One of the main dynasties of Europe, the Hapsburgs (or Habsburgs) ruled Austria from 1282 until 1918. They also controlled Hungary and Bohemia (1526–1918) and ruled Spain for almost two centuries (1504–1700). The name Hapsburg comes from the Castle of Hapsburg, or the Hawk's Castle, which was built in the 11th century in what is now Switzerland.

Rise of power

In 1273 a Hapsburg named Rudolf was elected king of Germany as Rudolf I. Three years later he conquered Austria, after which Austria became the center of the Hapsburg lands. At that time these areas were under the Holy Roman Empire whose leader was usually the German king. Rudolf I was never crowned Holy Roman emperor, but his descendants continued to control Austria and the surrounding lands for many years.

Finally, in 1452, a descendant of Rudolf was elected Holy Roman emperor and given the title Frederick III. Thereafter, with a single brief exception, the emperor was always a Hapsburg until the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806.

Height of power

The House of Hapsburg had won much of its power in Germany and in central Europe through marriages to heiresses, or women who were going to inherit land from their family. This policy was taken to the extreme by Frederick III's son, Maximilian. He married the heiress of Burgundy in 1477. With this marriage the areas of Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Burgundy came under his control. His son Philip also brought in the territories of Spain, Naples-Sicily, and Sardinia by his marriage.

After the death of Maximilian, his grandson Charles succeeded him to the throne in 1519 as Charles V. The Hapsburg power reached its greatest height under this ruler.

Charles V divided his domain between his brother Ferdinand I and his son, Philip II, creating two Hapsburg houses. Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary were given to Ferdinand. Charles V kept The Netherlands, Spain and its colonies, and the Italian possessions. Towards the end of his life, Charles V gave more parts of his Spanish, French, and Italian possessions to his son Philip II.

After the death of Charles V in 1588, Ferdinand succeeded him as emperor. Ferdinand's male descendants continued as the Holy Roman emperors until 1740.

Philip II of Spain remained the greatest monarch in the Western world until his death in 1598. The rulers following Philip II were known as the kings of Spain. They ruled until 1700.

Decline of power

The chief problem the Hapsburgs faced was trying to rule many different nationalities in a single state. As the 19th century advanced, the Hungarians, Italians, and other ethnic groups demanded the right to have their own independent nations. Their demands became stronger during the reign of Francis Joseph, the Hapsburg emperor from 1848 to 1916. The empire lost many of its lands through various wars during this period. Eventually Francis Joseph divided his empire into the Dual Monarchy, in which Austria and Hungary existed as equal partners. The assassination of Francis Ferdinand, the heir of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, in 1914, led to the outbreak of World War I.

End of the dynasty

Charles I became the last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1916. The war heightened people's desire to be independent from the empire, and by the end of the war the empire had broken apart. On November 11, 1918, after the defeat of his armies in the war, Charles gave up all participation in the affairs of state.