befits you! *sniffs noisily* What is that? *gestures at your right hand*

[Maria Theresa @HabsburgHottie]

Oh, Dear Lord! *dramatic roll of decrepit blue eyes in their crepey encasing* Darling, p-lease!

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

The idea of being able to do good and render one's subjects happy is undoubtedly the finest and the only flattering aspect of power...

[Sisi Museum • Hofburg Wien @sisi_museum]

👉 The tapestries were a gift from the French king #LouisXVI to his brother-in-law #Emperor Joseph II, when the latter was visiting #Versailles in 1777. You can admire them at the #SisiMuseum in Vienna.

💜 #SisiWaitsForYou

📸© SKB

[Joseph II @Emp_Joseph_II]

@LdProtector Happy New Year!