Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karl Ferdinand (Vienna, July 29, 1818 - Zidlochovice, November 20, 1874) was the second son of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen (1771-1847) and Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg, and the maternal grandfather of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
A son of the "hero of Aspern" he started a military career in Infantry Regiment 57 in Brno. Later he received command of a brigade in Italy and fought against the insurgents in Prague in 1848.
In 1859 he was a general in Moravia and Silesia and returned to Brno in 1860.
[edit] Marriage and children
In 1854 Karl Ferdinand married the widow of Ferdinand d'Este (1821–1849), Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria (1831–1903), daughter of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary.
They had 6 children :
- Archduke Franz Joseph of Austria (1855-1855)
- Archduke Friedrich of Austria, Duke of Teschen (1856-1936), Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I.
- Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria (1858-1929), married King Alfonso XII of Spain
- Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria (1860-1933), Admiral
- Archduke Eugen of Austria (1863-1954), Fieldmarshal
- Archduchess Maria Eleonora of Austria (1864-1864)
