Ludwig von Österreich

Archduke Ludwig Joseph Anton of Austria, from the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, was born on December 13, 1784, at Poggio Imperiale Palace in Florence. He was the fifteenth of sixteen children born to Peter Leopold, Grand Duke of Tuscany and the future Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, and his wife, Maria Ludovika of Spain. His siblings included Emperor Francis II, and from 1804 Emperor Francis I of Austria; Field Marshal Archduke Charles, known for his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Aspern; and the Archdukes Johann and Rainer. Several of his sisters also married into European ruling families or assumed prominent ecclesiastical offices. Ludwig spent his early years at the grand ducal court in Florence. When his father inherited the imperial throne in 1790, the family moved to Vienna. Only two years later, Ludwig lost both parents within three months. His eldest brother Franz, who assumed power at the age of 24 as Francis II, thereafter supervised his education in place of their father. In keeping with family tradition, Ludwig entered the imperial armed forces and soon rose to the rank of Feldzeugmeister, or general of artillery. Until 1809, he served as general inspector of the border troops. During the Fifth Coalition War against Napoleon, he was given command of an army corps. Under the command of Field Marshal Hiller, he took part in the Battle of Abensberg on April 19 and 20, 1809, which ended in a French victory. After the Napoleonic Wars, Ludwig devoted himself more fully to scientific and humanistic studies together with his brother Johann. In 1815 and 1816, the two brothers also undertook extensive journeys through England and France. During their stay in Britain, they were received in Dover on October 22, 1815, by George, Prince Regent, the future King George IV. Among other places, they visited Oxford, Bath, Plymouth, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. They took a particular interest in the modern British university system and in industrial enterprises. After returning to Austria, Ludwig and Johann sought to share the experiences they had gained abroad and thereby promote Austria’s industrialization. In 1819, following the death of Field Marshal Count Colloredo, Ludwig was appointed inspector general of the Imperial-Royal Artillery. Like his brother Johann, Ludwig entered into a marriage that was considered unequal in rank. During a journey through France, he met Adelaide de Gueroust, a countess, at Boisclaireau Castle on the Loire. He married her on the condition that he renounce his own claims to the throne as well as any possible claims of their future descendants. The marriage produced one daughter, born in 1838. She was initially baptized Ana Victoria von Habsburg-Gueroust, but later changed her name to Ana Victoria de la Pierre. Around 1858, she married Don José Maria Heredia Saez. In addition to his military experience, Ludwig possessed considerable political ability. His imperial brother Franz sent him on several occasions as his representative to international negotiations. In his will, Franz also designated him as head of the Secret State Conference. After Franz’s death, Emperor Ferdinand I assumed the throne but proved politically incapable of managing the affairs of government independently. Ludwig therefore led the Secret State Conference from 1836 to 1848, the body in which the state’s decisive policies were determined. Its most important members, besides Ludwig, included Archduke Franz Karl, the father of the future Emperor Francis Joseph; State Chancellor Prince Metternich; and Count Kolowrat. Politically, Ludwig held a strictly absolutist position. He initially supported the policies of his brother, Emperor Franz, and later those of Metternich. The revolutions and the Hungarian struggle for freedom of 1848 and 1849, together with Francis Joseph’s accession to the throne, marked the end of Ludwig’s active political role. He then withdrew from public life and lived as a private citizen in Vienna. His scientific and economic interests nevertheless continued to receive recognition. In 1848, he was elected an honorary member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. This appointment particularly acknowledged his generous support for research in the technical and economic sciences. He was also socially engaged, supporting through donations foundations that cared for poor people. Archduke Ludwig died in Vienna on December 21, 1864, at the age of 80. He was buried in the Capuchin Crypt, where he was laid to rest beside members of the Tuscan branch of the Habsburg family.