Archduke Felix of Austria

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Archduke Felix of Austria

Born May 31, 1916 (1916-05-31) (age 92)
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
Other names Felix Freidrich August Maria vom Siege Franz Joseph Peter Karl Anton Robert Otto Pius Michael Benedikt Sebastion Ignatius Marcus d'Aviano von Habsburg-Lothringen
Title Prince Imperial and Archduke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia
Parents Charles I of Austria and Zita of Bourbon-Parma

Archduke Felix of Austria known as Felix Habsburg (born 31 May 1916 in the Schönbrunn Palace)[1] is the third son of Emperor Charles I of Austria and Zita of Bourbon-Parma. He is a younger brother of Crown Prince Otto of Austria the current head of the House of Habsburg.

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[edit] Early life and exile

Archduke Felix was less than three years old when Austria-Hungary collapsed following its defeat in the First World War. As a result, republics were declared in the now-separate countries Austria and Hungary which led to exile of the Imperial Family. During his time in exile he has lived in Portugal, Belgium, Mexico and the United States.[2]

During the Second World War while in the United States, Felix and his brother Karl Ludwig volunteered to serve in the 101st US Infantry Battalion known as the "Free Austria Battalion". However the battalion was disbanded when a number of exiled Jewish volunteers who made up the majority of force ultimately declined to confirm their enlistment.[3]

[edit] Return to Austria

Felix, unlike his brother Otto, has always refused to renounce his rights to the Austrian throne and membership of the Habsburg family, saying that doing so would violate his human rights. As a result he was banned from entering Austria except for a brief three-day stay in 1989 in order to attend his mother's funeral.[2] On March 10, 1996, after Austria had joined the European Union and the concurrent dropping of staffed border checkpoints between Austria and other EU countries, he crossed into the country from Germany and held a press conference the next day to announce his illegal arrival.[4] After his presence became known, he was warned by the Austrian government that he would face prosecution if he ever tried to sneak in again.[5] Ultimately, a deal was reached between Felix, his brother Karl Ludwig and the Austrian government whereby they declared their allegiance to the republic without any reference being made to their rights to the throne or to their membership in the Imperial Family.[4]

In June 1998, in a joint action with his brother Karl Ludwig, Felix attempted to have the properties which were given to their ancestor Maria Theresa of Austria by her husband Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor restored to them after the properties had been taken from the Habsburg family by Adolf Hitler during the Anschluss.[6]

Felix has built up a number of successful businesses in Mexico and Brussels[4] and has worked as a marketing consultant.[7]

[edit] Family

Felix was married civilly on 18 November 1952 at Beaulieu, France, and religiously a day later, to Princess Anna-Eugénie of Arenberg (1925-1997).[1] They had seven children.

  • Archduchess Maria del Pilar (b. 1953) m. Vollrad-Joachim Edler von Poschinger (b. 1952)
  • Archduke Carl Philipp (b. 1954) m. first (div 1997) Martina Donath, m. second Annie-Claire Christine Lacrambe (b. 1959)
  • Archduchess Kinga (b. 1955) m. Baron Wolfgang von Erffa (b. 1948)
  • Archduke Raimund (1958-2008) m. Bettine Götz (b. 1969)
  • Archduchess Myriam (b. 1959) m. Jaime Acheson (b. 1955)
  • Archduke István (b. 1961) m. Paola de Temesváry (b. 1971)
  • Archduchess Viridis (b. 1962) m. Karl Dunning-Gribble (b. 1961)

[edit] Honours

[edit] Ancestry

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Lundy, Darryl. Felix Ferdinand Erzherzog von Österreich. The Peerage. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  2. ^ a b Bridge, Adrian. "Habsburg seeks right to return", The Independent, 1996-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 
  3. ^ Brook-Shepherd, Gordon (2003). Uncrowned Emperor. Hambledon Continuum, 156. ISBN 1852854391. 
  4. ^ a b c Gedye, Robin. "Austria to end law barring Habsburgs from family home", Daily Telegraph, 1996-04-15. Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 
  5. ^ "Habsburg row shakes Austria", The Independent, 1996-03-14. Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 
  6. ^ Gimson, Andrew. "Habsburgs seek property 'taken by Nazis'", Daily Telegraph, 1998-06-01. Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 
  7. ^ James, Barry. "Son of Last Kaiser Meets Vienna Press : A Habsburg Defies Exile From Austria", International Herald Tribune, 1996-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 


Archduke Felix of Austria
Born: 31 May 1916
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Archduke Emmanuel of Austria-Este		 Line of succession to the Austro-Hungarian throne
11th position		 Succeeded by
Archduke Carl Philipp of Austria