Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

**Francis I ** (Francis Stephen; 8 December 1708 – 18 August 1765) was the consort of Maria Theresa of Austria. With his wife, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty. From 1728 until 1737 he was Duke of Lorraine, but lost Lorraine when he had to give it to France. He was the father of Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France.

## Biography

He married Maria Theresa of Austria for love, with the input of the Prince of Craon. They had sixteen children who are named here:

1. Archduchess Maria Elisabeth (1737-1740).
1. Archduchess Maria Anna (1738-1789).
1. Archduchess Maria Caroline (1740-1741).
1. Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790)
1. Archduchess Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen (1742-1798)
1. Archduchess Maria Elisabeth (1743-1808).
1. Archduke Charles Joseph (1745-1761).
1. Archduchess Maria Amalia (1746-1804)
1. Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II (1747-1792)
1. Archduchess Maria Caroline (stillborn 1748).
1. Archduchess Maria Johanna Gabriela (1750-1762).
1. Archduchess Maria Josepha (1751-1767).
1. Queen Maria Carolina of Naples and Sicily (1752-1814)
1. Queen Marie Antoinette of France and Navarre, born Maria Antonia (1755-1793)
1. Archduke Maximilian Francis (1756-1801)

## Titles and styles

- 8 December 1708 - 4 June 1723: _His Highness_ Prince Francis Stephan of Lorraine
- 4 June 1723 - 27 March 1729: _His Highness_ The Hereditary Prince of Lorraine
- 27 March 1729 - 12 July 1737: _His Royal Highness_ The Duke of Lorraine
- 12 July 1737 - 20 January 1745: _His Royal Highness_ The Grand Duke of Tuscany
- 20 January 1745 - 18 August 1765: _His Imperial Majesty_ The Holy Roman Emperor

## Infobox (royalty)

- **name**: Francis I
- **succession**: Holy Roman Emperor (jure uxoris)
List of German monarchs, King consort of Germany
- **image**: Martin van Meytens 006.jpg
- **caption**: Portrait by Martin van Meytens, c. 1745
- **reign**: 13 September 1745 –
- **reign-type**: Tenure
- **coronation**: 4 October 1745, Frankfurt
- **full name**: Francis Stephen
- **predecessor**: Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VII
- **successor**: Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II
- **succession2**: List of rulers of Tuscany, Grand Duke of Tuscany
- **reign2**: 12 July 1737 – 18 August 1765
- **predecessor2**: Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone
- **successor2**: Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold I
- **succession1**: Archduke of Austria, Consort of the Austrian Sovereign
- **reign1**: 21 November 1740 –
- **predecessor1**: Maria Theresa
- **successor1**: Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II
- **reg-type1**: Co-monarch
- **regent1**: Maria Theresa
- **succession3**: Duke of Lorraine
- **reign3**: 27 March 1729 – 9 July 1737
- **predecessor3**: Leopold, Duke of Lorraine, Leopold
- **successor3**: Stanisław Leszczyński, Stanisław I
- **house**: House of Lorraine, Lorraine
- **father**: Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
- **mother**: Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans
- **birth place**: Nancy, France, Ducal Palace of Nancy, Lorraine (duchy), Lorraine, Holy Roman Empire
- **death place**: Innsbruck, Palace of Innsbruck, Habsburg Monarchy, Austria
- **place of burial**: Imperial Crypt
- **religion**: Roman Catholicism
- **signature**: Signatur Franz I. Stephan (HRR).PNG