Albrecht Franz, Archduke of Austria

Archduke Albrecht Franz was born in Vienna , the capital of Austria-Hungary. The only son of Archduke Frederick of Austria, Duke of Teschinsky (1856-1936) and Princess Isabella von Croix (1856-1931). Grandson of Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria (1818–1874) and Archduke Elizabeth Francis of Austria (1831–1903). Isabella von Croix was the second daughter of Duke Rudolph von Croix (1823-1902) and Princess Natalie de Lin (1835-1863).

Studied in Bratislava . During World War I, he underwent accelerated military training. In 1916, with the rank of lieutenant, he was called up for active military service. He took part in many battles, including on the Italian front.

After the end of the First World War and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, the Duchy of Tesins in Silesia was divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia . Archduke Albrecht Franz, together with his parents and sisters, settled in Hungary. In 1922 he graduated from the University of Economics. Archduke Frederick of Austria, father of Albrecht, sought to put his son on the Hungarian throne.

Archduke Albrecht Franz of Austria enjoyed considerable support from royalists and conservatives . In 1930, after his first marriage to Irene Lelbach, he renounced his rights to the Hungarian crown. In 1936, after the death of his father, Albrecht Franz became the nominal Duke of Tesinsky .

Archduke Albrecht Franz of Austria was officially recognized as Prince of Hungary by Admiral Miklos Horthy . He supported, including financially, a party of crossed arrows , and was also a secret officer in the General Directorate of Imperial Security . The Archduke was responsible for assisting in the escape to those responsible for the massacres of Serbs and Jews in Novi Sad . After the war, Albrecht Franz was found guilty of war crimes by the communist authorities of Hungary. He was hiding in South and Central America (in particular, in Argentina , the Dominican Republic and Paraguay ) under the name of Count Sirin.

Albrecht Franz was married three times to morganatic marriages . On August 16, 1930, he married his first marriage in Brighton ( Great Britain ) to Irene Dore Lelbach (December 22, 1897 - December 1, 1985), the daughter of Johann Lelbach and Ilma Skultet. The couple had no children and divorced on June 1, 1937 .

On May 7, 1938, in Budapest, he remarried to Julian Catalina Bochkai de Felse-Banya (November 1, 1909 - October 1, 2000), the daughter of Bela Bochkai de Felse-Banya. The couple had two daughters. The marriage was unsuccessful, in 1940 the young wife even tried to shoot her husband. The couple divorced in 1951 . The daughters of the morganatic marriage could not inherit the paternal title. Otto von Habsburg , head of the Habsburg-Lorraine House, granted the daughters of Albrecht Franz the unofficial title of Countess von Habsburg.

• Charlotte Isabella Cristina Maria Esther Catalina Pia, Countess von Habsburg (born March 3, 1940, Budapest ), married since 1967 to Ferdinand Joseph Wutlocholen (born February 9, 1927). Four children
• Ildiko Catalina Isabella Henrietta Alice Maria, Countess von Habsburg (born February 19, 1942, Budapest ), 1st husband since 1963 by Joseph J. Callege (born October 31, 1939), divorced since 1978 . The 2nd husband since 1982 is Terry D. Fortier (February 11, 1939 - January 12, 2003). From the first marriage - four children, from the second marriage - one son.

On March 8, 1951 in Buenos Aires, he married his long-time mistress Georgina Lydia Strauss-Dorner (October 22, 1930 - February 12, 1998), daughter of Bela Dorner, with a third marriage. The couple had a son:

• Count Stefan Rudolph von Habsburg (April 14, 1951, Asuncion , Paraguay - July 4, 1992, Buenos Aires , Argentina ). September 16, 1975 married Natalia Maria Radziwill (born July 13, 1945, Rio de Janeiro ). The couple had two sons:
  • Max Alex Franz Stefan Joseph Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen (born September 18, 1974)
  • Anton Karl Ludwig von Habsburg-Lorringen (born August 28, 1976).

Archbishop Albrecht of Habsburg, 57, the last titular duke of Teschinsky , died July 23, 1955 in Buenos Aires during an unsuccessful ulcer removal operation. His remains were cremated and buried in the parish church of Halburn in the state of Burgenland ( Austria ).

• Heiszler, Vilmos. Photo Habsburg: Frederick Habsburg and his Family. Budapest: Corvina, 1989.
• Palmer, Alan. Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph. Atlantic Monthly Press; 1st Pbk. Ed edition.

• Ostatni książę cieszyński mieszkał w Ameryce Południowej (link not available)