How did the Habsburgs and Luxembourgs gain control of Tirol?

The acquisition of Tirol by the Habsburgs and the House of Luxembourg involved complex political maneuvering and shifting alliances during the 14th century.

The House of Luxembourg

In 1330, John of Bohemia arranged the marriage of his son, John Henry, to Margaret Maultasch, the heiress of Carinthia and Tirol. Following the death of Margaret’s father in 1335, the House of Luxembourg initially secured control over the entire region through an agreement made with the Habsburgs behind the back of Louis IV. However, local dissatisfaction with the government of John Henry and his brother, the future emperor Charles IV, led the Tirolese to expel John Henry in 1341.

The Habsburg Acquisition

The Habsburgs eventually gained permanent control through the following developments:
* Initial Partition: Following a secret 1331 covenant with Louis IV, the Habsburgs were invested with Carinthia in 1335, while Louis sought to retain northern Tirol for himself.
* Cession: After the death of Margaret’s only son, Meinhard, in 1363, the Habsburg duke Rudolf IV successfully induced Margaret to cede Tirol to his house.
* Imperial Support: Emperor Charles IV supported the Habsburgs in this claim against the competing interests of the Wittelsbachs, securing the region for the House of Austria.