Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria

This article is about a 19th century archduke. For the 20th century, see Archduke Wilhelm of Austria.

Archduke Wilhelm Franz
Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria
Born	(1827-04-21)21 April 1827
Died
House	Habsburg-Lorraine
Father	Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
Mother	Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg

Archduke Wilhelm Franz Karl of Austria-Teschen (21 April 1827 – 29 April 1894) was an Archduke of Austria from the House of Habsburg.

He was born in Vienna as the son of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen (1771–1847) and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg (1797–1829). He was a grandson of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (1747–1792) and nephew of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768–1835).

He held the office of Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights in 1863. He gained the rank of General Field Marshal in the service of the Austrian Army. He was Governor of the Federal Fortress of Mainz.

Archduke Wilhelm of Austria died unmarried and without issue on July 29, 1894 in Weikersdorf after falling from a horse. He had been riding in Baden when his horse was frightened by a motor car. The horse bolted, and the Archduke was thrown. One of his feet remained stuck in the stirrup, and he was dragged more than 100 yards. He died without regaining consciousness. His death was attributed to a concussion on the brain. The archduke was 67 years old.

Ancestry

Imperial Monogram of Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria

Family of Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria

16. Leopold, Duke of Lorraine               8. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor                       17. Élisabeth Charlotte of Orléans               4. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor                             18. Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor               9. Maria Theresa of Austria                       19. Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel               2. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen                                   20. Philip V of Spain               10. Charles III of Spain                       21. Elisabeth of Parma               5. Maria Louisa of Spain                             22. Augustus III of Poland               11. Maria Amalia of Saxony                       23. Maria Josepha of Austria               1. Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria                                         24. Charles Augustus, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg               12. Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg                       25. Princess Auguste Friederike of Nassau-Idstein               6. Frederick William, Duke of Nassau                             26. William IV, Prince of Orange               13. Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau                       27. Anne, Princess Royal               3. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg                                   28. Wilhelm Ludwig, Landgrave of Kirchberg               14. Georg, Landgrave of Kirchberg, Count of Sayn-Hachenburg                       29. Countess Luise of Dhaun               7. Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg                             30. Heinrich XI, Prince Reuss of Greiz               15. Countess Elisabeth Augusta Reuss of Greiz                       31. Konradine Eleonore, Princess Reuss of Köstritz

Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
Preceded by Archduke Maximilian of Austria-Este	Hochmeister 1863–1894	Succeeded by Archduke Eugen of Austria