List of heirs to the Austrian throne Heirs to the Austrian Empire Heirs to the Austrian Empire

| Emperor | Heir | Relationship_to_emperor_and_status | Became_heir | Ceased_to_be_heir | Next_in_line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Joseph I | Crown Prince Rudolf | Son Heir apparent | 21 August 1858; born | 30 January 1889; died | Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian 1858–1864, uncle |
| Franz Joseph I | Crown Prince Rudolf | Son Heir apparent | 21 August 1858; born | 30 January 1889; died | Archduke Karl Ludwig 1864–1889, uncle |
| Franz Joseph I | Archduke Karl Ludwig | Brother Heir presumptive | 30 January 1889; nephew died | 1 February 1889; renounced his succession rights | Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1889, son |
| Franz Joseph I | Archduke Karl | Grandnephew Heir presumptive | 28 June 1914; Death of his uncle | 21 November 1916; succeeded | Archduke Maximilian Eugen 1906–1912, brother |
| Franz Joseph I | Archduke Karl | Grandnephew Heir presumptive | 28 June 1914; Death of his uncle | 21 November 1916; succeeded | Archduke Otto 1912–1916, son |
| Karl I | Crown Prince Otto | Son Heir apparent | 21 November 1916; father succeeded | 12 November 1918; Empire replaced by republic | Archduke Robert 1916–1918, brother |