Rudolf II. Habsburg (18. 7. 1552 - 20. 1. 1612) - Roman emperor, king Czech and Hungarian.

Rudolf II. is one of the most interesting personalities of Czech history. In twelve years, he went with his brother Ernest in Spain, where both sent their mother to education. Strict and closed environment Madrid's Catholic Justice did not correspond with the Rudolf sensitive nature and endured it with difficulty. In 1572 Pressburg was crowned king of Hungary. King of Bohemia became 22 September 1575.

As a sovereign generously supported arts and culture: from Prague, who during his reign began to be called gold, created center of European importance. To his court streamed scholars, diplomats, artists, but also scammers who wanted to capitalizing on his weakness for the occult sciences. Among the plethora of eminent personalities working in the yard and Rudolph were astronomers Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, alchemists Edward Kelley and John Dee, sculptor Adrian de Vries or Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The Emperor somewhat peculiar manner portrayed as the ancient god of harvest Vertemnus.

At the end of his life Rudolf were noticeable mental illness and several have even attempted suicide. He died on January 20, 1612, his body was placed in the chapel of St. Vitus in Prague.