Learn About This European Powerhouse

The Habsburg Dynasty is one of the longest-known dynasties in the world. Their hold on power encompassed over 1000 years, containing 4 Austrian emperors, 6 kings of Spain, and 21 Roman-German kings and emperors. The Habsburgs came to power during the Middle Ages and only fell at the beginning of the 20th century. How much do you know about this powerful family?

Martin van Meytens on Wikimedia

1. Inter-familial Marriage Was Common

One of the most well-known facts about this family was their dedication to marrying each other, to the point where a common saying for this family is “The best marriage for a Habsburg is another Habsburg.” This incestuous policy was used to preserve their dynastic power, but it did create several genetic health problems later on.

Napoleon Vier at Dutch Wikipedia on Wikimedia

2. They Ruled How Many Countries?

At the height of their power, the Habsburgs ruled parts of modern-day Austria, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. Not to mention, several Habsburgs also held the title of Holy Roman Emperor.

USGS on Unsplash

3. Starting In Switzerland

The Habsburg dynasty originated from Aargau, Switzerland, and we can trace their family back to the 10th century. Their familial name comes from Habsburg Castle, which was built in 1020. Their earliest traceable ancestor was Guntram the Rich, who was a count in Breisgau, Germany.

http://dl.ub.uni-freiburg.de/diglit/hs497-1/0001/thumbs?sid=d3ea2ba32a9811608d1546e6daad0cf2#current_page on Wikimedia

4. Height Of Power

The Habsburgs ruled most of Europe during the 16th century. This was due to Charles V becoming Holy Roman Emperor in 1519, and Philip II, who inherited Charles V’s Spanish Empire and took the Portuguese throne in 1580.

Sofonisba Anguissola on Wikimedia

5. Schönbrunn Palace

Located in Vienna, this beautiful baroque building was the primary summer residence of the Habsburgs from the 18th century to the end of their rule. It has over one thousand rooms, beautiful gardens, and the world’s oldest zoo. Today, Schönbrunn is a major tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Martin Zenker on Unsplash

6. Architectural Feats

Alongside Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs also founded or supported the University of Vienna, Prague’s Charles University, and the Spanish Riding School.

Peter Haas on Wikimedia

7. Future Sainthood

Karl I was the last emperor of the Habsburg dynasty. He stepped down in 1918, which officially ended the royal Habsburg line. However, he’s considered a candidate for future sainthood, as the Catholic Church ruled him as Karl the Blessed after he apparently healed a Polish nun in 1960.

Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia

8. Brotherly Rule

The early years of the Habsburg rule often featured brothers co-ruling together. Well-known co-ruling brothers include Albert II and Leopold III, who ruled the Habsburg lands together. Charles V and Ferdinand I also co-ruled together after Charles assigned Ferdinand to the Austrian lands in 1522.

Web Gallery of Art:   Image on Wikimedia

9. 16 Kids And Counting

Due to their genetic issues and the general setbacks of childbearing in the Middle Ages, it was common for royal families to produce a lot of children. Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis, had 16 children total, and she’s often referred to as the “mother-in-law of Europe.”

Martin van Meytens on Wikimedia

10. Familial Curse

The Habsburgs genuinely believed they were cursed due to their plethora of health issues. Of course, this wasn’t due to a curse but instead due to the aforementioned inbreeding situation. Many of the Habsburgs suffered epilepsy, insanity, and something known as the “Habsburg jaw.”

Miguel Hermoso Cuesta on Wikimedia

11. Rise To Power

The Habsburgs rose to power through the acquisition of territories, strategic marriages, and the exploitation of rival noble families. They achieved their goal in 1273, after Rudolf I was crowned as the Roman-German king. 

Finanzer on Wikimedia

12. Family Division

Because there were so many Habsburgs ruling so many countries, it’s no surprise that major divisions occurred within the family. This led to what we now know as the Austrian Habsburgs and the Spanish Habsburgs, which occurred after Charles V gave Ferdinand I the Austrian Lands. 

Leopold Kupelwieser on Wikimedia

13. Who Gets The Throne?

When the Spanish Habsburg line died with Charles VI, it resulted in the War of the Spanish Succession. This war was fought among the European powers for 8 years, as the family had too many claimants to the throne. 

Ludolf Bakhuizen on Wikimedia

14. 690 Decrees

Joseph II was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 until 1780. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and the brother of Marie Antoinette. Joseph II was very invested in enlightened absolutism during his reign, and during his rule, he put forth almost 700 decrees per year.

Daderot on Wikimedia

15. Trickery Afoot

Ferdinand Maximilian was a minor Habsburg who was tricked into ruling Mexico by Napoleon III. When he was told that the people of Mexico had voted him to be their emperor, it was all a ploy for Napoleon and Mexico’s elite to assassinate the Mexican president, Benito Juárez.

Original glass negative (LC-BH824-4754) made by Andrew Burgess, one of Mathew Brady's operators, on a trip to Mexico City. on Wikimedia

16. Representation

Because there were so many Habsburgs, there were several blazons and coats of arms used by the family throughout history. The first one used by the Counts of Habsburg featured a red lion with a blue crown, representing courage, strength, and nobility. 

Red Baron 2 on Wikimedia

17. The Spanish Golden Age

Habsburg Spain lasted from 1560 to 1700, a period in which the Habsburgs were at their most powerful. Their leadership ushered in the Spanish Golden Age, which lasted from 1550 to 1650, bringing figures such as El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Miguel de Cervantes, and Pedro Calderón de la Barca into prominence. 

Scoo on Wikimedia

18. Franz Ferdinand

We all know the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was the lynch pin to World War I, but did you know that he was also a Habsburg? He was in line for the Austrian-Hungarian throne, but renounced his family’s dynastic rights after marrying Sophie Chotek. Not that it mattered, as both Franz and Sophie died in June 1914. 

Ferdinand Schmutzer on Wikimedia

19. Their Downfall

The Habsburg dynasty fell after their defeat in World War I, resulting in the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Between siding with Germany, the dynasty also suffered internal nationalist movements, which eventually forced Karl I to step down and go into exile in 1918.

Library of Congress on Unsplash

20. Habsburgs Today

There are several descendants of the House of Habsburg alive today. The current leader of the family is Karl von Habsburg, an Austrian politician. His son, Ferdinand Zvonimir von Habsburg, is a famous Austrian motor racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021.

Drew Gibson on Wikimedia