He expanded the influence of the House of Habsburg as Holy Roman Emperor. Maximilian was the most famous emperor of the House of Habsburg, which occupied the throne of the Holy Roman Empire for 400 years. After the death of Charles the Bold, Maximilian married Charles's only daughter, Mary of Burgundy. Maximilian undertook the defence of his wife's dominions and defeated the French forces. This great victory won him the title "the last knight". After he ascended the throne of the Holy Roman Empire, he showed his military talent in the wars and reconquered cities and fortresses his family had lost. He was also a scholar and poet. He wrote the autobiography The White King. Maximilian expanded the influence of the House of Habsburg through war and his marriage and made it one of the most prominent royal houses of Europe.