Franz Joseph I of Austria

:This article is about the Austrian Emperor. For Franz Joseph the artist and author, see Franz Joseph (artist).

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Francis Joseph I (in German often abbreviated Franz Joseph or Franz Josef, and in English also Francis Joseph) (August 18, 1830 – November 21, 1916) of the Habsburg Dynasty was Emperor of Austria and King of Bohemia from 1848 until 1916 and Apostolic King of Hungary from 1867 until 1916. He was born in Vienna, Austria.

Related Topics:
German - English - August 18 - 1830 - November 21 - 1916 - Habsburg Dynasty - Emperor - Austria - King - Bohemia - 1848 - Hungary - 1867 - Vienna

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Archduke Franz was the oldest son of Archduke Franz Karl, who was brother and heir of Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I, and his wife Sophie, Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bavaria). Because his father renounced his claim to the throne, Franz became emperor as Franz Joseph I when Ferdinand abdicated near the end of the Revolution of 1848.

Related Topics:
Archduke Franz Karl - Ferdinand I - Sophie, Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bavaria - Revolution of 1848

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In 1854 Franz Joseph married Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (also Princess of Bavaria through her mother's side of the family), who became Elisabeth of Austria ("Sisi" or "Sissi"). Their only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, committed suicide in 1889 in the (in)famous Mayerling episode with his young mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera. Rudolf's killing of the Baroness Vetsera was an extremely grim chapter in the long line of outbreaks of mental instability in the Habsburg Dynasty caused by their long history of inbreeding. The younger brother to Emperor Franz Joseph, the Archduke Viktor Ludwig, spent most of his life exiled on the island of Capri, following a series of scandals involving dressing up in women's clothes and molesting his military aides.

Related Topics:
1854 - Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria - Elisabeth of Austria - Crown Prince Rudolf - Suicide - 1889 - Mayerling - Baroness Mary Vetsera

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Notwithstanding the scandals, there were times when Franz Joseph took firm moral stands. When Pope Pius IX detained the six year old Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara on account of the claim that a housekeeper had secretly baptized him, Emperor Franz Joseph sent the Pope a plea to return the child to his parents. The Pope refused his request.

Related Topics:
Pope Pius IX - Edgardo Mortara

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When World War I erupted, Austria-Hungary fought in alliance with Germany, but the Austro-Hungarian Army proved ill-prepared and ill-equipped. Franz Joseph's conservatism was partly to blame: when presented with the suggestion that the army should acquire a newly-developed mechanical weapon, namely tanks, he famously retorted: "Absolutely not. The horses will be startled!".

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Their three other children were Archduchess Sophie of Austria (1855 - 1858), Archduchess Gisela of Austria (1856 - 1932) and Archduchess Marie-Valerie of Austria (1868 - 1924).

Related Topics:
Archduchess Sophie of Austria - 1855 - 1858 - Archduchess Gisela of Austria - 1856 - 1932 - Archduchess Marie-Valerie of Austria - 1868 - 1924

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The archipelago Franz Josef Land in the Russian high arctic was named in his honor in 1873.

Related Topics:
Archipelago - Franz Josef Land - Russia - 1873

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Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand's South Island also bears his name.

Related Topics:
Franz Josef Glacier - New Zealand - South Island

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Names in other languages: German: Franz Josef, Italian: Francesco Giuseppe (in Italy he was also known as Cecco Peppe), Romanian: Francisc Iosif, Czech: Franti?ek Josef, Hungarian: I. Ferenc József, Slovak: Franti?ek Jozef I, Polish: Franciszek Józef, Croatian: Franjo Josip, Slovenian: Franc Jo?ef, Serbian: Franjo Josif, French: François-Joseph.

Related Topics:
German - Italian - Romanian - Czech - Hungarian - Slovak - Polish - Croatian - Slovenian - Serbian - French

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