A European Informational Website
learn more
Joseph II (full name: Joseph Benedikt August Johannes Anton Michel Adam; March 13, 1741 – February 20, 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I. Joseph was one of the so-called "enlightened monarchs" (also referred to as "enlightened despots"). He is known by the following names in the languages of his territories: German: Joseph II, Czech: Josef II, Slovak: Jozef II, Hungarian: II. József, Croatian: Josip II..