Lexi Webster
The House of Habsburg, also known as the Austrian monarchy or the Habsburg Empire, ruled over Austria and various other territories from the 13th century to 1918. The family first came to rule the Duchy of Austria in 1282, and the dynasty was also known as the House of Austria. The family's custom was to vest the government of its hereditary domains in all male members of the family in common. In 1556, Charles V divided the House into Austrian and Spanish lines, ceding Austria and the Imperial crown to Ferdinand, and the Spanish Empire to his son Philip. The Austrian branch was itself divided between different branches of the family from 1564 until 1665, when it became a single personal union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Family name | Habsburg |
| Dynasty | House of Habsburg |
| Monarchy | Habsburg monarchy, also known as the Habsburg Empire or Habsburg Realm |
| Country | Austria |
| Capital | Vienna (except from 1583 to 1611, when it was in Prague) |
| Emperor in the 1600s | Ferdinand II, who became Archduke of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor in 1619 |
| Other titles held by Ferdinand II | King of Bohemia and Hungary |
| Family custom | To vest the government of its hereditary domains in all male members of the family in common |
| Family origins | The family name originated with Habsburg Castle in present-day Switzerland |
| First Habsburg | Radbot of Klettgau, born in the late 10th century |
| First Habsburg King of Germany | Rudolf I, elected in 1273 |
| Acquisition of Austria | 1282 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The House of Habsburg
The history of the Habsburg monarchy can be traced back to the election of Rudolf I as King of Germany in 1273 and his acquisition of the Duchy of Austria for the Habsburgs in 1282. From that moment, the Habsburg dynasty was also known as the House of Austria. In 1282, Rudolf bestowed Austria and Styria on his two sons, Albert (the future German king Albert I) and Rudolf (reckoned as Rudolf II of Austria). From that date, the long identification of the Habsburgs with Austria begins.
Over the centuries, the Habsburgs expanded their influence through arranged marriages and by gaining political privileges. In 1482, Maximilian I acquired the Netherlands through marriage to Mary of Burgundy, thus bringing the Burgundian Netherlands into the Habsburg possessions. Their son, Philip the Handsome, married Joanna the Mad of Spain. Maximilian's other notable marriage alliance was the wedding of his granddaughter Mary to Louis, the only son of Vladislaus II, King of Bohemia and Hungary. This union laid the foundations for the later empire of Austria-Hungary.
The Habsburgs controlled the 17 Provinces of the Netherlands until the Dutch Revolt in the second half of the 16th century, when they lost the seven northern Protestant provinces. They held onto the southern Catholic part (roughly modern Belgium and Luxembourg) as the Spanish and Austrian Netherlands until they were conquered by the French Revolutionary Army in 1795. The abdication of Charles V in 1556 led to a division within the dynasty between his son Philip II of Spain and his brother Ferdinand I. Charles V divided the House in 1556 by ceding Austria along with the Imperial crown to Ferdinand, and the Spanish Empire to his son Philip. The Austrian branch, which also ruled the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, Bohemia and various other lands, was itself divided between different branches of the family from 1564 until 1665.
Exploring Austria: Transportation and Travel Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Austrian Empire
The House of Habsburg, or the Habsburg monarchy, is a collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties, and other polities (composite monarchy) ruled by the family of the same name. The family first came to rule the Duchy of Austria in 1279, and from 1282, the Habsburg dynasty was also known as the House of Austria.
Hitler's Annexation of Austria: A Deadly Decision
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Holy Roman Empire
The exact term "Holy Roman Empire" was not used until the 13th century. Before this, the empire was referred to as "universum regnum" ("the whole kingdom"), "imperium christianum" ("Christian empire"), or "Romanum imperium" ("Roman empire"). The Emperor's legitimacy rested on the concept of "translatio imperii", that he held supreme power inherited from the ancient emperors of Rome. In 962, the empire became officially known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
The House of Habsburg, also known as the House of Austria, was a powerful dynasty within the Holy Roman Empire. They ruled over a collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties, and other polities. The Habsburgs came to rule the Duchy of Austria, which was part of the elective Kingdom of Germany within the Holy Roman Empire, in 1279. From 1438 to 1806, with few exceptions, the Habsburg Archduke of Austria was elected as Holy Roman Emperor. The Habsburgs grew to European prominence as a result of the dynastic policy pursued by Maximilian I, who married Mary of Burgundy, thus bringing the Burgundian Netherlands into the Habsburg possessions.
In the 1600s, the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg was divided between different branches of the family. This branch ruled over the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, and Bohemia. In 1619, Ferdinand II became Archduke of Austria, Holy Roman Emperor, as well as King of Bohemia and Hungary.
Oak Aging in Austrian Gruner: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Spanish branch
The House of Habsburg, also known as the House of Austria, was a collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties, and other polities ruled by the family. The dynasty achieved its highest position when Charles V was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1519. Charles V divided the House in 1556, ceding Austria and the Imperial crown to his brother, Ferdinand, and the Spanish Empire to his son, Philip II. This division created the Austrian and Spanish branches of the family.
The Spanish Habsburgs were founded by Philip I of Castile, also known as Philip the Handsome, the first son of Maximilian I. Philip I founded the Spanish Habsburgs in 1496 by marrying Joanna the Mad, the daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. Their marriage united the two main crowns, Castile and Aragon, leading to the de facto unification of Spain.
How Bismarck's Diplomacy Stopped Austria's Annexation Ambitions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Austrian Habsburg rulers
The House of Habsburg, also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most prominent and important dynasties in European history. The family's agelong identification with Austria began in 1282 when Rudolf I of Germany, bestowed Austria and Styria on his two sons, Albert (the future German king Albert I) and Rudolf (future Rudolf II of Austria).
The House of Habsburg's identification with Austria continued through the centuries, with the family producing numerous Austrian rulers. In the 16th century, the Habsburgs' control of Austria was strengthened by the marriage of Maximilian I to Mary of Burgundy, which brought the Burgundian Netherlands into the Habsburg possessions. Their son, Philip the Handsome, married Joanna the Mad of Spain, further expanding the Habsburg empire.
In 1556, Charles V divided the House, ceding Austria and the Imperial crown to his brother, Ferdinand I, while the Spanish Empire went to Philip. The Austrian branch, which also ruled the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, and Bohemia, was further divided between different branches of the family from 1564 until 1665. During this time, junior members of the family often ruled portions of the Hereditary Lands as private apanages.
In 1619, Ferdinand II became Archduke of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor, as well as King of Bohemia and Hungary. The Further Austrian/Tyrolean line of the Habsburgs survived until the death of Sigismund Francis in 1665, after which their territories returned to common control with the other Austrian Habsburg lands.
The Habsburgs' association with ancestral Austrian rulership continued through the marriage of Maria Theresa to Francis of Lorraine, and the dynasty continued as the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
Austria's UEFA Champions League Contenders
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The House of Habsburg controlled Austria in the 1600s.
The head of the House of Habsburg in the 1600s was Ferdinand II, who became Archduke of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor in 1619.
In the 1600s, the Austrian Habsburgs also ruled over Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol, Gorizia, Istria, and Trieste.
No, until the mid-17th century, not all provinces of Austria were ruled by the same person. Junior members of the House of Habsburg often ruled portions of the Hereditary Lands as private apanages.
![The House of Habsburg - A Short History of Austria from 1232 to 1792 [Quintessential Classics] (Illustrated)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91pUwHF6+ML._AC_UL320_.jpg)
