Replica of Matthias II ducat standard

Matthias II Habsburg was the third son of emperor Maxmilian II and his cousin Maria, and younger brother of Rudolf II. After the death of the second-born brother Arnošt in 1595 he strived for confirmation of succession to the throne after his childless older brother. The longing for power lead him to an open revolt which was ended by signing of so-called Libeňský peace with which emperor Rudolf II ceded to him the rule of Hungary, Austria and Moravia. After Rudolf’s unsuccessful attempt to reverse (overthrow) this situation with the help of troops of the bishop of Passau that badly plundered the country, Rudolf was forced to give up the throne in 1611 and Matthias II gained control over Bohemia and, hence, over the entire Habsburg empire.

The first Czech coronation medals and tokens commemorate the Prague coronation of Matthias II as Czech on 23 May 1611. Under his reign, the white and small groschen were also coined for the last time.