Archduke Maximilian

 is a character on The Empress. He is portrayed by Johannes Nussbaum.

Biography
Maximilian is an Archduke of Austria. He is obsessed with outshining his older brother, Emperor Franz Joseph, and thinks he would be a better ruler.

Maximilian previously served in the Austrian navy, with the cousin of Countess Charlotte von Stubenberg.

Throughout The Empress
During his brother Emperor Franz Joseph's meeting with Duchess Helene, he sat with his brother Archduke Luziwuzi, Baroness Francesca and Elisabeth. Luziwuzi pretended to give his doll a cup of tea, which annoyed his brother Maximilian.

At a meeting, Franz heard news of wars in other countries. Buol, foreign minister, advised Franz to join the war, however, Bach, interior minister, advocated for peace. Buol mocked Bach for his views and urged Franz to pick a side. His mother, Sophie, wanted Franz to side with the Russians and join their war against the Ottoman Empire. However, his brother, Maximilian wanted Franz to side with the West. Franz decided that the Austria would not go to war, disappointing his family and most of his advisors.

Franz discovered Max's promiscuous ways and introduced Lieutenant Krall to him. Lieutenant Krall lost an arm while fighting for the empire. His daughters Agnes and Emilie were both impregnated by Max, who had no intention of marrying either of them. Agnes died in childbirth. Emilie attempted to kill herself by jumping off a barn, and has lived in a sanatorium since. Franz told Max off and ordered that he must follow rules.

At Maximilian's soirée, the night before Elisabeth and Franz's wedding, he spoke to Elisabeth. He told Elisabeth that the necklace Sophie gifted her belonged to his great-aunt, Marie-Antoinette, and that she was still wearing that exact necklace when she was guillotined. Maximilian also told Elisabeth that he was better for her than Franz. When Elisabeth insisted that she would be marrying Franz the next day, Maximilian laughed at Elisabeth, acting as if he was just joking.

Maximilian invited Countess Louise Gundemann to the ball after Elisabeth and Franz's wedding. When Franz found out, he told Maximilian off. Franz angrily told his brother that bringing him back to Vienna was a mistake, which hurt Maximilian's feelings. Unbeknownst to Franz, Maximilian later backstabbed his brother by telling the ambassador that Franz did not plan to enter the war because he wanted Habsburg to prosper after the French, British and the Russians tear each other apart. Maximilian is later seen sitting on the Emperor's throne, seemingly imagining becoming emperor.

After Maximilian's betrayal of Franz, Napoleon severed diplomatic relations with Austria. The royal council were concerned and Sophie implored Franz to reinforce their troops. Believing that the tsar of Russia's son, Alexander, had views on war more like himself, Franz decided to invite him over to Austria to wager peace. Sophie said that there was not enough time to organise a grand reception, so Elisabeth suggested a hunting trip instead, which Franz agreed to.

Franz no longer trusted Maximilian, but his mother Sophie recommended that Franz gives him something to fill his time. During a fencing match, Franz offered Maxi the role of Chief Commander of the Imperial Navy. Maxi took offence as he knew that Austria was not strong in Navy, so he asked to be the Governor of Bohemia, or at least Tyrol, but Franz could not trust his brother with such an important role.

The hunting trip went extremely well, with Franz managing to barter peace with the Russian tsar's son, Alexander. However, Maximilian, who was plotting to overtake Franz as emperor and informed the council of this, showed up to the hunting trip uninvited, much to Franz's annoyance. While alone with Alexander, Maximilian told him the same thing he told the French ambassador, that Franz wanted the Russians and the West to destroy each other so that he could take the Ottoman Empire by himself. When he heard this, Alexander became angry that Franz tried to fool him into peace.

The hunt ended badly, after Elisabeth accidentally offended Alexander, who argued with Franz. Instead of wagering peace, Franz and Alexander agreed to meet on the battlefield.

Franz was infuriated and headed back to the palace without Elisabeth. He asked Elisabeth returned the next morning with the Court Mistresses. Elisabeth sat in a carriage, upset. She was joined by Maximilian, who consoled her, and accompanied her on the way back to Schönbrunn Palace. The two drank and returned to the palace drunk. Franz met them at the gate and saw the two drunkenly getting out of the carriage. Franz was not comfortable with Elisabeth constantly running to Maximilian, as he did not trust him. He told her to get to bed and walked away.

Maximilian had a one-night stand with Court Mistress, Countess Charlotte von Stubenberg. The next morning, Charlotte commented that the ring on Maximilian's hand looked like it was made for a lady. Charlotte asked where the lady was, to which Maximilian retorted that she was dead. Charlotte immediately became apologetic and Maximilian asked her to leave.

Maximilian informed the council of his plans to secretly overthrow Franz. The council told him that he still needed support from three parties, the army, the church and his mother. Maximilian went to the church to confess his sins and spoke to Archbishop Rauscher. Raushcer was happy to see Maximilian back after the death of his fiancée. As the people were against Franz, Maximilian proposed a coup to overthrow Franz, and become emperor himself. However, Maximilian did not get the support he was looking for, as Rauscher was unclear what Maximilian stood for.

At night, Maximilian returned to the palace from a party and bumped into Elisabeth. Elisabeth could not sleep and had gotten out of bed. Maximilian offered to run away with her to Prague through a secret tunnel, and Elisabeth was tempted.

Since the incident at the iron foundry, Elisabeth felt unwanted and her relationship with the emperor became distant. She spent most of her nights partying with Maximilian and would turn up drunk for breakfast. In an effort to make the relationship better, Franz gifted Elisabeth a horse.

Elisabeth felt dizzy and almost fell but Maximilian arrived to help her. Again, Maximilian told Elisabeth that she would be better off with him. In the heat of the moment, the two shared a kiss but Elisabeth pulled away. When Elisabeth returned to her room, Ava confirmed that Elisabeth was pregnant.

Maximilian received news that the Russian borders might be retreating, which meant that Franz's strategy might have worked. Pressured that the window of opportunity to overthrow Franz was closing, Maxi went to Sophie to bring her to his side. However, Sophie instead said that she was surrounded by weak men, and that none of her sons were fit to rule.

Maximilian later talked to Franz about a peaceful transfer of power. Maxi claimed that he had the support of the army, the church and most importantly, the empress. When Maximilian implied that he and Elisabeth had a physical connection, Franz punched Maximilian and asked him to get out or he would have him hanged.

Theo and a guard went to Maxi's room and asked him to follow them.

Personality
Maximilian is rather rude and very public with his displays of affection. He insulted his Italian girlfriend in German while she was standing next to him.

Maximilian is also mischievous and dislikes living in his brother's shadow. He often disagrees with his brother's views.

Physical appearance
Maximilian has dark blonde hair and blue eyes.

Appearances

 * Season One


 * One's Place in the World
 * The Arrival
 * The Wedding
 * The Wedding
 * The Hunt
 * The Shoes
 * The God Who Us Has Freedom Sent

Quotes
"Love alone often isn't enough, Luzi"

- Maximilian talking to his brother Luziwuzi about Franz and Elisabeth's relationship

"My family has a talent for using pretty things for ugly purposes."

- Maximilian speaks to Elisabeth at his soirée