Dukes and Emperors of Austria
Austria was elevated from a march to a duchy within the Holy Roman Empire in 1156 under Henry II. The Habsburg family acquired hereditary control in 1278, eventually adopting the title of archduke. As Austria became the empire's power center, the archduke frequently held the title of Holy Roman Emperor as well. In 1804, Francis I established the Austrian Empire, dissolving the Holy Roman Empire two years later. The 1867 merger of the Austrian and Hungarian crowns created the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which lasted until Austria became a republic following World War I.
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