Franz, Duke of Hohenberg

Franz Ferdinand, Duke of Hohenberg (born 13 September 1927 at Artstetten Castle, Austria – died 16 August 1977 at Ried in der Riedmark, Austria), was the eldest son of Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg and Countess Maria of Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee. He was also a grandson of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his morganatic wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. As a result of that morganatic marriage, the Hohenbergs were excluded from the line of succession to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

Following the collapse of the monarchy, all Austrian titles were abolished by law in 1919. From then on, names officially consisted only of forename and surname, without von or titles, scilicet Franz Ferdinand Hohenberg.

Family

He was born His Serene Highness Prince Franz Ferdinand of Hohenberg, but in 1962 on the death of his father, he became the 2nd Duke of Hohenberg and Head of the House of Hohenberg.

On 9 May 1956 in Luxembourg, Prince Franz married HRH Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, a daughter of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. They had two daughters, seven grandchildren and three great-grandsons:

• Princess Anna (Anita) Charlotte Maximiliana Euphemia Maria Helena von Hohenberg (born 18 August 1958, Berg Castle), she married Romee de La Poeze, Count d'Harambure on 22 July 1978 and divorce in 1998 and they have four children and two grandsons. Then married Count Andreas von Bardeau on 9 July 2005.
  • Gaetan de La Poeze, Count d'Harambure (born 25 July 1980)
  • Alix de La Poeze, Countess d'Harambure (born 8 September 1981) married Francois-Xavier Fraye in 2010. They have two children:
    • Armel Fraye (2011)
    • Benedikt Fraye (2013)
  • Gabriel de La Poeze, Count d'Harambure (born 3 Oct 1987)
  • Raoul de La Poeze, Count d'Harambure (born 14 June 1989)
• Princess Sophie Felicitas Elisabetha Bona Maria Antonia von Hohenberg (born 10 May 1960) married Jean-Louis de Potesta on 18 June 1983. They have three children and one grandson:
  • Eleonore de Potesta (born 24 April 1984) she married Diego Fernández de Córdova y Cerveró on 16 June 2012. They have one son:
    • Rafael Fernández de Córdova y de Potesta (born 9 August 2013)
  • Baron Charles de Potesta (born 25 October 1985)
  • Elizabeth de Potesta (born 29 April 1988)

Since he had no sons, he was succeeded by his younger brother Georg as Duke of Hohenberg and head of the House of Hohenberg.

Ancestry