| The Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I ruled over the Hapsburg territories from 1493 through 1519. To ensure his fame, Maximilian commissioned artists to make paintings, prints, and illustrated books celebrating his achievements. He said, "He who does not provide for his memory during his life will be forgotten with the sound of his death knell." Here, the emperor is simply presented, without the usual imperial regalia. He wears only the jeweled collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, a chivalric brotherhood devoted to upholding Christianity in the empire. |
