Duke Maximilian

 is a character on The Empress. He is portrayed by Andreas Döhler.

Biography
Maximilian is the Duke of Austria. He is the father of Empress Elisabeth and Duchess Helene.

Throughout The Empress
His daughter, Elisabeth, defied rules and snuck out with her horse, Puck, during which Puck's leg was injured. At the stables, Maximilian determined that the horse would not recover and shot the horse.

Maximilian, his daughter Helene and his wife Ludovika were present for Franz and Elisabeth's wedding.

At a ball after the wedding, Elisabeth walked outside and found her father in a pool, drunk. She told him off and asked him to be happy for her. However, Maximilian questioned how he could happy, considering her sister Helene was distraught, and would be looking after Elisabeth, while she was married to a man who Helene loved. Elisabeth asked her father and her mother to leave the palace, stating that she did not want them around. Maximilian told Elisabeth that she would never be herself again, as long as she was in the palace.

Later, Maximilian, Ludovika and Helene left in a carriage and returned to Bavaria.

Appearances

 * Season One


 * One's Place in the World
 * The Arrival
 * The Wedding

Quotes
"You get into trouble every single day. What are you even doing out there? You should be in there getting engaged"

- Maximilian speaking to his daugher Elisabeth

"You ignore all the rules. You do as you please. Now it's time to pay the price."

- Maximilian speaking to his daugher Elisabeth

"You'll never be yourself again as long as you're in there."

- Duke Maximilian talks to his daughter Elisabeth after her marriage to Emperor Franz