Archduke

For the butterflies called Archdukes, see Archduke (butterfly).The title of Archduke (feminine: Archduchess) (German: Erzherzog or Erzherzogin) was invented in the Privilegium Maius, a 14th century forgery initiated by Duke Rudolf IV of Austria. Originally, it was meant to denote the ruler of the Archduchy of Austria, in an effort to put that ruler on par with the electorships, as Austria had been passed over in the Golden Bull of 1356, where the electorships had been assigned. Emperor Charles IV refused to recognize the title.

Duke Ernest the Iron and his descendants unilaterally assumed the title "archduke."

This title was only officially recognized in 1453 by Emperor Frederick III, when the Habsburgs had (permanently) gained control of the office of the Holy Roman Emperor.

First it was granted to Frederick's younger brother, Albert VI of Austria, d 1463, who used the title at least from 1458.

In 1477, Frederick III granted the title archduke also to his first cousin, Sigismund of Austria, ruler of Further Austria.

Also Frederick's son and heir, the future Emperor Maximilian I started to use the title, but obviously only after the death of his wife Mary of Burgundy, d 1482, as the title never appears in documents of joint Maximilian and Mary rule in Low countries (where Maximilian is still titled as Duke of Austria). The title appears first in documents of joint Maximilian and Philip (his underage son) rule in Low countries.

Emperor Frederick III himself used just Duke of Austria, never archduke, until his death in 1490.

Ladislaus the Posthumous, Duke of Austria, who died in 1457, was never in his lifetime authorized to use it, and accordingly, not he nor anyone in his branch of the dynasty, ever used the title.

Female children of the dynasty were not entitled to the title yet in the 15th century. It was used only by those dynasts who reigned a Habsburg territory, i.e only by males and their consorts.

From the 16th century onward, archduke or its female form, archduchess, came to be used by all the members of the House of Habsburg, similar to the title Prince in many other royal houses. For example, Queen Marie Antoinette of France was born an Archduchess of Austria. This practice was maintained in the Austrian Empire (1804-1867) and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918).

With the abolition of the monarchy, titles and the peerage system were also abolished in Austria. Thus, those members of the extended Habsburg family who are citizens of the Republic of Austria, are simply known by their respective first name and their surname Habsburg-Lothringen. The use of aristocratic titles such as archduke is in fact illegal in Austria. However, some members of the family who are citizens of other countries such as Germany, where aristocratic titles have become part of the name, may use the title.

Notes

*Note that Archduke (Erzherzog) is a title distinct from Grand Duke (Großherzog or Großfürst) used in the Russian and some other German royal houses.

Use of the title "archduke" in contemporaneous documents

See also

*archducal hat
*List of rulers of Austria