Francis IV, Duke of Modena

Francis IV Joseph Charles Ambrose Stanislaus (Italian: Francesco IV Giuseppe Carlo Ambrogio Stanislao d'Asburgo-Este; 6 October 1779 – 21 January 1846) was Duke of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola (from 1815), Duke of Massa and Prince of Carrara (from 1829), Archduke of Austria-Este, Royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Francis was born in Milan. His father was Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este, Duke of Breisgau, his mother Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este, Duchess of Massa and Princess of Carrara, Lady of Lunigiana.

He was a grandson of Maria Theresa of Austria, head of the House of Habsburg, and was heir to the Modena branch of the House of Este through his mother. He thus became the first member of the House of Habsburg-Este to rule the Este inheritance in Northern Italy.

Francis is distinguished for his stern and tyrannic rule by which he repressed all the democratic movements appearing during his reign, particularly following a major revolt in 1830. The harshness of the Ducal policies are illustrated by the hanging of Ciro Menotti for an attempted insurrection against the Duke (1831).

Family

In 1812 Francis married his niece the Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy, who was the daughter of his sister Archduchess Maria Teresa of Austria-Este and King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. The couple had four children:

• Maria Theresa (1817–1886), married Henri, comte de Chambord.
• Francis V, Duke of Modena (1819–1875), married Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria.
• Ferdinand Karl (1821–1849), married Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria. Father of Maria Theresia, Archduchess of Austria-Este.
• Maria Beatrix (1824–1906), married Juan, Count of Montizón.

Styles

• 6 October 1779 – 24 December 1806 His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Francis of Austria-Este
• 24 December 1806 – 14 July 1814 His Imperial and Royal Highness The Archduke of Austria-Este
• 14 July 1814 – 21 January 1846 His Imperial and Royal Highness The Duke of Modena, Archduke of Austria-Este
  • Jacobite, 10 January 1824 – 15 September 1840 His Royal Highness The Prince Consort of England and Ireland
  • Jacobite, 15 September 1840 – 21 January 1846 His Royal Highness Prince Francis of England and Ireland
  • Jacobite in Scotland, 10 January 1824 – 15 September 1840 His Majesty The King of Scots
  • Jacobite in Scotland, 15 September 1840 – 21 January 1846 His Majesty King Francis of Scots

Austria-Hungary

• Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary
• The Knight of the Order of the Iron Crown, 1st Class

Foreign

• Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia)
• Knight of the Order of Saint Hubert (Bavaria)
• Supreme Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (Italy)
• Knight of the Order of St. Andrew
• Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (Russia)
• Knight of the Order of St. Anna, 1st Class (Russia)
• Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Joseph (Tuscany)