Albert was born in Wiener Neustadt on 13 November 1559 as a son of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Albert was educated at the court of his uncle King Philip II of Spain, and was dedicated to a religious life. From 1583 until 1595 Albert was the viceroy of Portugal. In 1595 he became the Archbishop of Toledo, and was appointed by Philip the governor of the Netherlands. In 1598 he left his religious commitments with permission from the Pope, resigned the Archbishopric, and married his cousin Isabella Clara Eugenia, the daughter of King Philip.