Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria (Vienna, 29 July 1818 – Gross Seelowitz (Židlochovice Castle), 20 November 1874) was the second son of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen (1771–1847) and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg, and the maternal grandfather of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.

A son of the "hero of Aspern", he started his 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. He became a lieutenant field marshal of the Austrian Army. He was also awarded as a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Marriage and children

Karl Ferdinand and his wife Elisabeth Franziska, 1860s

In Vienna, on 18 April 1854, Karl Ferdinand married his first cousin, Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria (1831–1903), the widow of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este, the daughter of Archduke Joseph of Austria, Palatine of Hungary and the mother of Queen Maria Theresia of Bavaria.

They had six children:

  1. Archduke Franz Joseph of Austria (1855)
  2. Archduke Friedrich of Austria, Duke of Teschen (1856–1936), Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I.
  3. Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria (1858–1929), married King Alfonso XII of Spain
  4. Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria (1860–1933), Admiral
  5. Archduke Eugen of Austria (1863–1954), Fieldmarshal and Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
  6. Archduchess Maria Eleonora of Austria (1864)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria
8. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor4. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor9. Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary2. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen10. Charles III of Spain5. Infanta Maria Louisa of Spain11. Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony1. Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria12. Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg6. Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg13. Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau3. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg14. Wilhelm Georg, Burgrave of Kirchberg7. Burgravine Louise Isabella of Kirchberg15. Princess Isabelle Auguste Reuss of Greiz
8. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
4. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
9. Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary
2. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
10. Charles III of Spain
5. Infanta Maria Louisa of Spain
11. Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony
1. Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria
12. Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg
6. Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg
13. Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau
3. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg
14. Wilhelm Georg, Burgrave of Kirchberg
7. Burgravine Louise Isabella of Kirchberg
15. Princess Isabelle Auguste Reuss of Greiz