Ferdinand III (King)

Ferdinand III (1608-1657) was a Holy Roman Emperor and king of Hungary and Bohemia during a tumultuous period in European history. He ruled from 1637 until his death and is known for his role in the Thirty Years' War, a devastating conflict primarily over religious and political issues in Europe. Ferdinand III aimed to restore peace and centralize authority within the empire. He is remembered for his diplomatic efforts that contributed to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the war and helped shape modern nation-states by establishing principles of sovereignty and national borders.