Austrian Emperor. He was the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary (as Charles IV), the last King of Bohemia (as Charles III), and the last monarch belonging to the House of Habsburg-Lorraine before the dissolution of Austria-Hungary empire. On October 21, 1911, he married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. After his uncle Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in 1914, he became heir presumptive of Emperor Franz Joseph. His reign was brief, from November 21, 1916 until November 5, 1918, when he "renounced participation" in state affairs, but did not abdicate. In November 1921 he and his wife were exiled to the Portuguese island of Madeira. He spent the remainder of his life attempting to restore the monarchy until his death from pneumonia at the age of 34. His remains, except for his heart, were interred at the Nossa Senhora do Monte Church in Funchal, Portugal. Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004, he is known to the Catholic Church as Blessed Karl of Austria.
Austrian Emperor. He was the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary (as Charles IV), the last King of Bohemia (as Charles III), and the last monarch belonging to the House of Habsburg-Lorraine before the dissolution of Austria-Hungary empire. On October 21, 1911, he married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. After his uncle Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in 1914, he became heir presumptive of Emperor Franz Joseph. His reign was brief, from November 21, 1916 until November 5, 1918, when he "renounced participation" in state affairs, but did not abdicate. In November 1921 he and his wife were exiled to the Portuguese island of Madeira. He spent the remainder of his life attempting to restore the monarchy until his death from pneumonia at the age of 34. His remains, except for his heart, were interred at the Nossa Senhora do Monte Church in Funchal, Portugal. Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004, he is known to the Catholic Church as Blessed Karl of Austria.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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