Franz Josef of Austria

Franz Josef (sometimes referred to in English as Francis Joseph) (August 18, 1830 - November 21, 1916) of the Habsburg Dynasty was Emperor of Austria from 1848 until 1916 and King of Hungary from 1867 until 1916. He was born in Vienna, Austria.

Franz Josef was the eldest son of Archduke Franz Karl, who was brother and heir of Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I. Because his father renounced his claim to the throne, Franz Josef became emperor when Ferdinand abdicated near the end of the Revolution of 1848.

In 1854 Franz Josef married Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria, who became Elisabeth of Austria ("Sisi" or "Sissi").

See Otto von Habsburg for a photograph of Franz Josef with his great-grandnephew Otto, the current head of the Habsburg family.

Preceded by: Ferdinand I of Austria

Emperors of Austria

Succeeded by: Karl of Austria