Archduke Rainer Joseph of Austria

Rainer Joseph Johann Michael Franz Hieronymus of Austria ( born September 30, 1783 in Pisa, † January 16, 1853 in Bolzano ) from the House of Habsburg -Lorraine was an Archduke of Austria and Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia.

Life

Rainer was the ninth son of 16 children of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II ( 1747-1792 ) and his wife Infanta Maria Ludovica ( 1745-1792 ), fifth daughter of King Charles III. of Spain and Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony. After the early death of his parents took over his older brother of Emperor Franz II the supervision of his education, paying particular attention was paid to military and political science. In the imperial military service, he attained the rank of Feldzeugmeister.

In 1818, Rainer was appointed as the successor of the Archduke Anton Victor of his brother to the Viceroy of Lombardy- Venetia, an office which he held until the Revolution in 1848. The actual state authority remained in the Austro- metternich Government system and Rainer's tasks were limited in many cases to representative activities. His informal influence prevented, however, that the excessive taxes that drove the rural population in poverty and emigration, despite the promise of his brother from 1818, and - after famines - 1833 recent discussions, after his term of office by Daniele Manin were abolished. Rainer was convinced it was the task of the government to correct the moral shortcomings of the Venetians.

At the beginning of his reign he found an economically prostrate lying land, which improved by boosting trade, Venice was given the status of a free port, and infrastructure development. Rainer laid the foundation stone for the railway Venice -Milan and entertained a passionate botanist at his summer residence Monza a botanical garden.

After 1848, he no longer returned to Lombardy-Venetia and lay down all political offices. He lived from then on, continue devoting the nature and botany, as a private citizen in Bolzano, where he also died and was buried.

Marriage and issue

On May 28, 1820 married Archduke Rainer in Prague Maria Elisabeth ( 1800-1856 ), daughter of Prince Charles Emmanuel of Savoy - Carignan. The marriage produced eight children were born:

  • Maria (1821-1844), Star Order of the Cross Lady
  • Adelheid (1822-1855)
  • Leopold (1823-1898), Lieutenant-General
  • Ernst (1824-1899), Lieutenant-General
  • Sigismund (1826-1891), Lieutenant-General
  • Rainer (1827-1913)
  • Heinrich (1828-1891), Lieutenant-General
  • Maximilian (1830-1839)

Title and honors

Josef Kriehuber House of Lorraine Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor Princess Elisabeth of Savoy List of Knights of the Golden Fleece Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg Princess Christine Louise of Oettingen-Oettingen Louis, Grand Dauphin Odoardo Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg Leopold, Duke of Lorraine Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Philip V of Spain Maria Theresa Constantin von Wurzbach Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Neue Deutsche Biographie Baden bei Wien Integrated Authority File
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