Austrian Archdukes

Austrian Archdukes were members of the Habsburg family, a powerful dynasty in Europe from the late Middle Ages until the early 20th century. The title "Archduke" was created to reflect their high rank just below the emperor. They played significant roles in politics, warfare, and diplomacy, influencing the course of European history. The most notable Archduke was Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 triggered World War I. The Habsburgs ruled over Austria and vast territories in Central and Eastern Europe, greatly shaping the region's culture, politics, and borders until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.