archdukes
- Scope note
- Refers to male heads of the house of Habsburg. The title of archduke Palatine (in German, "Pfalz-Erzherzog") was first assumed by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, with the goal of gaining for the dukes of Austria an equal status with the electors of the Holy Roman Empire. The term was also used to refer to the Bourbon kings and queens of Spain, even though they were not descended in the male line from their Habsburg predecessors. The term may also be used to refer to rulers of other Continental European states, including Lorraine, Brabant, and Austrasia. For the wives and daughters of archdukes, use "archduchesses."
- Date of creation: 06-Jan-2025
Accepted term: 06-Jan-2025