Archduchy of Austria.

About Archduchy of Austria

The Archduchy of Austria was a major principality and later transformed into one of the most important states of the Holy Roman Empire and the nucleus of the Habsburg monarchy. Throughout the Renaissance and early modern era, rulers of the Archduchy of Austria ruled as the Holy Roman Emperors and also ruled as the sole rulers of various states like Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia and many others. It was the center of the Holy Roman Empire and of central Europe and its capital Vienna acted as the de facto capital of the empire and the seat of Holy Roman Emperors. With its capital at Vienna, the archduchy was centered at the Empire's southeastern periphery. From Frederick III to Charles I, the last ruler of the state until 1918, the state was ruled by the Habsburg Dynasty.