Franz Joseph I (Austria)

Emperor Franz Joseph I or Emperor Francis Joseph I (, , ) (Slovene : Franc Jozef Karel) (Croatian : Franjo Josip Karlo) (Czech : Frantisek Josef Karel) (Romanian : Francisc Iosif Carol) (August 18, 1830 – November 21, 1916) of the Habsburg Dynasty was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, King of Bohemia from 1848 until 1916 and also served as President of the German Confederation from 1850-1866. 

His nephew Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria would have been his successor but he was assassinated.  Wars during the reign of Franz Joseph included the Second Italian War Of Independence (1859), the Austro-Prussian War (1866), the Third Italian War Of Independence (1866) and the 1899-1901 Boxer Rebellion.  He died during World War I.  Charles I of Austria became emperor in 1916 and reigned from 1916-1918.

Franz Joseph's 68-year reign is the third-longest in the history of continental Europe (after those of Louis XIV of France and Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein).

Issue
 Archduchess Sophie of Austria; 5 March 1855 – 29 May 1857.
 Archduchess Gisela of Austria; 12 July 1856 – 27 July 1932. Married Prince Leopold of Bavaria (second cousin) in 1873; had issue.
 Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria; 21 August 1858 – 30 January 1889. Married Princess Stephanie of Belgium in 1881; had issue. Died in a murder–suicide.
 Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria; 22 April 1868 – 6 September 1924. Married Archduke Franz Salvator, Prince of Tuscany (second cousin) in 1890; had issue
Ancestry

References

 Other websites 

Biography at WorldWar1.com
Details at Regiments.org 
Genealogy 
 Mayerling tragedy 

Category:1830 births
Category:1916 deaths
Category:Emperors of Austria