Archduke of Austria

The Archduke of Austria was a title used primarily by the members of the Habsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria and many other European territories. The title indicated a high rank, just below that of an emperor. Archdukes played significant roles in European politics and were often involved in dynastic marriages and territorial disputes. One of the most notable archdukes was Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 triggered World War I. The Habsburgs ruled until the end of World War I in 1918, after which the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved and the title ceased to hold political power.