Archduke

Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: Erzherzog, feminine form: Erzherzogin) was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within the former Holy Roman Empire (962–1806), which was below that of Emperor, and roughly equal to King, Prince-Archbishop, Grand prince and Grand Duke, but above that of a Sovereign Prince and Duke. The territory ruled by an archduke or archduchess was called an archduchy. All remaining archduchies ceased to exist in 1918. The current head of the House of Habsburg is Karl von Habsburg. Terminology The English word is first recorded in 1530, derived from Middle French , a 15th-century derivation from Medieval Latin , from Latin - (Greek ) meaning "authority" or "primary" (see arch-) and "duke" (literally "leader"). "Archduke" is a title distinct from "Grand Duke", a later monarchic title borne by the rulers of other European countries (for instance, Luxembourg).