Archduke Rudolf of Austria (1919–2010)

Archduke Rudolf of Austria (5 September 1919 – 15 May 2010) was the sixth child and youngest son of Emperor Charles I of Austria and Zita of Bourbon-Parma.

Archduke Rudolf
Rudolf in 2008
BornRudolf Syringus Peter Karl Franz Joseph Robert Otto Antonius Maria Pius Benedikt Ignatius Laurentius Justiniani Marcus d'Aviano
(1919-09-05)5 September 1919
Prangins, Switzerland
Died15 May 2010(2010-05-15) (aged 90)
Brussels, Belgium
Burial
Muri Abbey, Switzerland
Spouse
Countess Xenia Czernichev-Besobrasov
​
​
(m. 1953; died 1968)​
    Princess Anna Gabriele of Wrede
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1971)​
    IssueArchduchess Maria Anna
    Archduke Karl Peter
    Archduke Simeon
    Archduke Johannes Karl
    Archduchess Catharina-Maria
    HouseHabsburg-Lorraine
    FatherCharles I of Austria
    MotherPrincess Zita of Bourbon-Parma

    Early life

    He was born in Prangins, Switzerland, where the former Austrian Imperial family were staying after they had been sent into exile. He was named after Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria.[1]

    Educated with his siblings first in Spain, in Belgium and at the Université Laval in Quebec City,[2] but Rudolf was expelled in 1946 once his membership in the formerly imperial House of Habsburg was exposed due to rumors of him and his brother being part of Austrian resistance.[3] After the war he travelled to the United States, Canada and the Belgian Congo.[3]

    Rudolf worked as a Wall Street junior executive[4] and a bank director.[3][5]

    First marriage

    Rudolf was married by Archbishop Fulton Sheen to Countess Xenia Czernichev-Besobrasov the daughter of Count Sergei Aleksandrovich Czernyshev-Besobrasov and Countess Elizabeta Dmitrievna Sheremeteva, on 22 June 1953 at Tuxedo Park, New York.[5] They had four children. Xenia was killed in a car crash on 20 September 1968, in which Rudolf was also seriously injured.[6]

    • Archduchess Maria Anna Charlotte Zita Elisabeth Regina Therese of Austria (b. 1954) married Prince Peter Galitzine (b. 1955);[5] on 24 November 1981. They have six children.
    • Archduke Karl Peter Otto Serge Joseph Paul Leopold Heinrich of Austria (5 November 1955) married Princess Alexandra Elisabeth von Wrede (12 May 1970), niece of his stepmother Princess Anna Gabriele. They have two children.
    • Archduke Simeon Carl Eugen Joseph Leopold of Austria (29 June 1958) married Princess María of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (b. 1967) on 13 July 1996. They have five children.[7][8]
    • Archduke Johannes Karl Ludwig Clemens Maria Joseph Markus d'Aviano Leopold of Austria (11 December 1962 – 29 June 1975)

    Second marriage

    Rudolf was married secondly to Princess Anna Gabriele von Wrede (11 September 1940), daughter of Prince Carl Josef Maria von Wrede (1899-1945) and his wife, Countess Sophie Schaffgotsch-Semperfrei von und zu Kynast und Greiffenstein (1916-2008) on 15 October 1971 in Ellingen, Bavaria.[3] They have one daughter:[3]

    • Archduchess Catharina-Maria Johanna Zita Sophie Caspara (14 September 1972) married Count Massimiliano Secco d'Aragona (b. 1967);[3] on 9 December 1998. They have three sons.

    Death

    Rudolph died on 15 May 2010. He was survived by two older brothers; Otto and Felix.

    Ancestry

    References
    1. Brook-Shepherd, Gordon (2003). Uncrowned Emperor. Hambledon Continuum. p. 54. ISBN 1-85285-439-1.
    2. Bernier Arcand, Philippe, « Les Bourbon-Parme dans les institutions d’enseignement du Québec », Histoire Québec, 202, p. 24-28 (lire en ligne [archive])
    3. de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. Le Petit Gotha. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, p. 172-174, 196-198 (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
    4. "Milestones". Time. 6 July 1953. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
    5. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XV. "Haus Österreich". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2001, pp. 87, 97. (German) ISBN 3-7980-0814-0.
    6. "Archduchess Xenia of Habsburg killed". New York Times. 27 September 1968.
    7. de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. Le Petit Gotha. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002 (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
    8. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XV. "Spanien". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1997, pp. 104-105. (German) ISBN 3-7980-0814-0.
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