Archduke of Austria
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This is a list of margraves, dukes, archdukes, and emperors of Austria. The territory was ruled by the Babenberg family until 1246 and by the Habsburg family from 1282 to 1918.

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Margraves of Austria

The title in German is Markgraf. Mark (originally Latin: marcha) means territory. The March of Austria, also known as Marcha Orientalis was first formed in 976 out of the lands that had once been the March of Pannonia in Carolingian times. The oldest attestation dates back to 996, where the written name "ostarrichi" occurs in a document transferring land in present-day Austria to a monastery in Bavaria. In 1156, the Privilegium Minus elevated the march to a Duchy, independent of the Duchy of Bavaria.

Note that names are spelled different from their original, mostly German, spellings: Henry (Heinrich), Adalbert (Albert or Albrecht), Ernest (Ernst), Frederick (Friedrich), Herman (Hermann), Ottokar (spelled in Bohemian Otakar), Wenceslas (Wenzeslaus, Vaclaw, Wladislaw or Wenzel), Rudolph (Rudolf), William (Wilhelm), Charles (German Karl, Hungarian: Karolý or Czech: Károl).

Babenberg dynasty

Dukes of Austria

Babenberg dynasty

acquired the Duchy of Styria in 1192

Interregnum

After Frederick's death, the succession of the Duchy was disputed between various claimants:

He married Frederick's niece Gertrude of Austria in 1247 and was acclaimed by the nobility as the future Duke but died soon afterwards.
He married Gertrude after Vladislav's death but was rejected by the Austrian estates and could not establish his rule.
Wenceslaus invaded Austria in 1250 and installed his son as governor. Ottokar was acclaimed by the nobility as Duke in 1251 and married Duke Frederick II's sister Margaret in 1252. In 1260 he was invested as Duke by King Richard of Cornwall, King of Germany.

Habsburg Dukes and Archdukes of Austria

Austria in the Late Middle Ages

In 1278, Rudolph I, King of Germany, defeated Ottokar and took control of Austria. In 1282 he invested his sons with the Duchies of Austria and Styria, thereby securing it for the Habsburg dynasty:

The Privilegium Maius, fabricated by Rudolf in 1359, attempted to invest the Dukes of Austria with the special position of an Archduke. This title was frequently used by Ernest the Iron and other Dukes but not recognized by other princes of the Holy Roman Empire until Frederick V became Emperor and confirmed the Privilegium in 1453.

Rudolf was succeeded by his brothers that at first ruled jointly:

The territories were divided between the brothers and their descendants in the Treaty of Neuberg in 1379:

The Albertinian Line received the Archduchy of Austria, later called Lower Austria (not to be confused with the namesake modern state):

After Ladislaus' death his territories passed to the Leopoldinian Line:

The Leopoldinian Line received the Duchies of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, the County of Tyrol and Further Austria:

In 1406, the Leopoldinian lines split their territories:
The Ernestine line received the Duchies of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, also called Inner Austria:
The Elder Tyrolean Line received Tyrol and soon also Further Austria. These territories were also called Upper Austria (not to be confused with the namesake modern state):
In 1490 these territories were handed over to
  • Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, claimed the Austrian territories and occupied Austria proper and Styria. Claiming the title "Duke of Austria", he resided in Vienna from 1485 to his death in 1490.

In Early Modern Europen times

The Austrian territories were again reunited in 1493 under:

In 1564 the Austrian territories were again divided among Emperor Ferdinand's sons:

Lower Austria (Austria proper) passed to Ferdinand's 1st son Maximilian:

  • Maximilian II, Archduke 1564-1576, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect, King of Bohemia and Hungary
  • Rudolph V, 1st son of Emperor Maximilian II, Archduke 1576-1608, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect, King of Bohemia and Hungary
  • Matthias, 2nd son of Emperor Maximilian II, Archduke 1608-1619, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect, King of Bohemia and Hungary
Rudolf and Matthias died without issue and the territories passed to the descendants of Emperor Ferdinand's 3rd son Charles.

Upper Austria (Tyrol, Further Austria) passed to Emperor Ferdinand's 2nd son Ferdinand:

Ferdinand died without an agnatic heir and his territories passed to the descendants of his brother Maximilian:
Matthias died without issue and the territories passed to the descendants of Emperor Ferdinand's 3rd son Charles.

Inner Austria ("Inner-Österreich")(Styria, Carinthia and Carniola) passed to Emperor Ferdinand's 3rd son Charles:

In german Articles and Books these Archdukes Names and Titles are normally completed with the Territorial Names of ther Duchy as: "Charles II of Inner Austria" = "Karl der II. von Inner Österreich"

Reunited and redivided, again

The Austrian territories were reunited again by inheritance in 1619 under Ferdinand III, Archduke of Inner Austria (see Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor), but in 1623 five years into the Thirty Years' War he had so much to do with, Ferdinand divided them yet again, when he made his younger brother Leopold, who had been governor over Upper Austria, Archduke of those territories.

Lower Austria and Inner Austria remained with the elder line (Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor):

  • Ferdinand III, Archduke 1590/1619-1637, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect (as Ferdinand II), King of Bohemia and Hungary
  • Ferdinand IV, Archduke 1637-1657, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect (as Ferdinand III), King of Bohemia and Hungary
  • Leopold VI, Archduke 1657-1705, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect (as Leopold I), King of Bohemia and Hungary.

Upper Austria passed to the Younger Tyrolean Line:

After Sigismund Francis died without issue and his territories reverted to the elder line.

The Austrian territories were conclusively reunited in 1665 under:

  • Leopold VI, Archduke 1657/1665-1705, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect (as Leopold I), King of Bohemia and Hungary
  • Joseph I, Archduke 1705-1711, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect, King of Bohemia and Hungary
  • Charles III, Archduke 1711-1740, also King of Germany and Emperor-elect (as Charles VI), King of Bohemia and Hungary last male Habsburg throne succeeded by the Line of Habsburg-Lorraine through the marriage between

"Maria-Theresia von Habsburg" and "Franz Stephan of Lorraine"

Pragmatic Sanction

Charles VI left the so-called "pragmatic sanction" or German: "Pragmatische Sanction" to make sure that his eldest daughter and the children she would give birth to could reign Habsburg territories after he had passed away. Pragmatic sanction is primarily a law of male primogeniture, but makes it possible to become monarch for the eldest daughter's son of the last male monarch or if no male ascendant to the throne in line of succession is available for the eldest daughter herself as it happened to Maria Theresia.

She is usually called "Empress Maria Theresia" following an Austrian tradition of using the husbands' titles for their wives, that's still in use. Maria Theresia also is called "Mother of Austria/Europe". She was mother of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France.

By some 'schools of historical classifications'... 
Maria Theresa's rule spans the beginning of the Modern Europen era, and the end of the Early Modern era.

Maria Theresia was married to Francis I Holy Roman Emperor ("Franz-Stephan von Lothringen") that only was Emperor of the Roman Empire but never was allowed to participate in of the the Austrian lands belonging to his wife. She gave birth to 16 children, two future emperors, Joseph II and Leopold II, and a queen, Marie Antoinette of France All Habsburgs living today are in the stem-line of Maria Theresia and Franz Stephan.

Habsburg-Lorraine Archdukes of Austria

Further all male Members of the House of Habsburg are Titled "Archduke", the females "Archduchess" in German "Erzherzog" or "Erzherzogin" until today. The Title "Erzherzog" or engl."Archduke" comes from a document called "privilegium maius" by Rudolf IV it gave the Austrian Territories and its rulers some "extra rights" made Austrias Ruler "Pfalzerzherzog" whilst all other Dukes of the HRR stille were "Pfalzherzog or Pfalzgraf" The Document was set in power by Emperor Frederick III and recognised as Lawful also by emperors Rudolf II and Charles VI. Nowadays its known that the document that originally was said to be given by Roman Emperors Julius Caesar and Nero is a fake but through the recognition of three Emperors it was one of the main privileges of Austrian rulers and could in its certain importance for the country be compared to the magna carta.

Emperors of Austria

In 1804 Francis I adopted the new title Emperor of Austria, but kept the title of Archduke of Austria. In 1806 the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved.

  • Francis II 1792-1835 correctly written "Franz"(became Emperor Francis I of Austria in 1804)

Titled "the Good Emperor Franz" "der gute Kaiser Franz"

  • Ferdinand I 1835-1848 known as "Ferdinand the Good" german: "Ferdinand der Gütige"

was a mentally weak person, and needed help to rule which he had been given by his Father as the Chancellor Metternich Klemens von Metternich that controlled politics until revolutionary year of 1848 when he had to flee the Country for later return.

  • Francis Joseph I 1848-1916 Brother of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico (ruled 1864-1867)
  • Charles I 1916-1918 last reigning Monarch of Austria
  • Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen Crownprince or sometimes called Otto von Österreich Crownprince of Austria

to be found as Otto von Habsburg (born *November 20th 1912) If he had ever reigned he would be the longest serving Monarch ever; since April 2nd 1922-?(death date of Emperor Charles I.)

Image Name Date of birth Date of death Emperor From Emperor Until
Francis I 12 February 1768 2 March 1835 11 August 1804 2 March 1835
Ferdinand I 19 April 1793 29 June 1875 2 March 1835 2 December 1848
Francis Joseph I 18 August 1830 21 November 1916 2 December 1848 21 November 1916
Charles I 17 August 1887 1 April 1922 21 November 1916 11 November 1918

Republic of Austria

In 1918, a republic was established by "Dr. Karl Renner" which lasted until 1938. The period between 1934-1938 is named Austrofascism and was a period of roman katholic-Nationalism and fighting between Social Democrats, Communists and Nationalistic Parties often this period is titled as a Civil War. This period came following the breakdown of Austro-Hungarian Empire the loss of Bohemian (Czech) industry and agricultural resources from Hungary and the rest of the empire. So unemployment, inflation and hunger spread widely so the people got more and more poor and hungry, and following these foundations, people got angry so the problems of the country's inhabitants were put onto the political stage, which led the country of Austria into a civil war and a much darker period.

The sovereignty of Austria was ended by the so called "Anschluß" into the Third Reich, that was an annexation by Germany under Nazi rule. From 1938-1945 Austrian territory was under German rule and control, until it was liberated by the Allied forces. Following World War II, a republic was reestablished in 1945 by the founder of the first Austrian Republic.

Between 1945-1955 Austria was under the control and protection of Allied and Soviet Forces. In 1955 Austria regained full control over its territory and the allied and Soviet forces left the country. In 1955 Allies, Soviets and Austrian Government signed the so called "Staatsvertrag" or Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on May 15, 1955 in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union) and the Austrian government. It officially came into force on May 15, 1955. After signing the contract, Austrian Chancellor Dr. Leopold Figl spoke following words to the crowds filled with hope from the Belvedere Castle's balcony while holding the document in his hands: "Österreich ist frei" - "Austria is free".

In Austria there is spoken about the First Republic (Erste Republik) that lasted from 1918-1938 and the Second Republic ("Zweite Republik") founded in 1945.

Modern Austrian Government

The head of state is the Federal President (Bundespräsident); however, in practice, the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) or Head of Government is far more important. The Federal Chancellor forms a Cabinet of Ministers that is inaugurated by the Federal President at the Viennese Hofburg seat of the "Österreichische Präsidentschaftskanzlei" "Bureau of the Federal President of Austria" (These bureau rooms have been seat of power in Austria for centuries, seeing monarchs and presidents.) The Austrian Parliament has two chambers: "Nationalrat" ("National Assembly") and the "Bundesrat" ("Federal Council"). The National Assembly is the legislative organ of the republic and the Federal Council the controlling organ. Every law has to be signed by the President. There is also a "high Court" or "Constitutional court" the "Verfassungsgerichtshof" and for financial control the "Rechnungshof" "court of Audit".

For lists of officeholders, see

See also

References
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