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Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor

Florence, 12 Feb 1768 – Vienna, 2 Mar 1835

18 facts3 sources

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About Francis

Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor: From Imperial Title to Austrian Crown

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Francis II as born in Florence in 1768, although the precise birth date remains disputed. He was the son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria Luisa of Spain. The collection also records his death in Vienna in 1835. 12345

Francis held the title of Holy Roman Emperor from 1792 to 1806. He is remembered as the last Holy Roman Emperor, while also serving as Apostolic King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. From 1804 to 1835, he was Emperor of Austria, making him both the final emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the first emperor of Austria. 67891011

His family ties included unions with Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily and Caroline Augusta of Bavaria. The evidence also identifies him as the first president of the German Confederation following its establishment in 1815. These offices and relationships frame the transition from imperial rule over the Holy Roman Empire to a new Austrian imperial identity. 121310

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born12 Feb 1768, Florenceor 14 Feb 1768Records disagree1 source
  • MarriedMaria Theresa of Naples and Sicilynot verified1 source
  • MarriedCaroline Augusta of Bavarianot verified1 source
  • MarriedMaria Ludovika of Austria-Estenot verified1 source
  • MarriedDuchess Elisabeth of Württembergnot verified1 source
  • TitlePrince-Electoror Holy Roman Emperor, 1792–1806 · Apostolic King of Hungary, 1792–1835 · King of Bohemia, 1792–1835 · Emperor of Austria, 1804–1835not verified1 source
  • TitleHoly Roman Emperor, 1792–1806or Apostolic King of Hungary, 1792–1835 · King of Bohemia, 1792–1835 · Emperor of Austria, 1804–1835 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • TitleApostolic King of Hungary, 1792–1835or Holy Roman Emperor, 1792–1806 · King of Bohemia, 1792–1835 · Emperor of Austria, 1804–1835 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • TitleKing of Bohemia, 1792–1835or Holy Roman Emperor, 1792–1806 · Apostolic King of Hungary, 1792–1835 · Emperor of Austria, 1804–1835 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • TitleEmperor of Austria, 1804–1835or Holy Roman Emperor, 1792–1806 · Apostolic King of Hungary, 1792–1835 · King of Bohemia, 1792–1835 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • Died2 Mar 1835, Viennanot verified1 source
  • FatherLeopold II, Holy Roman Emperornot verified1 source
  • MotherMaria Luisa of Spainnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 12 Feb 1768

    Born in Florence

  2. 1790–1807

    13 children are born

  3. 1792–1806

    Holy Roman Emperor

  4. 1792–1835

    Apostolic King of Hungary

  5. 1792–1835

    King of Bohemia

  6. 1804–1835

    Emperor of Austria

  7. 2 Mar 1835

    Dies in Vienna, aged 67

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 13

During his lifetime

He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Florence.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1760s · Francis is born in Florence

In the news1763–1767

Famine in Southern Italy (1763-1767)

A devastating famine occurred in Southern Italy, killing approximately 300,000 people due to starvation and related diseases like typhus. It was caused by extreme weather, poor agricultural practices, and failed food distribution systems.

Getting around

Strict schedules for grain carts

Farmers transporting grain to cities used slow ox-drawn carts and had to arrive before noon, or they were forced to stay overnight in the town outskirts.

At the table

Bread as the daily foundation

For ordinary families, bread was the central pillar of daily nutrition, often complemented by cheese, legumes, seasonal fruits, and occasionally pork from home-raised pigs.

The Seven Years’ War. Fought in Europe, the Americas, Africa and India, often called the first world war: Britain took Canada and India from France.Around the world · 1756–1763

The Seven Years’ War. Fought in Europe, the Americas, Africa and India, often called the first world war: Britain took Canada and India from France.

Blaue Max · CC BY-SA 4.0

What people wore

Daily Versus Festive Attire

The clothing construction was strictly dictated by social customs, with differences between daily wear and festive attire being more pronounced in women's clothing than in men's. Elaborate decorations such as embroidery and fine ornaments were significantly more abundant on garments worn during religious festivities and celebrations.

Music

Common dances: baddu pasturinu and baddu tundu

In this period, people frequently performed two main types of dances: the baddu pasturinu (pastoral dance) for pairs and the baddu tundu (round dance) for groups holding hands in a circle.

Daily life

Primitive one-room homes for the poor

For the poor, homes were primitive, one-room ground-floor dwellings built from raw bricks or stone with packed-earth or cobblestone floors and no windows. The hearth was dug into the floor in the center of the room, and the home contained only a large parents' bed and mats for the children.