This is a list of people who were heir apparent or heir presumptive to the Archduchy of Austria from its elevation in 1453 to the end of the monarchy in Austria-Hungary in 1918. Those heirs who succeeded are shown in bold.
The position of heir to the Empire was often of great importance. More than once a younger brother of the emperor was persuaded to renounce his succession rights in his son's favour to provide a young male heir to the throne. The apparent suicide of the Crown Prince in 1889 and the assassination of the subsequent heir in 1914 (considered one of the great causes of World War I) led to instability in the monarchy, perhaps contributing to its abolition at the end of the War in 1918.
Heirs to the Austrian Archduchy ArchdukeHeirRelationship to archduke and statusBecame heirCeased to be heirNext in lineMaximilian IArchduke PhilippSonHeir apparent August 19, 1493;father succeededSeptember 25, 1506;died Archduke Siegmund1st cousin -2, 1493-1496 none, 1496-1500 Archduke Karlson, 1500-1506 Archduke Karl GrandsonHeir apparent September 25, 1506;father died January 12, 1519;succession Archduke Ferdinandbrother Karl I Archduke Ferdinand BrotherHeir presumptive January 12, 1519;brother succeeded April 28, 1521;succession noneFerdinand Inone, 1521-1527Archduke MaximilianSonHeir apparentJuly 31, 1527;bornJuly 25, 1564;succession none, 1527-1529 Archduke Ferdinandbrother, 1529-1551 Archduke Ferdinandson, 1551-1552 Archduke Ferdinandbrother, 1552 Archduke Rudolfson, 1552-1564 Maximilian II Archduke Rudolf SonHeir apparent July 25, 1564;father succeeded October 12, 1576;succession Archduke ErnstbrotherRudolf V Archduke Ernst BrotherHeir presumptive October 12, 1576;brother succeeded February 20, 1595;died Archduke Matthiasbrother Archduke Matthias BrotherHeir presumptive February 20, 1595;brother died June 25, 1608;succeeded Archduke MaximilianbrotherMatthias I Archduke Maximilian BrotherHeir presumptive June 25, 1608;brother succeeded November 2, 1618;died Archduke Albertbrother Archduke Albert BrotherHeir presumptive November 2, 1618;brother died March 20, 1619;succeeded Archduke Ferdinand1st cousin Albert VII Archduke Ferdinand 1st cousinHeir presumptive March 20, 1619;cousin succeeded October 9, 1619;succeeded Archduke FerdinandsonFerdinand IIIArchduke FerdinandSonHeir apparent October 9, 1619;father succeeded February 15, 1637;succeeded Archduke Leopold Wilhelm1619-1633, brother Archduke Ferdinand1633-1637, sonFerdinand IVArchduke FerdinandSonHeir apparentFebruary 15, 1637;father succeededJuly 9, 1654;died Archduke Leopold Wilhelm1637, uncle Archduke Philipp August1637-1639, brother Archduke Maximilian Thomas1639, brother Archduke Leopold Wilhelm1639-1640, uncle Archduke Leopold1640-1654, brother Archduke LeopoldSonHeir apparentJuly 9, 1654;brother diedApril 2, 1657;succeeded Archduke Charles JosephbrotherLeopold VIArchduke Charles JosephBrotherHeir presumptiveApril 2, 1657;brother succeededJanuary 27, 1664;died Archduke Leopold Wilhelm1657-1662, uncle Archduke Ferdinand Charles1662, 1st cousin -1 Archduke Sigismund Francis1662-1664, 1st cousin -1Archduke Sigismund Francis1st cousin -1Heir presumptiveJanuary 27, 1664;cousin diedJune 25, 1665;died nonenone, 1665-1667Archduke Ferdinand WenzelSonHeir apparent28 September 1667;born13 January 1668;diednonenone, 1668-1670Archduke Johann LeopoldSonHeir apparent20 February 1670;born and diednonenone, 1670-1678Archduke JosephSonHeir apparent26 July 1678;born5 May 1705;succeedednone, 1678-1684Archduke Leopold Joseph1682-1684, brothernone, 1684-1685Archduke Charles1685-1700, brotherArchduke Leopold Joseph1700-1701, sonArchduke Charles1701-1705, brotherJoseph IArchduke CharlesBrotherHeir presumptive5 May 1705;brother succeeded17 April 1711;succeedednoneCharles IIInone, 1711-1713Archduchess Maria JosephaNieceHeir presumptive19 April 1713;Pragmatic Sanction of 171313 April 1716;son born to ArchdukeArchduchess Maria AmaliasisterArchduke Leopold JohannSonHeir apparent13 April 1716;born4 November 1716;diedArchduchess Maria Josepha cousinArchduchess Maria JosephaNieceHeir presumptive4 November 1716;cousin died13 May 1717;daughter born to ArchdukeArchduchess Maria Amalia sisterArchduchess Maria TheresaDaughterHeir presumptive13 May 1717; born20 October 1740;succeededArchduchess Maria Josepha1717–1718, cousinArchduchess Maria Anna1718–1737, sisterArchduchess Maria Elisabeth1737–1740, daughterArchduchess Maria Anna1740, daughterMaria Theresaand Francis IArchduchess Maria Anna DaughterHeir presumptive 20 October 1740;mother succeeded 13 March 1741;son born to ArchduchessArchduchess Maria Carolina1740–1741, sisterArchduchess Maria Anna1741, auntArchduke JosephSonHeir apparent13 March 1741;born18 August 1765;succeededArchduchess Maria Anna1741–1745, sisterArchduke Charles Joseph1745–1761, brotherArchduke Leopold1761–1765, brotherMaria Theresaand Joseph IIPietro Leopoldo I of TuscanySon and BrotherHeir presumptive 18 August 1765;brother succeeded20 February 1790;succeeded Archduke Ferdinand1765–1768, brotherJoseph IIArchduke Francis1768–1790, sonLeopold VIIArchduke FrancisSonHeir apparent 20 February 1790;father succeeded 1 March 1792;succeededFerdinando III of Tuscany brotherFrancis II Ferdinando III of Tuscany BrotherHeir presumptive 1 March 1792;brother succeeded19 April 1793;son born to Archduke Archduke Charles brotherArchduke FerdinandSonHeir apparent19 April 1793;born11 August 1804;Archduchy replaced by EmpireFerdinando III of Tuscany1793–1799, uncleArchduke Joseph Franz1799–1804, brother
Heirs to the Austrian Empire Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir Ceased to be heirDuration as heir Next in successionRelation to heir Monarch Date Reason Date Reason Crown Prince Ferdinand Heir apparent Eldest son 11 August 1804 Father proclaimed emperor of Austria 2 March 1835 Became emperor Archduke Joseph Franz1804–1807Younger brotherFranz I Archduke Franz Karl1807–1835Younger brother Archduke Franz Karl Heir presumptive Younger brother 2 March 1835 Brother became emperor without children 2 December 1848 Renounced his own claim to the throne when his brother abdicated Archduke Franz JosephEldest son Ferdinand I Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Heir presumptive Younger brother 2 December 1848 Brother became emperor without children 21 August 1858 Supplanted: son born to emperor Archduke Karl LudwigYounger brother Franz Joseph I Crown Prince Rudolf Heir apparent Eldest son 21 August 1858 Born 30 January 1889 Committed suicide (Gunshot wound) Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian 1858–1864Uncle Archduke Karl Ludwig 1864–1889 Uncle Archduke Karl Ludwig Heir presumptive Younger brother 30 January 1889 Nephew committed suicide 19 May 1896 Died Archduke Franz FerdinandSonArchduke Franz Ferdinand Heir presumptive Nephew 19 May 1896 Father died 28 June 1914 Assassination (Gunshot wound) Archduke Otto Franz Joseph 1896–1906 Brother Archduke Karl 1906–1914 Nephew Archduke Karl Heir presumptive Grandnephew 28 June 1914 Uncle was assassinated 21 November 1916 Became emperor Archduke OttoSon Crown Prince Otto Heir apparent Eldest son 21 November 1916 Father became emperor 12 November 1918 Monarchy abolished Archduke RobertBrother Karl I
Notes
References