Archduke Maximilian Francis of Austria

Archduke Maximilian Francis
Archbishop-Elector of Cologne
Portrait by Anton von Maron
Born(1756-12-08)8 December 1756
Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Died27 July 1801(1801-07-27) (aged 44)
Hetzendorf Palace, Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Burial
Names
English: Maximilian Francis Xavier Joseph John Anthony
German: Maximilian Franz Xaver Josef Johann Anton
HouseHabsburg-Lorraine
FatherFrancis I, Holy Roman Emperor
MotherMaria Theresa
ReligionRoman Catholic

Archduke Maximilian Francis of Austria (Maximilian Franz Xaver Joseph Johann Anton de Paula Wenzel; 8 December 1756 27 July 1801) was Elector of Cologne and Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights from 1780 until his death. Influenced by Enlightenment ideals, he sought to implement reforms in various political fields. During the First Coalition War, his territories on the left bank of the Rhine were occupied and later annexed by France. He was the youngest child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. He was the last fully functioning Elector of Cologne and the second employer and patron of the young Ludwig van Beethoven.