In 1483 Hardegg was bequeathed to the Habsburg archdukes of Austria. Festival books recorded the entries into Antwerp of French princes and Habsburg archdukes. Melchior Klesl engineered a conspiracy of the archdukes to ensure Mathias' ascendancy. In 1603 he designed a series of tapestries of "Grotesques" for the Archdukes. Peace returned under the reigns of Archdukes Albert and Isabella. Jan Brueghel likely drew his monkeys in the zoo of the Archdukes in Brussels. He worked for the archdukes of the Netherlands in Brussels from 1616. The emperor did not attend the wedding, nor did any of the archdukes. From that point on the Archdukes showed great interest in the development of the shrine. The delegates of the Archdukes were empowered to negotiate on his behalf. After Ernest's death in 1595, Matthias became the oldest among the Archdukes. "Lexias pardalis" and "L. dirtea" are also among the most colourful archdukes. Still, the Archdukes enjoy a well merited reputation as patrons of the arts. His brothers, the Archdukes Charles and Johann had their meetings and activities spied upon.