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Son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (–)

Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg (Maximilian Karl Franz Michael Hubert Anton Ignatius Joseph Maria von Hohenberg; 29 September – 8 January ), was the elder son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Countess Sophie Chotek von Chotkowa und Wognin, Duchess von Hohenberg.^[1] Because his parents' marriage was morganatic, he was excluded from succession to the Austro-Hungarian throne,^{[citation needed]} to which his father was heir presumptive, and to inheritance of any of his father's dynastic titles,^[2] income, and properties, although not from the archduke's personal estate nor from his mother's property.

Franz ferdinand archduke biography of michael jackson His courtship of Sophie Chotek , a lady-in-waiting , caused conflict within the imperial household, and their morganatic marriage in was only allowed after he renounced his descendants' rights to the throne. Franz Ferdinand held significant influence over the military, and in he was appointed inspector general of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces. Franz Ferdinand's assassination led to the July Crisis and precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia , which in turn triggered a series of events that eventually led — four weeks after his death — to Austria-Hungary's allies and Serbia's allies declaring war on each other, starting World War I. In , when he was eleven years old, his cousin Francis V, Duke of Modena , died, naming Franz Ferdinand his heir on condition that he add the name "Este" to his own. This inheritance made Franz Ferdinand one of the wealthiest men in Austria.

Life

Maximilian was born on 29 September and baptized in Vienna two days later with Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria as sponsor.^[3] From birth he had the lesser princely title and the nobiliary particlevon Hohenberg accorded his mother as a predicate at the time of her marriage, and in he shared with his siblings her receipt of the style "Serene Highness".^{[citation needed]} Although Sophie had been raised from Princess (Fürstin) to Duchess (Herzogin) in by Emperor Franz Joseph, because that title was accorded ad personam, Maximilian did not inherit it upon her death in On 31 August , however, Emperor Charles I granted him the dukedom on a hereditary basis, simultaneously raising his treatment from "Serene Highness" (Durchlaucht) to "Highness" (Hoheit).^{[citation needed]}

In , it was rumored among French circles that Germany planned to install Maximilian as Imperial Governor of Alsace-Lorraine.^[4]

Following the assassination of his parents in Sarajevo in , which resulted in the outbreak of World War I, Maximilian, his sister, Princess Sophie and their brother, Prince Ernst, were initially taken in by their maternal aunt and uncle Marie and Jaroslav, Prince and Princess von Thun und Hohenstein, subsequently being raised in the care of their step-grandmother, Archduchess Maria-Theresa of Austria.^[2]

In , following the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and collapse of the Habsburg monarchy, the new republic of Czechoslovakia expropriated Konopiště Castle, Maximilian's chief residence, and other family properties in the former Kingdom of Bohemia, and expelled the brothers to Austria.

Subsequently, they lived in Vienna and at Artstetten Castle in Lower Austria.^{[citation needed]} Maximilian obtained a law degree from the University of Graz in ^{[citation needed]} He managed the family properties and worked as a lawyer.

Because he had never been a dynast of the Austrian Imperial Family, he was neither banished nor had his properties expropriated under Austria's law of exile of 3 April ^[2] Remaining in Vienna, by the s the Duke became the leader within Austria of a significant movement for restoration of the monarchy and of his kinsman Otto von Habsburg to the former Imperial throne.^[2]

In March , Austria became part of the German Reich as a result of the Anschluss.

Having spoken out for the independence of Austria and against the Anschluss, Maximilian and his brother were arrested by the Reich authorities and interned in Dachau concentration camp,^[2] where they were chiefly employed in cleaning the latrines. According to Leopold Figl (who served as Chancellor of Austria after World War II), they did so cheerfully and maintained comradely relations with fellow prisoners.

Maximilian was released after six months (Ernst was transferred to other concentration camps and released only in ) and was then compelled to stay at Artstetten Castle; the Reich authorities also expropriated the family's other properties in Austria.^{[citation needed]}

After the liberation of Austria in , the residents of Artstetten elected Maximilian as mayor, with the concurrence of the Soviet occupation authorities.

Franz ferdinand archduke biography of michael They were shot at close range while being driven through Sarajevo , the provincial capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina , formally annexed by Austria-Hungary in The political objective of the assassination was to free Bosnia and Herzegovina of Austria-Hungarian rule and establish a common South Slav " Yugoslav " state. The assassins and key members of the clandestine network were tried in Sarajevo in October In total twenty-five people were indicted. Princip was found guilty of murder and high treason; too young to be executed, he was sentenced to twenty years in jail, while the four other attackers also received jail terms.

He served two five-year terms as mayor.

Maximilian died on 8 January at the age of He is buried in the crypt of the Hohenberg family's Artstetten Castle.^[5] His wife's remains are in a sarcophagus to his left. His eldest son, Franz, took the ducal title.

Marriage and issue

Maximilian married on 16 November in Wolfegg, Countess Maria Elisabeth Bona von Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee (10 August in Bad Waldsee – 13 March in Salzburg).

They had six sons:^{[citation needed][6]}

• Franz, Duke von Hohenberg (13 September – 16 August ) he married Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg on 9 May They had two daughters.

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Their daughter Sophie has pursued restoration of ownership of Konopiště Castle, in the Czech Republic,^[7] on the grounds that the Hohenbergs were never recognized as members of the House of Habsburg, and therefore the provisions of Article of the Treaty of Saint Germain, and Article 3 of Law no of in Czechoslovakia, do not apply to them.^[8]

• Georg, Duke von Hohenberg (25 April at Artstetten Castle – 25 July ), married on 4 July in Vienna, Princess Eleonore of Auersperg-Breunner (12 September in Goldegg – 15 February ), daughter of Karl Alain, Prince of Auersperg-Breunner and Countess Marie Henriette von Meran.

  They have three children.

• Prince Albrecht von Hohenberg (4 February – 25 February ), married on 11 April in Vienna, Countess Leontine von Cassis-Faraone (born 3 August ), daughter of Count Leo August von Cassis-Faraone and Wilhelmina Fentener van Vlissingen. They have four children.
• Prince Johannes von Hohenberg (3 May in Artstetten – 11 October in Salzburg), married on 28 August , Elisabeth Meilinger zu Weyerhof-Rehrl (born 30 May in Salzburg), daughter of Franz Meilinger zu Weyerhof-Rehrl and Lily Diensthuber.

  They have four children.

• Prince Peter von Hohenberg (26 March in Artstetten – 6 December ), married on 14 April , Christine-Marie Meilinger zu Weyerhof-Rehrl (born 27 April in Salzburg), daughter of Franz Meilinger zu Weyerhof-Rehrl and Lily Diensthuber.

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  As a child, Franz Ferdinand was enrolled in the army. After serving for several years, he traveled extensively. The death of his father in made him the heir to the throne, as Emperor Franz Joseph's only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, had died by suicide in After becoming the heir, an important event occurred in Franz Ferdinand's life: he fell passionately in love with Countess Sophie Chotek. She belonged to the upper echelons of Czech aristocracy but was not of "equal birth," i.

  They were divorced in

• Prince Gerhard von Hohenberg (23 December in Vienna – 8 May )

Ancestry

Honours and arms

Notes