Joseph II

American  

noun

1. 1741–90, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1765–90 (son of Francis I; brother of Leopold II and Marie Antoinette).

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Joseph II British  

noun

1. 1741–90, Holy Roman emperor (1765–90); son of Francis I. He ruled Austria jointly with his mother, Maria Theresa, until her death (1780). He reorganized taxation, abolished serfdom, curtailed the feudal power of the nobles, and asserted his independence from the pope

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Example Sentences

In his prime, Salieri was a solid songsmith, popular enough to secure a gig as court composer to Emperor Joseph II in Vienna.

From Salon • May 16, 2026

Matthew Patrick Davis accentuates with a wink the callowness of Joseph II, an emperor who perhaps sees in Mozart a reflection of his own stunted nature.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

The one Habsburg who comes in for sustained criticism is the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Joseph II, who seized church property in the 19th century.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2023

Her son Joseph II was obliged to rule alongside his mother until her death in 1780, inheriting the empire at the height of its power and prosperity.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

But the friars had fallen out of favor with Emperor Joseph II in 1783.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee