Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany was the last Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1859 to 1860. The House of Habsburg-Lorraine continued to hold the title as pretender
s until the end of World War I
.
, he was the son of Leopold II
, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Princess Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies
.
He and his family were forced to flee Florence on April 27, 1859, with the outbreak of a revolution inspired by the outbreak of a war by France and Sardinia-Piedmont against Austria
as part of the unification of Italy. The family took refuge in Austria. After the end of the war, Leopold II abdicated on July 21, and Ferdinand succeeded him as Grand Duke. Ferdinand proved unable to return to Florence to claim his throne, and an elected Tuscan National Assembly formally deposed him only a month later, on August 16. Ferdinand still hoped to recover his throne, as both France and Austria had promised to recognize his rights to it in the Armistice of Villafranca. However, neither power was willing to take any steps to bring about his restoration. The Kingdom of Sardinia annexed Tuscany on March 22, 1860, ending Ferdinand's hopes to reclaim the throne.
Ferdinand spent the rest of his life in exile in Austria. He died there, in Salzburg
, in 1908.
From his first marriage in Dresden
on 24 November 1856 to Princess Anna Maria Maximiliane Stephania Karoline Johanna Luisa Xaveria Nepomucena Aloysia Benedicta
, (Dresden
, 4 January 1836 - Naples
, 10 February 1859), daughter of King John I of Saxony
:
From his second marriage in Frohsdorf on 11 January 1868 to Princess Alice "Alix" of Parma (Parma
, 27 December 1849 - Schwertberg
, 16 November 1935), daughter of Charles III of Parma:
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
s until the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Born at FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, he was the son of Leopold II
Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Leopold II of Tuscany was the last reigning grand duke of Tuscany ....
, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Princess Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies
Princess Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies
Princess Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies was Grand Duchess of Tuscany from 1833 to 1859 as the consort of Leopold II...
.
He and his family were forced to flee Florence on April 27, 1859, with the outbreak of a revolution inspired by the outbreak of a war by France and Sardinia-Piedmont against Austria
Second Italian War of Independence
The Second War of Italian Independence, Franco-Austrian War, Austro-Sardinian War, or Austro-Piedmontese War , was fought by Napoleon III of France and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia against the Austrian Empire in 1859...
as part of the unification of Italy. The family took refuge in Austria. After the end of the war, Leopold II abdicated on July 21, and Ferdinand succeeded him as Grand Duke. Ferdinand proved unable to return to Florence to claim his throne, and an elected Tuscan National Assembly formally deposed him only a month later, on August 16. Ferdinand still hoped to recover his throne, as both France and Austria had promised to recognize his rights to it in the Armistice of Villafranca. However, neither power was willing to take any steps to bring about his restoration. The Kingdom of Sardinia annexed Tuscany on March 22, 1860, ending Ferdinand's hopes to reclaim the throne.
Ferdinand spent the rest of his life in exile in Austria. He died there, in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, in 1908.
Family and children
He married twice and had the following children:From his first marriage in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on 24 November 1856 to Princess Anna Maria Maximiliane Stephania Karoline Johanna Luisa Xaveria Nepomucena Aloysia Benedicta
Princess Anna of Saxony (1836–1859)
Princess Anna Maria Maximiliane Stephania Karoline Johanna Luisa Xaveria Nepomucena Aloysia Benedicta of Saxony, Duchess of Saxony Princess Anna Maria Maximiliane Stephania Karoline Johanna Luisa Xaveria Nepomucena Aloysia Benedicta of Saxony, Duchess of Saxony (Full German name: Prinzessin Anna...
, (Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, 4 January 1836 - Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, 10 February 1859), daughter of King John I of Saxony
John I of Saxony
John was a King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin....
:
- Archduchess Maria Antonietta Leopoldina Annunziata Anna Amalia Giuseppa Giovanna Immacolata Tecla (Maria Antoinette Leopoldina Annunziata Anna Amalia Josepha Johanna Immaculata Thekla) (FlorenceFlorenceFlorence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, 10 January 1858 - CannesCannesCannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, 13 April 1883). She became abbess of the Theresia Convent in the Hradschin in Prague. - Stillborn daughter (born and died 1859)
From his second marriage in Frohsdorf on 11 January 1868 to Princess Alice "Alix" of Parma (Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, 27 December 1849 - Schwertberg
Schwertberg
Schwertberg is a market town in the district of Perg in Upper Austria in Austria....
, 16 November 1935), daughter of Charles III of Parma:
- Archduke Leopold Ferdinand, Prince of TuscanyArchduke Leopold Ferdinand, Prince of TuscanyArchduke Leopold Ferdinand of Austria was the eldest son of Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Alice of Bourbon-Parma.-Early life:...
(1868–1935). He renounced his titles on 29 December 1902 and took the name Leopold Wölfling. He married thrice. - Archduchess Luise, Princess of TuscanyArchduchess Luise, Princess of TuscanyLuise of Tuscany was a daughter of Ferdinand IV of Tuscany and his second wife, Alice of Bourbon-Parma, daughter of Duke Charles III and Louise...
(1870–1947) - Archduke Josef Ferdinand, Prince of Tuscany (1872–1942). He married first Rosa Kaltenbrunner and, after divorcing her, he married second Gertrud Tomanek, by whom he had issue. Both marriages were morganaticMorganatic marriageIn the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
. - Archduke Peter Ferdinand, Prince of TuscanyArchduke Peter Ferdinand, Prince of TuscanyArchduke Peter Ferdinand Salvator Karl Ludwig Maria Joseph Leopold Anton Rupert Pius Pancraz of Austria, Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, Prince of Tuscany) Archduke Peter Ferdinand Salvator Karl Ludwig Maria Joseph Leopold Anton Rupert Pius Pancraz of Austria, Prince...
(1874–1948). Married Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two SiciliesPrincess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two SiciliesPrincess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the titular Grand Duchess of Tuscany from 28 February 1942 to 4 October 1947 as wife of Archduke Peter Ferdinand of Austria, Prince of Tuscany, the titular Grand Duke.-Family:Maria Cristina was the daughter of Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Two...
and had issue. - Archduke Heinrich Ferdinand Salvator, Prince of Tuscany (1878–1969). Major General in the Austrian Army. Married morganatically to Maria Karoline Ludescher and had issue.
- Archduchess Anna Maria Theresia, Princess of Tuscany (1879–1961). Married Johannes, Prince of Hohenlohe-BartensteinHohenlohe-BartensteinHohenlohe-Bartenstein was a German Principality located in northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, around Bartenstein. Hohenlohe-Bartenstein was a partition of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst and was raised from a County to a Principality in 1744...
. - Archduchess Margareta, Princess of Tuscany (1881–1965)
- Archduchess Germana, Princess of Tuscany (1884–1955)
- Archduke Robert Ferdinand Salvator, Prince of Tuscany (1885–1895)
- Archduchess Agnes Maria, Princess of Tuscany (1891–1945)