Kaiser Franz Josef

Franz Josef came to the throne of Austria-Hunary in 1848. He was 84 years old and in the 66th year of his reign in 1914, start of World War One. He was the world's oldest and longest serving monarchs in 1914, and known throughout Europe as " the venerable old gentleman ". He'had little connection with the day to day running of the government and of Austria's activities in the war. The Empire's' diplomatic and military' activities during the war were in the hands of the Army Chief of Staff Count Franz Conrad von H'tzendorf and the State Chancellor Berchthold. Franz Josef died during the war, on November 21, 1916, and was succeeded by his great nephew the Archduke Karl, son of Franz Josef's deceased younger brother Karl Ludwig. Thereafter in the last years of the war von H'tzendorf and Berchthold were removed from power by Kaiser Karl.

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