he collaborated with Count István Széchenyi. He helped to establish the , and ran a demonstration farm on his Alcsút estate, introducing new methods and species to Hungary. Remodelling of Pest The first mention of Archduke Joseph's plans to elevate Pest, a neglected town into a modern European city is from 16 November 1804, when he wrote to the city leadership telling them that the sovereign himself wanted Pest to be regulated and improving, although there is no proof of the king being interested in this matter. Joseph appointed Hungarian-German architect József Hild to oversee the works, and in October 1808, the , headed by the palatine himself, was established. In this role, he proposed and oversaw the construction of Lipótváros and that of the City Park, which he supplied with trees from his own private park in Alcsút. In 1815, he supported the building of a new, more modern on Gellért Hill. He also bought Margaret Island, and turned it into a well-kept park. When the devastated Pest-Buda, he personally directed the rescue mission and did much to relieve those affected. Personal life First marriage Background In 1798, Joseph learned from Emperor-King Francis that he needed to marry a member of the Russian imperial family in order to secure Emperor Paul I as an ally in the French Revolutionary Wars. The proposed bride was fifteen-year-old Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna, Paul's eldest daughter. There had been talks that she might marry Archduke Charles instead, but there was a bigger age difference between them, and Francis thought that Joseph was better suited for the match. The Russian court also preferred him. In January 1799, Joseph left for Saint Petersburg travelling under the pseudonym 'Count Burgau', and arrived on 20 February (O.S.). He was warmly welcomed and hugged by the emperor and then presented to the empress and the grand duchesses. The archduke was enchanted by the charm and 'reserved modesty' of Alexandra Pavlovna, a tall blonde girl, whom he described as 'well-built and very beautiful', as well as clever and talented. In a letter to his brother Francis, he declared their meeting the 'happiest moment of [his] life' and Alexandra a noble princess with whom he would be happy. Alexandra Pavlovna's mother was Empress Maria Feodorovna, but until the age of thirteen, her education was supervised by her grandmother Catherine the Great. She received instruction in French, German, music, and drawing