Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the ruler of the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his death in 1916. In the early part of his reign, his realms and territories were referred to as the Austrian Empire, but were reconstituted as the dual monarchy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867. From 1 May 1850 to 24 August 1866, he was also president of the German Confederation.
Franz Joseph in the uniform of a Hungarian field marshal, c. 1892
Franz Joseph and his mother Archduchess Sophie, by Joseph Karl Stieler
Franz Joseph's family gathered in prayer, 1839
The Battle of Győr on 28 June 1849. Franz Joseph enters Győr leading the Austrian troops.
The emperor of Austria was the ruler of the Austrian Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The hereditary imperial title and office was proclaimed in 1804 by Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and continually held by him and his heirs until Charles I relinquished power in 1918.
Imperial Crown of Austria
Crown Jewels of Austria
Emperor Franz Joseph I and his great-grandnephew and second-in-line to the throne Otto von Habsburg, in 1914
Image: Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor by Friedrich von Amerling 003