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Burials at the Imperial Crypt

  • Francis II, Holy Roman EmperorOn August 6, 1806, Francis II ended the Holy Roman Empire with a single signed declaration. He was its last emperor.
  • Marie Louise, Duchess of ParmaMarie Louise called Napoleon "the Anti-Christ" as a girl, then married him.
  • Maximilian I of MexicoFacing a firing squad in 1867, Emperor Maximilian of Mexico handed each executioner a gold coin.
  • Joseph II, Holy Roman EmperorEmperor Joseph II issued over 6,000 edicts and 11,000 new laws, yet many subjects came to loathe him.
  • Leopold II, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold II abolished the death penalty in Tuscany in 1786. Historians call it the first permanent abolition.
  • Maria TheresaMaria Theresa won over a hostile Hungarian Diet in 1741 while holding her infant son. Delegates vowed to die for her.
  • Ferdinand Karl, Archduke of Austria-EsteFerdinand Karl founded a noble house even though he never held the duchy he was promised.
  • Franz Joseph IOn the evening of the 21st of November 1916, inside Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Emperor Franz Joseph I gave his valet a final instruction. "Tomorrow morning, at half past three." Those were his last words. He was 86 years old. Franz…
  • Empress Elisabeth of AustriaEmpress Elisabeth of Austria, nicknamed Sisi, left the Hôtel Beau-Rivage on the shore of Lake Geneva at 1:35 in the afternoon on Saturday the 10th of September 1898. She was 60 years old and travelling under a false name. Only one…
  • Otto von HabsburgOtto von Habsburg, born to be emperor, spent nearly half a century in exile from Austria.
  • Archduke Charles, Duke of TeschenArchduke Charles of Austria beat Napoleon in 1809 at Aspern-Essling. It was Napoleon's first big pitched-battle loss.

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