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List of heirs to the Austrian throne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of people who were heir apparent or heir presumptive to the Archduchy of Austria from when Leopold VI permanently unified the Archduchy in 1665 to the end of the monarchy in Austria-Hungary in 1918. Those heirs who succeeded are shown in bold.

The position of heir to the Empire was often of great importance. More than once a younger brother of the emperor was persuaded to renounce his succession rights in his son's favour to provide a young male heir to the throne. The apparent suicide of the Crown Prince in 1889 and the assassination of the subsequent heir in 1914 (considered one of the great causes of World War I) led to instability in the monarchy, perhaps contributing to its abolition at the end of the War in 1918.

Heirs to the Austrian Archduchy

[edit]
Archduke Heir Relationship to archduke and status Became heir Ceased to be heir Next in line
Leopold VI none, 1665-1667
Archduke Ferdinand Wenzel Son
Heir apparent
28 September 1667;
born
13 January 1668;
died
none
none, 1668-1670
Archduke Johann Leopold Son
Heir apparent
20 February 1670;
born and died
none
none, 1670-1678
Archduke Joseph Son
Heir apparent
26 July 1678;
born
5 May 1705;
succeeded
none, 1678-1684
Archduke Leopold Joseph
1682-1684, brother
none, 1684-1685
Archduke Charles
1685-1700, brother
Archduke Leopold Joseph
1700-1701, son
Archduke Charles
1701-1705, brother
Joseph I Archduke Charles Brother
Heir presumptive
5 May 1705;
brother succeeded
17 April 1711;
succeeded
none
Charles III none, 1711-1713
Archduchess Maria Josepha Niece
Heir presumptive
19 April 1713;
Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
13 April 1716;
son born to Archduke
Archduchess Maria Amalia
sister
Archduke Leopold Johann Son
Heir apparent
13 April 1716;
born
4 November 1716;
died
Archduchess Maria Josepha
cousin
Archduchess Maria Josepha Niece
Heir presumptive
4 November 1716;
cousin died
13 May 1717;
daughter born to Archduke
Archduchess Maria Amalia
sister
Archduchess Maria Theresa Daughter
Heir presumptive
13 May 1717;
born
20 October 1740;
succeeded
Archduchess Maria Josepha
1717–1718, cousin
Archduchess Maria Anna
1718–1737, sister
Archduchess Maria Elisabeth
1737–1740, daughter
Archduchess Maria Anna
1740, daughter
Maria Theresa
and Francis I
Archduchess Maria Anna Daughter
Heir presumptive
20 October 1740;
mother succeeded
13 March 1741;
son born to Archduchess
Archduchess Maria Carolina
1740–1741, sister
Archduchess Maria Anna
1741, aunt
Archduke Joseph Son
Heir apparent
13 March 1741;
born
18 August 1765;
succeeded
Archduchess Maria Anna
1741–1745, sister
Archduke Charles Joseph
1745–1761, brother
Archduke Leopold
1761–1765, brother
Maria Theresa
and Joseph II
Pietro Leopoldo I of Tuscany Son and Brother
Heir presumptive
18 August 1765;
brother succeeded
20 February 1790;
succeeded
Archduke Ferdinand
1765–1768, brother
Joseph II Archduke Francis
1768–1790, son
Leopold VII Archduke Francis Son
Heir apparent
20 February 1790;
father succeeded
1 March 1792;
succeeded
Ferdinando III of Tuscany
brother
Francis II Ferdinando III of Tuscany Brother
Heir presumptive
1 March 1792;
brother succeeded
19 April 1793;
son born to Archduke
Archduke Charles
brother
Archduke Ferdinand Son
Heir apparent
19 April 1793;
born
11 August 1804;
Archduchy replaced by Empire
Ferdinando III of Tuscany
1793–1799, uncle
Archduke Joseph Franz
1799–1804, brother

Heirs to the Austrian Empire

[edit]
Heirs to the Austrian throne
Monarch Heir Relationship
to monarch
Became heir
(Date; Reason)
Ceased to be heir
(Date; Reason)
Next in line of succession
Franz I Crown Prince Ferdinand Son 11 August 1804
Father proclaimed emperor of Austria
2 March 1835
Father died, became emperor
Archduke Joseph Franz, 1804–1807, brother
Archduke Franz Karl, 1807–1835, brother
Ferdinand I Archduke Franz Karl Brother 2 March 1835
Brother became emperor
2 December 1848
Brother abdicated, renounced his own claim to the throne
Archduke Franz Joseph, son
Franz Joseph I Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Brother 2 December 1848
Brother became emperor
21 August 1858
Son born to emperor
Archduke Karl Ludwig, brother
Crown Prince Rudolf Son 21 August 1858
Born
30 January 1889
Died
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, 1858–1864[a], uncle
Archduke Karl Ludwig, 1864–1889, uncle
Archduke Karl Ludwig Brother 30 January 1889
Nephew died
19 May 1896
Died
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, son
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Nephew 19 May 1896
Father died
28 June 1914
Assassinated
Archduke Otto Franz Joseph, 1896–1906, brother
Archduke Karl, 1906–1914, nephew
Archduke Karl Grandnephew 28 June 1914
Uncle assassinated
21 November 1916
Granduncle died, became emperor
Archduke Otto, son
Karl I Crown Prince Otto Son 21 November 1916
Father became emperor
12 November 1918
Monarchy abolished, after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary
Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este, brother
  1. ^ Deferred his succession rights upon becoming emperor of Mexico.