Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rudolf
Crown Prince of Austria Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia
Rudolf in 1887
Born	(1858-08-21)21 August 1858 Schloss Laxenburg, Laxenburg, Lower Austria, Austrian Empire
Died	30 January 1889(1889-01-30) (aged 30) Mayerling, Lower Austria, Austria-Hungary
Burial	Imperial Crypt, Vienna
Spouse	Princess Stéphanie of Belgium ​ (m. 1881)​
Issue	Elisabeth Marie, Princess Otto of Windisch-Graetz
Full name German: Rudolf Franz Karl Josef English: Rudolph Francis Charles Joseph
House	Habsburg-Lorraine
Father	Franz Joseph I of Austria
Mother	Elisabeth in Bavaria
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria (born Rudolf Franz Karl Josef; August 21, 1858 – January 30, 1889) was the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. His mother was Empress Elisabeth. From the moment he was born, Rudolf was the heir apparent, meaning he was next in line to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Early Life and Education

Rudolf was born at Schloss Laxenburg, a beautiful castle near Vienna. He was named after Rudolf I, who was the first Habsburg King of Germany. King Rudolf I ruled from 1273 to 1291.

Rudolf grew up with his older sister, Gisela. They were very close friends. When Rudolf was six years old, he began his special education. This training was to prepare him to become the future Emperor of Austria. Even though they were separated for his studies, Rudolf and Gisela remained close. Their bond lasted until Gisela moved away after marrying Prince Leopold of Bavaria.

Rudolf had a tutor named Ferdinand von Hochstetter. This tutor helped Rudolf become very interested in natural sciences. From a young age, Rudolf started collecting minerals. After his death, many of his minerals were given to the University of Agriculture in Vienna. Today, this university is known as the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.

Rudolf had different ideas than his father, Emperor Franz Joseph I. Rudolf believed in liberal ideas, which were more like his mother's views. However, his relationship with his mother was sometimes difficult.

Marriage and Family

On May 10, 1881, Rudolf married Princess Stéphanie of Belgium in Vienna. Stéphanie was the daughter of King Leopold II of Belgium. Their wedding took place at the Augustinian Church.

At first, their marriage was happy. But by the time their only child was born, things had changed. Their daughter, Archduchess Elisabeth, was born on September 2, 1883. After her birth, Rudolf and Stéphanie grew apart.

In 1886, Rudolf became very ill. He and Stéphanie traveled to the island of Lacroma (now in Croatia) for his treatment. During their journey, Stéphanie also became very ill. The Emperor ordered that their illness be kept a secret. By 1889, people at the royal court knew that Stéphanie could not have more children. They also knew that Rudolf's health was getting worse.

Impact of Rudolf's Death

Rudolf's death caused his mother, Empress Elisabeth, great sadness. She wore black or grey clothes for the rest of her life. She also spent more and more time away from the royal court in Vienna. In 1898, while Elisabeth was in Geneva, Switzerland, she was murdered by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni.

Rudolf's death meant that Emperor Franz Joseph I no longer had a direct male heir. His younger brother, Archduke Karl Ludwig, was next in line. However, Karl Ludwig died in 1896. This made Karl Ludwig's oldest son, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the new heir.

In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. This event helped start World War I. When Emperor Franz Joseph I died in 1916, his grandnephew, Charles I of Austria, became the new Emperor.

In 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Empire ended. This happened partly because of demands from American President Woodrow Wilson. Emperor Charles I and his family went to live in Switzerland.

Titles and Honours

Titles and Styles

• August 21, 1858 – January 30, 1889: His Imperial and Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia

Honours

From Austria-Hungary

• Knight of the Golden Fleece, 1858
• Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, 1877

From Other Countries

Images for kids

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  Wedding medal from 1881.

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  The back of the wedding medal, showing Hymen, the god of marriage.

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  A portrait of Rudolf by Eugen Felix.

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  The coat of arms of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, showing the Order of the Garter.

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  Crown Prince Rudolf during his early adulthood, around 1879.

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  Official engagement photo of Crown Prince Rudolf and Princess Stéphanie of Belgium, 1881.

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  Painting "Allegory on the betrothal of Crown Prince Rudolf and Stephanie of Belgium" by Sophia and Marie Görlich, dated 1881.

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  Mayerling Lodge as it appeared before Crown Prince Rudolf's death there in 1889.

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  Crown Prince Rudolf's letter of farewell to his wife.

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  Crown Prince Rudolf placed in a bed for private viewing by his family at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

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  Crown Prince Rudolf's coffin lies to the right of his parents' coffins in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.

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  Statue in memory of Crown Prince Rudolf in the City Park of Budapest.

See also

In Spanish: Rodolfo de Habsburgo (príncipe heredero de Austria) para niños

• Lake Rudolf
• Alma V. Hayne
• Rudolf Island
• List of heirs to the Austrian throne