Brass medal Joseph I standard

Joseph I, the first-born son of emperor Leopold I and his third wife Eleonore of Pfalz-Neuburg, was crowned as the king of Hungary at the age of nine, and as the king of the Romans (i.e. king of Germany) at the age of eleven. Joseph received excellent education and this had a favourable impact on his reign after his accession to throne. He reduced the influence of jesuits at the royal court, chose reform politicians to work with, supported development of manufacture and trade in the spirit of mercantilism, and sponsored art, especially music. Contrary to his father, and later on his brother, his court did not abide by „Spanish“ tradition. His protégés were capable young nobles, such as for example Eugene de Savoy or Czech Wenceslas Vratislav of Mitrovice. During his reign, the vote of the Czech king in the emperor’s electors college was renewed. On the other hand, he tried to centralize royal power and ignored institutions of the Bohemian estates. Due to this, and because he increased taxes including taxation of nobility, his policy was not much favoured among Czech aristocracy.