Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria

Who was Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria?

Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria was the second son of the Habsburg ruler Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Charles Joseph was the favourite son of Maria Theresa and Francis. He is known to have hated his older brother, the future Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II. He ridiculed him for his haughtiness and thought himself to be more deserving of the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire because he was the first son born to Francis during his reign as emperor. Charles Joseph often said that he meant to contend with his brother for the imperial crown.

The rivalry between the brothers was ended by Charles Joseph's death from smallpox, two weeks before his sixteenth birthday. While his mother was sitting by his bed in tears, Charles Joseph told her:

You should not weep for me, dear mother, for had I lived, I would have brought you many more tears!