Innsbruck is the capital of the Tirol. Until the beginning of the 16th century, Tirol was an important state in its own right, ruled by counts and dukes, including Friedl the Penniless and his son Sigmund the Wealthy. The area reached the peak of its power under Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519), when Innsbruck was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. The imperial court lived in Innsbruck. The international headquarters of SOS Children's Villages, one of the world's largest charities, is located in Innsbruck.
