The Brothers' Quarrel (German : Bruderzwist) was a conflict between Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and his brother, Matthias in the early 17th century. [1] [2]
Their other brothers (Maximilian III and Albert VII) and their cousins, especially Ferdinand II and Leopold V, were also deeply involved in the dispute. [3] The family feud weakened the Habsburgs' position and enabled the estates of their realms to win widespread political and religious concessions. [1]
The 19th-century Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer dedicated a play to the events. [1]