Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen

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For other persons named Albert of Austria, see Albert of Austria (disambiguation).

Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf, Prince Imperial and Archduke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Duke of Teschen (born August 3, 1817 in Vienna; died February 2, 1895, Arco (Italy) was an Austrian Habsburg general.

He was the eldest son of Archduke Charles of Austria and Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg (1797-1829). He became the commanding general of Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Salzburg in 1845 and fought in the Revolution of 1848. From 1851 to 1860, he was the governor of Hungary. In 1866, he defeated the Italians at the battle of Custozza. He became a general field marshal in 1888.

An equestrian statute of him stands near the entrance to the Albertina museum in Vienna.

The statue outside the Albertina

On 1 May 1844 in Munich he married Princess Hildegard of Bavaria (1825-1864), a daughter of King Ludwig I and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1792-1854).

His title and large fortune were eventually inherited by his nephew Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen.

He is buried in tomb 128 of the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.

[edit] Family and children

Archduke Albert's family tree.

Children:

Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria (1845-1927)
Archduke Karl of Austria (1847-1848), buried in tomb 131 of the Imperial Crypt.
Archduchess Mathilde of Austria (1849-1867), buried in tomb 130 of the Imperial Crypt.

His only son died when still a baby, and his youngest daughter died in her teens when she hid a cigarette in her dress during a family party. Her clothes caught fire and she died of burns in front of her whole family.