Queen Elizabeth II has just overtaken Johann II of Liechtenstein as the third-longest verified reigning monarch in history. But who exactly is Johann II?
Born 5 October 1840 in Elsgrub, Margraviate of Moravia in the Austrian Empire, Johann II was the elder son of Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein and Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau. Johann II ascended to the throne shortly…
Empress Elisabeth of Austria was born as Duchess in Bavaria in 1837. She enjoyed an informal upbringing before marrying her first cousin Emperor Franz Joseph I at the age of sixteen.
Empress Elisabeth was recognised as one of the most beautiful women in Europe and always…
Archduchess Mathilde of Austria was born in 1849 as the daughter of Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen and his wife, Princess Hildegard of Bavaria. She grew up in a wealthy and charming home with a kind family. During the summer, the family spent their time at the Weilburg…
She became an empress in the most difficult of circumstances and her short reign ended in exile and a lifetime of supporting her royal heritage from afar. Zita, Empress of Austria found herself with an imperial crown as a result of an assassination which sent the world to war. When conflict consumed the globe again, she once more had to flee. In the latest of our ‘Last Consorts’…
On 28 October, the annual march for the monarchy was held by Czech monarchists in the city of Prague. They wish for a return of the Habsburg monarchy to the country. While the government officials celebrate the 101st anniversary of former Czechoslovakia, monarchist gathered…
Throughout history, many royals have died in brutal and bizarre ways. Royals have been killed in attacks, by illnesses and by accidents. In 1889, a tragic incident happened that ended up with not one, but two dead royals. Still to this day, the event has not been clarified…
After the First World War, several of Europe’s monarchies fell, and among them were the German and Austrian-Hungarian Empires. While many of the royalty in these countries fled to other countries to live their lives in exile, others chose to remain in their country of birth. Many of these had no idea of what was to come – that they would suffer greatly under Nazism, which would affect…
The Archduchess of Austria and Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, Eleonore von Habsburg, is to marry the Belgian racing driver Jérôme d’Ambrosio.
The news has been reported by various Austrian and monarchist media, but the plans have not currently been…
In November 1918, as the Great War came to an end, the man who had inherited one of the biggest empires in the world gave away the little power that remained to him. Karl I, ruler of the Austro Hungarian Empire, didn’t abdicate, but in reality, it didn’t matter as much…
