Historical nobility and rulers

Who does not know the great legend of Sisi, as the former Empress of Austria is still often called. The Viennese have dedicated a whole museum to her and every year more than a million tourists flock to the Hofburg to be fascinated and often saddened by their life story.

But Elisabeth was not the only important ruler of Austria. Her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I stands like no other for the rise and fall of the empire, but could build on the inheritance of Maria Theresa. The history of the Habsburg monarchy and its significance for Austria and the city of Vienna could fill entire libraries.

In addition to the emperor and his family, however, many other noble families and rulers resided in Vienna and through the crown lands of Austria there were not only German-speaking, but also Hungarian, Bohemian and Slovenian nobility. This movement also works the other way around. Because the Austrian nobility not only stayed there, but was sometimes married throughout Europe. Maximilian I even tried his luck in Mexico. In vain, though.