19-20th Cent. Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia.

Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria 

by Franz Xaver Winterhalter

1865

Franz Joseph was born on 18 August 1830, at Schönbrunn Palace, in Wien, Austria. He was the son of Princess Sophie of Bavaria (27 January 1805 - 28 May 1872) and Archduke Franz Karl Joseph of Austria (17 December 1802 - 8 March 1878). His maternal grandparents were Frederica Caroline Wilhelmina of Baden (13 July 1776 - 13 November 1841) and Maximilian I, King of Bavaria (27 May 1756 - 13 October 1825). His paternal grandparents were Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies (6 June 1772 - 13 April 1807) and Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (12 February 1768 - 2 March 1835). Franz Joseph's parents were married on 4 November 1824. His siblings included: Maximilian (6 July 1832 - 19 June 1867), Karl Ludwig (30 July 1833 - 19 May 1896), Maria Anna Karolina (27 October 1835 - 5 February 1840), and Ludwig Viktor (15 May 1842 - 18 January 1919). His uncle, Ferdinand of Austria (19 April 1793 - 29 June 1875) was crowned King of Hungary in 1830, before he succeeded as Emperor of Austria on 2 March 1835. In 1838, Ferdinand was crowned King of Lombardy and Venetia. In 1848, revolution broke out in Wien. Emperor Ferdinand was persuaded by Felix zu Schwarzenberg to abdicate. The next in line was Ferdinand's younger brother Franz Karl, but he was persuaded to waive his succession rights in favour of his son, Franz Joseph. Ferdinand abdicated as Emperor of Austria on 2 December 1848. Franz Joseph was crowned Emperor in December 1848. In 1853, Franz Joseph I met and fell in love with Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (24 December 1837 - 10 September 1898). She was the daughter of Marie Ludovika Wilhelmine, Princess of Bavaria (30 August 1808 - 25 January 1892) and Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria (4 December 1808 - 15 November 1888). He had his mother to ask if Elisabeth, called Sisi would marry him on his 23rd birthday, on 18 August 1853. Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I were married on 24 April 1854, at the St. Augustine's Church, in Wien. The couple's first child, a daughter, Sophie Friederike Dorothea Maria Josepha was born on 5 March 1855, in Wien. The couple's second daughter, Gisela was born on 15 July 1856. Sophie died on 29 May 1857, in Budapest. His brother, Archduke Maximilian married Princess Charlotte of Belgium (1840-1927) on 27 July 1857, in Brussels. Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth were crowned King and Queen of Hungary on 8 June 1867. His younger brother Maximillian was executed by a firing squad on 19 June 1867, in Mexico. Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I's third daughter and fourth child, Marie Valerie was born on 22 April 1868, in Hungary.

The Children of Elisabeth of Bavaria and Franz Joseph I:
Sophie Friederike Dorothea Maria Josepha (5 March 1855 - 29 May 1857)

Gisela Louise Marie (15 July 1856 - 27 July 1932) Married Prince Leopold of Bavaria in 1837.

Rudolf Francis Charles Joseph (21 August 1858 - 30 January 1889) Married Princess Stephanie of Belgium in 1881.

Marie Valerie Mathilde Amalie (22 April 1868 - 6 September 1924) Married Archduke Franz Salvator of Austria-Tuscany in 1890.

His mother, Sophie died on 28 May 1872. His daughter, Archduchess Gisela married Prince Leopold of Bavaria (9 February 1846 - 28 September 1930) in 1873. He was the son of Archduchess Augusta of Austria (1825-1864) and Prince Regent Luitpold (1821-1912). The fromer Emperor, Ferdinand died on 29 June 1875. He was interred in the Imperial Crypt, in Wien. His father, Franz Karl Joseph died on 8 March 1878, in Wien. His son, Crown Prince Rudolf married Princess Stéphanie of Belgium (21 May 1864 - 23 August 1945) on 10 May 1881, in the St. Augustine's Church, in Wien. She was the daughter of Marie Henriette of Austria, Queen Consort of Belgium (23 August 1836 - 19 September 1902) and Léopold II, King of Belgium. His uncle Ferdinans's wife, Maria Anna died on 4 May 1884, in Prague. She was interred next to her husband in the Imperial Crypt, in Wien. In 1885, the actress Katharina Schratt (11 September 1853 - 17 April 1940) performed at the Industrial Exhibition, in Wien. The actress attracted the attention of the Emperor, and she was invited to perform for the visiting Alexander III, Emperor of Russia. Katharina Schratt soon became Franz Joseph I's companion and mistress. His son, Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress Mary Vetsera were found dead on 30 January 1889, in his hunting lodge at Mayerling. His daughter, Marie Valerie married Franz Salvator, Archduke of Austria-Tuscany on 31 July 1890, in the parish church of Bad Ischl. He was the son of Princess Maria Immaculata of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies and Archduke Karl Salvator, Prince of Tuscany. His wife, Elisabeth was stabbed with a file by an Italian anarchist and died on 10 September 1898, in Geneva. She was interred in the Imperial Crypt, in Wien. Franz Joseph I attended the wedding of Archduke Charles of Austria (1887-1922) to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma (1892-1989) on 21 October 1911, at the Schwarzau Castle. The heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie were assassinated by Bosnian Serb nationalists, on 28 June 1914, in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary. When the Emperor heard of the assassination, he said; "Terrible! The Almighty cannot be provoked! A Higher Power has restored that order which unfortunately I was unable to maintain." Archduke Charles of Austria became heir-presumptive. Dutiful and hard-working, the Emperor was rising early every day. His consolations amidst all the sorrows were his daughters and Katharina Schratt. Emperor Franz Joseph I died of bronchitis and pneumonia aged 86, on 21 November 1916, at Schönbrunn Palace. He was succeeded by his grandnephew, Charles. Charles and Zita were crowned on 30 December 1916, in Budapest. Katharina Schratt died on 17 April 1940, in Wien. She was buried in the Hietzing Cemetery, in Wien. After the defeat in World War I, the Austro Hungarian Monarchy dissolved.