Ferdinand I & V | |||||
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![]() Portrait by Eduard Edlinger (1843) | |||||
Emperor of Austria King of Hungary | |||||
Reign | 2 March 1835 – 2 December 1848 | ||||
Coronations | 28 September 1830, Pressburg 7 September 1836, Prague 6 September 1838, Milan | ||||
Predecessor | Francis I | ||||
Successor | Franz Joseph I | ||||
Head of the Präsidialmacht Austria | |||||
In office 2 March 1835 – 12 July 1848 | |||||
Preceded by | Francis I | ||||
Succeeded by | Franz Joseph I | ||||
Born | Vienna, Archduchy of Austria,[1] Holy Roman Empire | 19 April 1793||||
Died | 29 June 1875 Prague, Austria-Hungary[1] | (aged 82)||||
Burial | |||||
Spouse | |||||
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House | Habsburg-Lorraine | ||||
Father | Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor | ||||
Mother | Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Signature |
Ferdinand I (German: Ferdinand I. 19 April 1793 – 29 June 1875) was Emperor of Austria from March 1835 until his abdication in December 1848. He was also King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia (as Ferdinand V), King of Lombardy–Venetia and holder of many other lesser titles (see grand title of the Emperor of Austria). Due to his passive but well-intentioned character, he gained the sobriquet The Benign (German: Der Gütige) or The Benevolent (Czech: Ferdinand Dobrotivý, Polish: Ferdynand Dobrotliwy).[2]
Ferdinand succeeded his father Francis I upon his death on 2 March 1835. He was incapable of ruling the empire because of severe epilepsy, so his father, before he died, made a will promulgating that Ferdinand should consult his uncle Archduke Louis on all aspects of internal policy and urged him to be influenced by Prince Metternich, Austria's Foreign Minister.[3]
Following the Revolutions of 1848, Ferdinand abdicated on 2 December 1848. He was succeeded by his nephew, Franz Joseph. Following his abdication, he lived in Hradčany Palace, Prague, until his death in 1875.[4]
Ferdinand married Maria Anna of Savoy, the sixth child of Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. They had no children.