Archduke

Archduke (abbreviation Ehzg. ) Was from 1453 to 1918 the title of the ruler of the Archduchy Austria Archduke of Austria, Archidux Austriae ( mittellat., abbreviation AA). All elected since 1463 Roman Emperor of the Habsburg Dynasty, from 1780 Hapsburg- Lorraine, carried him in terms of a hereditary title, and in this sense carried him since 1804 all Emperor of Austria.

When the House of Habsburg allowed until the 17th century still inheritances and several princes ruled parallel in parts of the Habsburg Monarchy, all wore Governing the Archduke title. In addition, this was until 1919 the title of all non- ruling ( 1804 Imperial ) princes and princesses of the Houses of Habsburg and Habsburg- Lorraine.

The Archduchy Austria was in Austria above the Enns and Austria divided administratively since 1490 under the Enns; ( ruling ) Archduke was in two parts always the same person.

Creation of the title

The title with the word " ore " in the shape of Palatine Archduke of Duke Rudolf IV in known as privilege Maius document of 1359, one on behalf of the Duke incurred, completely fictional state certificate with a forged signature was Conceived (then not Habsburg ) emperor.

The title of Archduke refers to the electors, also known as Archduke ( archbishops; Rabsaris, marshal, gift, Steward ) were known. The three arch-chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire were ex officio its three archbishops as spiritual ore or electors, ie the Mainz ( Lord Chancellor for the HRR German Nation), that of Cologne ( Lord Chancellor for the HRR Italian nation ) and the von Trier ( Lord Chancellor for the HRR Burgundian nation ).

The Golden Bull of Charles IV in 1356 had in fact determined which princes as so-called electors had the right to elect the Emperor ( MHG kiesen > NHG Kieren ' select ', see chosen and nndfr Verkiezingen. ); This was associated with a number of privileges. Since the Habsburgs were left empty-handed in the Golden Bull, Rudolf was unceremoniously create your own (wrong ) privilege to increase his person, the privilege Majus, the conditions for the title Palatinate archduke gave him and thus the Elector de facto equal with him. This new title, however, was not recognized by the Emperor Charles IV, his father in law. Duke Ernest the Iron from 1414 led the first prince to the not yet officially recognized title Archduke.

Use of the title

The title of Archduke formed one of the fundamental pillars of the Habsburg dynastic power politics by should ensure inseparable from the family hereditary possessions and Herrschaftsanprüche in the periods in which the Habsburgs as Kings of Bohemia and King of Hungary, and King of the Romans and power the latter title from the Pope or his deputy the Elector of Cöllen, Arch-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire italiänischer nation, as Emperor of the entire Holy Roman Empire winning or to Crowning of an election or official confirmation were dependent, even but neither very own royal title yet a hereditary electorship occupied (the latter was associated with the kingship of Bohemia ).

At the Epiphany in 1453, the Habsburg Emperor Friedrich III confirmed. himself and his descendants the title and made ​​him so pursuant to applicable law. This was from the Duchy of Austria a Archduchy and the title of a characteristic of the Habsburg dynasty, there was no second Archduchy in the world and are.

To put that in Rudolf's House Rules in 1364 by Rudolf IV, the Founder established, in principle joint rule and the reciprocal ( priority ) inheritance rights of all Habsburg with each other, regardless of the Genitur, secure, increasingly all wore Habsburg sons the title of archduke, which he to a kind of hausinternem title was Prince. This was also true for the Spanish line, the succession took place there and went deprived of the War of Spanish Succession.

After the house contract Pactum Mutuae successionis Charles VI. 1703, which was in 1713 made ​​public as Pragmatic Sanction and which laid down not only the indivisibility of all Habsburg hereditary lands, but also the succession extended to the daughters when ( younger ) sons were not present, also wore all Habsburg inside the official hereditary title of the Archduchess and were entitled to rule, - which only once, in 1740, was hitting with Maria Theresa and the war of Austrian Succession.

From about the 15th century, thus taking account of any Prince, from the 18th century, every princess of the house of Habsburg ( this up to her marriage ) from birth this item.

For the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy the title Emperor of Austria was created in 1804, which stood on the rank ago via any other section titles. In the titulary of the ruling Habsburg (Great title of Emperor of Austria as well as in the Middle and Small title) of the title Archduke took a prominent position immediately behind a king titles. From 1804 to an archduke or archduchess was to address as your Imperial Highness (except the Emperor and Empress ), from 1867 on, as your Imperial and Royal Highness.

Austria ( the present-day provinces of Upper and Lower Austria ) remained until 1918 Archduchy. The two parts of the historical duchy of Austria were finally in 1861 formally defined in the times of Maria Theresa and as an independent archduchies above and below the Enns. The other Austrian Succession and crown lands were, as far as they were not kingdoms, with the rank of duchies or below and were constitutionally counted partially for Czech or Hungarian crown.

The House of Habsburg, usually known as the House of Austria, because the ( arch) duchy of Austria be modern-day home country represented, while the Swiss Habsburg was not long been in the possession of the family, liked to be called archducal in political propaganda. The term made ​​any addition superfluous (since there was no other archducal ) and underlined the uniqueness of the ruling family.

In the present states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the nobility was abolished in December 1918, in Austria the title of Archduke / in was like the other titles of nobility abolished with the nobility repeal Act of 3 April 1919. 1921, this provision was extended to the Burgenland. In times of dictatorship use of title 1935-1945 was allowed in Austria.

Rights and Duties of titleholders

Archduchess and Archduke, previously only durchlauchtigst, were to speak of 1804 as imperial sovereignty in the Empire of Austria and were outranked all other nobles. The 1839 from the Imperial Family Statute adopted wrote to them to be approved by the emperor marriages, change of residence and travel abroad to marry and only befitting. Children Not befitting formed were excluded from membership in the archducal and of any claim to the throne.

To befitting care of family members who did not have sufficient personal income, served the managed under the supervision of the Emperor highest Family pension fund (also Familienfideikommiss ), which was confiscated on 3 April 1919 at the Habsburg Law of the Republic of Austria. On the same day of any use of titles of nobility was banned in Adel repeal Act Austrian citizens.

Other uses of the title

The since the War of Spanish Succession ruling in Spain Bourbons used on all tracks of the Habsburgs, so that they ore dukes of Austria (Spanish: Archiduque de Austria ) called. According to the Spanish Constitution also historic and extinct titles may be out Juan Carlos I currently waived.

Members of the family of Habsburg-Lorraine to date have no objection if they are referred to as " Archduke " or " Archduchess ". Habsburg with non-Austrian citizenship can this former professional title officially run as part of the surname, whereas citizens of the Republic of Austria is prohibited from 1919 because of the provisions of the needle lifting law. The sons and daughters of marriages that befitting after the house laws valid until 1918 were the family as a morganatic or not, were often given the title of "Count " or " Countess von Habsburg "; Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir to the throne sons were dukes of Hohenberg, since the emperor had given her mother this item.