| See also: |
See also :
The Oxford English Dictionary defines style as:
A legal, official, or honorific title; the proper name or recognized appellation of a person, family, trading firm, etc.; the ceremonial designation of a sovereign, including his various titles and the enumeration of his dominions.
A royal style, as used by a sovereign at the beginning og official documents, usually consists of the following:
One should be careful to distinguish:
As a French diplomat, the baron de Breteuil, wrote in 1762: "Titles are nothing in of themselves, they are real inasmuch as they are recognized, and their value depends on what notion is attached to them, and the extent given to them by those who have the right to accept, reject, or limit them. Sovereigns themselves cannot give themselves titles at will; the assent of their subjects does not suffice; that of the other Powers is necessary; and each Crown, free to acknowledge or reject a new title, can also adopt it with the changes and conditions it finds suitable." (see the original text).
This subject falls within a specialized field, diplomatics or the science of official documents. Diplomatics began in the 17th c. as a method for authenticating ancient charters and diplomas, but has come to embrace the study of all official documents, in their form as well as in the way they are produced (see a lecture by Robert-Henri Bautier). One of the many elements of an official document's formal aspect is the style used to describe people. The styles used by kings to describe themselves in their own acts, or to describe other kings to whom they wrote or with whom they signed treaties, were handled by their chanceries. There are some resources on diplomatics on the Web. The use of seals, often heraldic, is what connects diplomatics with sigillography (the science of seals) and heraldry.
While Western Europe was Catholic, the Pope was seen (although not always or by all) as a source of titles. Popes certainly created kingdoms freely: Sicily in 1139, Canaries in 1344, Ireland in 1554, etc. They also occasionally bestowed other titles (such as grand-duke in Tuscany). Finally, they also created supplementary titles for the use of certain sovereigns. Normally, N king of X was addressed as carissimus in Christo filius noster N, X Rex illuster. But additional titles came into use:
The Frankish kingdom was repeatedely divided in the following centuries, following Frankish custom. However, at some times it was united: the last surviving son of Clovis was Clotaire I (from 558 to 561), who used the title "rex Francorum". Guntram (d. 592) and his successor Childebert II (d. 595), who ruled in Burgundy, also called themselves "rex Francorum". Dagobert, who reunited the monarchy in 629, used the same title.
Effective power passed gradually to the mayors of the palace(major domi), among whom Pippin "of Heristal" effectively reunited the Frankish kingdom in 687 for the last time. The Carolingian dynasty reigned in all but name. The mayors of the palace used the style vir illuster. After the death of Charles Martel in 741, his sons Pippin and Karloman ruled as kings in all but name (Karloman retired for a religious life in 747). The titles used by each brother was "dux et princeps Francorum" (in 742 and 744). Pippin finally made himself king of the Franks in 751 at Soissons. This act was solemnly endorsed by pope Stephen III in 754, when he anointed Pippin and his sons Karl and Karloman. At Pippin's death in 768 his estates were divided between them, but reunited at Karloman's death in 771.
Karl (a.k.a. Charlemagne) used the following style:
Charlemagne united in himself the title of king of the Franks and king of the Lombards. In 843, the kingdom of the Franks was divided in three, a division completed in 888. The western kingdom of the Franks became France, the eastern kingdom became the kingdom of Germany. The German king also retained the title of king of the Lombards or king of Italy, and, from Otto I, assumed again the title of Emperor. The third kingdom (Lotharingia) stretched from Provence to the Netherlands and gradually fragmented into various pieces, some of which became Provence, Dauphiné, Franche-Comté, Lorraine (Lothringen), Brabant. Over the centuries, these fragments became part of the Empire or of France.
Over time, the Emperors failed to achieve the kind of centralization and consolidation of power that led to the emergence of nation-states elsewhere. As a result, by the 16th century, the most powerful vassals of the Emperor look and behave more like sovereigns than like vassals. The turning point was the peace of Westphalia in 1648, which formally gave to the main states of the Empire the right to form alliances and wage war, as long as such alliances and wars were not directed against the Emperor. Saxony, Bavaria, the Palatinate, Prussia and others were now virtually full-fledged members of the international community, and behaved in almost all respects as sovereigns.
The style of Royal Highness (königliche Hoheit) was rare within the Empire. The duke of Savoy assumed it in 1633 as claimant to the throne of Cyprus, and began to receive it from the Emperor in 1690. The duke of Lorraine also received it at the end of the 17th century, but the Electors and the Empire did not recognize it. The duke of Holstein-Gottorp received it from the Emperor. The style was never used by the Emperor directly when addressing them (he always used Euer Liebden when he signed), but rather in imperial decrees, by imperial officers, and (if they were willing) by members of the imperial estates. (See also the page on the style of Highness).
The Electors were the highest-ranking vassals of the Emperor. It was
under Ferdinand III (reigned 1637-57) that they gained the right to be
addressed as Durchläuchtig (usually translated as Most Serene
Highness). As of around 1710-1715, the Emperor used the following styles
when addressing some of his subjects (Jean Rousset de Missy:
Cérémonial
diplomatique des Cours de l'Europe, supplement to Jean Dumont's Corps
universel diplomatique du droit des gens, vol. 5, p. 763).
| King of Prussia | Durchläuchtigster Fürst, besonders lieber Freund, Oheim, Bruder und Nachbar | Euer Liebden |
| Archbishop of Mainz | Hochwürdiger lieber Neve und Chur-Fürst | Euer Liebden |
| Elector of Saxony
Elector Palatine Elector of Hannover (after 1714) |
Durchläuchtig-Hochgebohrner lieber Oheim und Chur-Fürst | Euer Liebden |
| Bishop of Münster | Ehrwürdiger Fürst und lieber Andächtiger | Dero Andacht |
| Princes
Dukes of Saxe-Gotha, Weimar, Meiningen Margrave of Brandenburg Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels Duke of Württemberg |
Hochgeborner lieber Oheim und Fürst | Dero Liebden |
| Counts | Hoch- und Wohlgebohrner lieber Getreuer | Du |
Note that the king of Prussia is the only one given the superlative Durchläuchtigster, a style also used for the kings of Denmark, Sweden, Poland; he is also called brother, as kings did call other kings. This is consistent with the terms of the treaty of 1700 by which the Emperor agreed to call him king.
Thus, in the early 18th century, electors were Durchlaucht, princes and high-ranking dukes were Hochgeboren (illustrissimus) Fürst, immediate counts were Hoch- und Wohlgeboren (illustris et magnificus). Barons could use the style Wohlgeboren in exchange of the payment of a tax. Edler was the style of the rest of the imperial nobility; it was used by patrician magistrates of imperial cities like Augsburg, Nurnberg, and Frankfurt.
Title inflation was rampant in the 18th century. The counts thought that their style was being used too easily, and sought and obtained from the Emperor Karl VI in 1715 a resolution restating that Hoch- und Wolhgeboren was their exclusive prerogative. With Emperor Karl VII in 1742, all electors obtained to be Durchläuchtigste. Meanwhile, dukes and princes had begun to appropriate the style of Durchlaucht, beginning with Eberhard III, duke of Württemberg, in 1664. The immediate counts seized on Erlaucht, formerly treated as equivalent to Durchlaucht, while the mediate counts called themselves Hochgeboren.
The Napoleonic era, the Congress of Vienna and the foundation of the Deutsches Bund brought about great changes. The Empire was abolished, and a certain number of German states attained complete sovereignty. Within these states, the highest-ranking sovereigns with titles of king were styled Majesty, grand-dukes were styled Royal Highness and other sovereigns were styled Serene Highness (Durchlaucht) (see the page on the style of "Highness" for more details).
A number of princes and counts who had previously been immediate vassals of the emperor were mediatized, that is, placed under the sovereignty of others. Mediatized princes were given the style of Durchlaucht by the Bund on 13 Aug 1825, and mediatized counts were given the style of Erlaucht. In practice, states varied in the styles they actually conferred on the mediatized families under their sovereignty (see a list of the states that had conferred Durchlaucht to various houses, from the 1853 edition of the Almanach de Gotha).
After the Arab conquest in 712 and the destruction of the Wisigothic kingdom, the kingdom of the Asturias established by Pelayo assumed the Wisigothic traditions (it later became the kingdom of Leon under Alfonso II). The Basques founded the kingdom of Navarre, which under Sancho III came to dominate all others, but at Sancho's death in 1035 the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile were created and went their separate ways. Finally, the "march of Spain" around Barcelona, conquered by Charlemagne in 778, was ruled by counts enfoeffed by the Frankish monarchy. Castile and Leon united permanently in 1230, Barcelona and Aragon united in 1162, and the two kingdoms united in 1469.
Fernando I (d. 1065), second son of Sancho III of Navarre, received the kingdom of Castile from his father, and conquered Leon on his father-in-law Bermudos III in 1037. In 1039 he was crowned "emperor" in Leon. Fernando I had shared Castile, Leon and Galicia among his sons Sancho II, Alfonso VI and Garcia; but Sancho dispossessed his brothers, only to be killed in 1072. The three kingdoms were thus united under Alfonso VI (1072-1109).
Fernando I, Alfonso VI and Alfonso VII (1126-57) used the title of Imperator Hispaniae (emperor of Spain), where Hispania denoted that part of their territories south of the Sierras, conquered on the Arabs. In documents, Alfonso VI is styled victoriosissimus Rex in Toleto et in Hispania et Gallecia, Alfonso VII is styled Rex dominus Adefonsus in Legione et in Toledo et in Hispania. On his seal, Alfonso VII is Adefonsus Imperator Hispaniae.
From 1157 to 1230 Castile and Leon are separated. Alfonso IX is styled on his seal Adefonsus Dei Gracia Rex Legione et Gall[ecie], while Alfonso VIII (1158-1214), Enrique I (1214-17) and Fernando III (1217-30) are styled Rex Toleti et Castelle.
Under Fernando III Castile and Leon are permanently united. His seal bears the legend Ferrandus Dei Gracia Rex Castelle et Toleti / sigillum Ferrandi Regis Legionis et Gallecie. Starting with his successor, two forms appear on the seals: the short form is S[igillum] N Illustris Regis Castelle et Legionis, used until Pedro I (1350-69) who merely adds et cetera. The long form, used until Pedro I, lists the various titles:
After Pedro I the only change is the style used by Juan I as king of Portugal jure uxoris: S. Iohanis Dei Gracia Regis Castelle e Legionis et Portugalli.
Their son Alfons I acquired Roussillon in 1177 after extinction of the local dynasty. Two generations later Jaume I (d. 1276) had inherited Montpellier from his mother and conquered Majorca (1233) and Valencia (1238). Majorca became a separate kingdom along with Roussillon and Montpellier (1263-1343) but the last king was dispossessed by the king of Aragon (and sold Montpellier to the king of France in 1349, in a vain attempt to raise funds). His son Pere II (d. 1285) married Constance, daughter of Manfred of Sicily, and he moved to claim his Sicilian inheritance against the French Anjou dynasty. Sardinia was annexed in 1325. Roussillon and Cerdagne served as pledge for a loan from the king of France between 1462 and 1493, but were returned to Aragon. The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon with Isabel of Castile (los Reyes Catolicos) added all the titles of Castile to the style of the king of Aragon. Their grandson and successor Carlos I was king of Spain.
Here are some samples of the styles used by the counts of Barcelona and kings of Aragon, taken from medieval documents.
Carlos I's son Felipe II (1555-98) used a different style on his seal: Philippus D G Rex Cast[elle] Leg[ionis] Arag[onum] Navarr[e] Utr[ius]qu[ue] Sicil[ie] Indiarum Insularum et Terrae Firmae Maris Oceani etc. Also, in 1554 appears a short form Philippus D G Hispaniarum Rex (king of the Spains). Under his son Felipe III (1598-1621) there was a curious return to historical titles of Arab kingdoms: Philippus III D G Castellae Legionis Navarrae Granatae Toleti Galiciae Hispalis Gordubae Murciae etc Rex. Felipe IV (1621-64) used the same formula, but also the form D G Hispaniarum et Indiarum Rex (king of the Spains and the Indies) to summarize all his titles. Napoleon's brother Joseph (Jose, 1808-13) used the same title (see the Bayonne Constitution of 1808).
The titles of the present King of Spain are:
S. M. Don Juan Carlos I De Borbón y Borbón, Rey de España, Rey de Castilla, de León, de Aragón, de las Dos Sicilias, de Jerusalén, de Navarra, de Granada, de Toledo, de Valencia, de Galicia, de Cerdeña, de Córdoba, de Córcega, de Murcia, de Jaén, de los Algarves, de Algerciras, de Gibraltar, de las Islas Canarias, de las Indias Orientales y Occidentales, de las Islas y Tierra Firme del Mar Océano; Archiduque de Austria; Duque de Borgoña, de Brabante, de Milán, de Atenas y Neopatria; Conde de Habsburgo, de Flandes, del Tirol, del Rosellón, y de Barcelona; Señor de Vizcaya y de Molina; Capitán General de las Reales Fuerzas Armadas y su Comandante Supremo; Soberano Gran maestre de la Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro, y de cuantas Ordenes discierne el Estado Español...
Use of these titles is founded in article 56, paragraph 2 of the
Constitution of 1978: "Su título es el de Rey de España y
podrá utilizar los demás que correspondan a la Corona." The
constitutional title is the first one, the others are the historical titles
of the crown. The titles are as follows:
The title was formally granted to their grandson Carlos I (future emperor Charles V) by a bull of Leon X on 1 Apr 1516. Here is the relevant portion of the bull (Magnum Bullarium Romanum, 3:3:450):
"Nos [...] dicto Carolo Regi & ejus legitimae conjugi pro tempore existenti, nomen, & titulum Regum Catholicorum in Dei nomina assignamus, eisque, & eorum cuilibet, quod de cetero Carolus Rex, & ejus conjux Regina praefati, cum eorum nominibus propriis, vel sine illis Rex, & Regina Catholici denominari, & intitulari possint, seu quod dum, et quoties verbo, vel scriptis de Rege Catholico aut Regina Catholica simpliciter nomine proprio non adjecto mentio facta fuerit, solum, & dumtaxat dictus Carolus Rex, & ejus conjux Regina praefati, & nullius alius Rex, sive Princeps saeculi intelligi debeat, auctoritate Apostolica tenore praesentium indulgemus."The style Hispaniarum Rex Catholicus was henceforth always used by Popes when addressing the king of Spain.
The other kind of Infante is the "Infante de gracia". In the late 18th century, Carlos III decided that all grandchildren of sovereigns in male line ought to be Infantas as well, and this intention was formally expressed in the Real Cedula of 30 Nov 1795 of Carlos IV. But that never became automatic; rather, a royal decree was necessary in each instance. His successors by and large maintained the tradition. Oftentimes the decree granted the style of Infante to an expected child during the mother's pregnancy. Other decrees granted the style to all children of a given marriage. Spouses of the sovereign's daughters or sisters were often, but not always, given the rank of Infantes. In the early 20th century, a new rank appeared, that of Alteza Real with honors of an Infante (decree of 3 Aug 1908 for the children of the remarriage of Don Carlos de Borbon y Borbon, widower of the king's sister; decree of 21 May 1912 for the children of Alfonso, son of the duke of Galliera and first cousin of the king; etc).
The rank of Infante, whether by birth or concession, could be withdrawn, and this happened several times in the 19th century: Ferdinand VII's brother Don Carlos after his rebellion, the duke of Sevilla after his morganatic marriage (decree of 12 May 1848), etc.
In the late 19th century Infantes were styled su Alteza Real il Serenisimo Señor Infante Don N.
See a a more detailed discussion of the style of Infante.
A reference on this topic is Fernando Garcia-Mercadal y Garcia-Loygorri: Los Titulos y la heraldica de los reyes de España. Barcelona: Bosch, 1995 (ISBN 84-7676-310-7).
This was made formal by a solemn grant of Pope Clement XIII on 1 Oct 1758. Here is the relevant excerpt of the bull (Magnum Bullarium Romanum—Continuatio, 1:47). After recalling the actions of King Stephen:
"Ex illo tempore Hungarorum Reges Apostolici quandoque sunt appellati, privilegio, an consuetudine incompertum. Nos igitur [...] ejus appellationem confirmavimus, et tanquem in re integra eamdem Mariam Theresiam, Regesque omnes, qui illi in Hungariae Regno successerint, novo si sit opus beneficio, novoque ornamento decoravimus, eamque, deinceps Regesque omnes Hungariae, praeclaro Apostolici nomine appellandos decrevimus, et mandavimus."
The style of Emperor Ferdinand III includes mostly Habsburg titles as it appears in the Treaty of Munster of 1648:
Serenissimus ac Potentissimus Princeps ac Dominus, Dn. Ferdinandus III. Electus Romanorum Imperator, semper Augustus, Germaniae, Hungariae, Bohemiae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Sclavoniae, Rex, Archidux Austriae, Dux Burgundiae, Brabantiae, Stiriae, Carinthiae, Carniolae, Marchio Moraviae, Dux Luxemburgiae, Superioris ac Inferioris Silesiae, Würtembergae & Teckae, Princeps Sueviae, Comes Habspurgis Tyrolis Kiburgi & Goritiae, Marchio S. Rom. Imperii, Burgoviae, ac Superioris & Inferioris Lusatiae, Dominus Marchiae Sclavonicae, Portus-Naonis & Salinarum, &c.Most serene and most powerful prince and lord, lord Ferdinand III Emperor of the Romans, forever August, king of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, archduke of Austria, duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, marquis of Moravia, duke of Luxemburg, of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Wurttemberg and Teck, prince of Swabia, count of Habsburg, Tyrol, Kiburg and Goritz, marquis of the Holy Roman Empire, of Bavaria, of Upper and Lower Lusatia, lord of the marches of Slavonia, of Portenau and Salines, etc.
The first definition of the official style of the emperor was an
imperial decree of 27 Jan 1712, which determined it to be, combining the
Spanish titles which Karl VI claimed as king Carlos III of Spain:
Wir, Karl der Sechste von Gottes Gnaden erwählter Römischer Keyser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, in Germanien, zu Castilien, Legion, Aragon, Beyder Sicilien, zu Hierusalem, Hngarn, Böheimb, Dalmatien, Croatien, Navarra, Toleto, Valenz, Gallicien, Majoricarum, Sevila, Sardinia, Corduba, Corsica, Murcia, Giennis, Algarbien, Algezirae, Gibraltaris, der Insulen Canariae und Indiarum, der Insulen und Terrae Firmae des Meers Eceani König etc. Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Burgund, zu Braband, zu Meyland, zu Steyer, zu Kärnthen, zu Crain, zu Lüzelburg, Würtemberg, zu Ober- und Nieder Schlesien, Athenarum und Neopatriae, Fürst zu Schwaben, Markgraf der Heiligen Römischen Reichs zu Burgau, zu Mähren, zOber- und Nieder Lausitz, gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tyroll, zu Barchinon, zu Pfierd, zu Kyburg, zu Görtz, Rossilion und Ceritania, Landtgraf in Elsaß, Marggraf zu Oristani und Graf zu Gocceani, und zu Gradiska, Herr auf der Windischen Mark, zu Portenau, Biscajae, Molini, zu Salins, zu Tripoli und zu Macheln.Maria Theresia on 14 Jan 1766, after the death of her husband the Emperor Franz I, continued to rule in the Austrian hereditary lands, as enumerated in her titles:
Maria Theresia, von Gottes Gnaden römische Kaiserin, Wittib,Königin zu Hungarn, Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien, Slavonien, etc. Erzherzoginn zu Österreich, Herzoginn zu Burgund, zu Steyer, zu Kärnten und zu Krain, Großfürstinn zu Siebenbürgen, Markgräfin zu Mähren, Herzoginn zu Braband, zu Limburg, zu Luxenburg und zu Geldern, zu Würtemberg, zu Ober- und Nieder Schlesien, zu Mayland, zu Mantua, zu Parma, zu Placenz und Quastalla, Fürstin zu Schwaben, gefürstete Gräfin zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tirol, zu Hennegau, zu Kiburg, zu Görz und Gradisca, Markgräfinn der Heiligen Römischen Reichs zu Burgau, Ober- und Nieder Lausitz, Gräfinn zu Namur, Frau auf der Windischen Mark und zu Macheln verwittibte Herzoginn zu Lotharingen und Baar, Großherzoginn zu Toskana, etc.The short version of her title (titulus parvus) ran as follows:
Maria Theresia, von Gottes Gnaden römische Kaiserin, Wittib,Königin zu Hungarn, Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien und Slavonien, Erzherzoginn zu Österreich, Herzoginn zu Burgund, Großfürstinn zu Siebenbürgen, Herzoginn zu Mayland, zu Mantua, zu Parma, etc., gefürstete Gräfin zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tirol, verwittibte Herzoggnn zu Lotharingen und Baar, Großherzoginn zu Toskana, etcJoseph II on 14 Jan 1766 assumed the imperial titles as well as the Lorraine titles inherited from his father:
Wir, Joseph der Andere, von Gottes Gnaden erwählter Römischer Kaiser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, in Germanien und in Jerusalem König, Mitregent und Erbthronfolger der Königreiche Ungarn, Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien und Slavonien, Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Burgund, zu Lotharingen, zu Steyer, zu Kärnten und zu Krain, Großherzog zu Toscana, Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen, Markgraf zu Mähren, Herzog zu Braband, zu Limburg, zu Luxenburg und zu Geldern, zu Würtemberg, zu Ober- und Nieder Schlesien, zu Mayland, zu Mantua, zu Parma, Placen, Quastalla, Auschwitz und Zator, Calabrien, Baar, zu Montferat und zu Teschen; Fürst zu Schwaben und zu Carleville, gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tyrol, zu Henegau, zu Kiburg, zu Görz und zu Gradiska, Markgraf der Heiligen Römischen Reichs zu Burgau, Ober- und Nieder Lausitz, zu Pont a Muson und zu Nomeny, Graf zu Namur, zu Provinz, zu Vaudemont, zu Blankenberg, zu Zutphen, zu Saarwerden, zu Salm und zu Falkenstein, Herr auf der Windischen Mark und zu Macheln etc.On 4 Dec 1780, after his accession to the hereditary states on the death of his mother Maria Theresia, the style was altered to read:
Wir, Joseph der Zweyte, von Gottes Gnaden erwählter Römischer Kaiser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, König in Germanien, zu Jerusalem, Ungarn, Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien und Lodomerien; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Burgund, zu Lothringen, zu Steyer, zu Kärnten und zu Krain, Großherzog zu Toscana, Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen, Markgraf zu Mähren, Herzog zu Brabant, zu Limburg, zu Lutzenburg und zu Geldern, zu Würtemberg, zu Ober- und Niederschlesien, zu Mailand, zu Mantua, zu Parma, Placen, Quastalla, Auschwitz und Zator, Calabrien, Baar, zu Montferat und zu Teschen; Fürst zu Schwaben und zu Carleville, gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tyrol, zu Hennegau, zu Kyburg, zu Görz und zu Gradiska, Markgraf der Heiligen Römischen Reichs zu Burgau, Ober- und Niederlausitz, zu Pont a Moußon und zu Nomeny, Graf zu Namur, zu Provinz, zu Vaudemont, zu Blankenberg, zu Zütphen, zu Saarwerden, zu Salm und zu Falkenstein, Herr auf der Windischen Mark und zu Mecheln.The "middle title" ran as follows:
Wir, Joseph der Zweyte, von Gottes Gnaden erwählter Römischer Kaiser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, König in Germanien, zu Jerusalem, Ungarn, Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien und Lodomerien; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Burgund und zu Lothringen, Großherzog von Toscana, Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen, Herzog zu Mailand, Mantua, Parma, etc., gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tyrol, etc. etc.The "short title" was:
Wir, Joseph der Zweyte, von Gottes Gnaden erwählter Römischer Kaiser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, König in Germanien, Ungarn und Böheim, etc. Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Burgund und zu Lothringen, etc.Leopold II on 18 March 1790 assumed the following style:
Wir, Leopold der Zweyte, von Gottes Gnaden König von Ungarn, Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien, Lodomerien und Jerusalem, Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Burgund, Lothringen, zu Steyer, zu Kärnten und Krain, Großherzog zu Toskana, Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen, Markgraf in Mähren, Herzog zu Brabant, zu Limburg, zu Lutzemburg und zu Geldern, zu Würtemberg, zu Ober- und Niederschlesien, zu Mayland, zu Mantua, zu Parma, Placenz, Guastalla, Auschwitz und Zator, zu Calabrien, zu Bar, zu Montferrat und zu Teschen, Fürst zu Schwaben und zu Charleville, gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, zu Flandern, zu Tyrol, zu Hennegau, zu Kiburg, zu Görz und zu Gradiska, Markgraf der Heiligen Römischen Reichs zu Burgau, Ober- und Niederlausitz, zu Pont a Mousson und zu Nomeny, Graf zu Namur, zu Provinz, zu Vaudemont, zu Blankenberg, zu Zutphen, zu Saarwerden, zu Salm und zu Falkenstein, Herr auf der Windischen Mark und zu Mecheln.The Latin version dated 27 Oct 1790 (the only difference in style being due to his election in the meantime as Emperor):
Nos Leopoldus II. Divina Favente Clementia electus Romanorum imperator semper Augustus, Germaniae, Hungariae, Bohemiae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Slavoniae, Galliciae, Lodomeriae et Hierosolymae Rex; Archidux Austriae, Dux Burgundiae, Lotharingiae, Styriae, Carinthiae, Carniolae, Magnus Dux Hetruriae, Magnus Princeps Transilvaniae, Marchio Moraviae, Dux Brabantiae, Limburgi, Lucemburgi et Geldriae,Würtembergae, Superioris et Inferioris Silesiae, Mediolani, Mantuae, Parmae, Placentiae, Quastallae, Osveciniae et Zatoriae, Calabriae, Barri, Montisferrati et Teschinae, Princeps Sueviae et Carolopolis, Comes Habbsburgi, Flandriae, Tyrolis, Hannoniae, Kiburgi, Goritiae et Gradiscae, Marchio Sacri Romani Imperii Burgoviae, Superioris et Inferioris Lusatiae, Mussoponti et Nomenei; Comes Namurci, Provinciae, Valdemontis, Albimontis, Zutphaniae, Sarwerdae Salinae et Falkenstenii, Dominus Marchiae Slavoniae et Mechlinae.By a pragmatic order of Aug. 11, 1804, Emperor Franz II took the title of "erblicher Kaiser von Osterreich" or "hereditary emperor of Austria," and the modified style became:
Wir, Franz der Zweyte, von Gottes Gnaden erwählter Römischer Kaiser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, erblicher Kaiser von Österreich, König in Germanien, zu Jerusalem, zu Hungarn, zu Böheim, Dalmatien, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien und Lodomerien; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Lothringen, zu Venedig, Salzburg, Steyer, Kärnten und Krain; Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen, Markgraf in Mähren; Herzog zu Würtemberg, Ober- und Niederschlesien, Parma, Placenz, Guastalla, Auschwitz und Zator, zu Teschen, zu Friaul und zu Zara; Fürst zu Schwaben, zu Eichstädt, Passau, Trient, Brixen, zu Berchtoldsgaden und Lindau; gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, Tyrol, Kyburg, Görz und Gradiska; Markgraf zu Burgau, zu Ober- und Niederlausitz; Landgraf im Breisgau, in der Ortenau und zu Nellenburg; Graf zu Montfort und Hohenems, zu Ober- und Niederhohenberg, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, und Rothenfels, zu Blumeneck und Hofen; Herr auf der Windischen Mark, zu Verona, Vicenza, Padua etc.The announcement makes clear the reasons for the new title:
"Obschon wir durch göttliche Fügung und durch die Wahl der Kurfürsten des Römisch-Deutschen Reiches zu einer Würde gediehen sind, welche uns für unsere Person keinen Zuwachs an Titel und Ansehen zu wünschen übrig läßt, so muß doch unsere Sorgfalt als Regent des Hauses und der Monarchie von Österreich dahin gerichtet seyn, daß jene vollkommene Gleichheit des Titels und der erblichen Würde mit den vorzüglichsten Europäischen Regenten und Mächten aufrecht erhalten und behauptet werde, welche den Souveränen Österreichs sowohl in Hinsicht des uralten Glanzes ihres Erzhauses, als vermöge der Größe und Bevölkerung ihrer so beträchtlichen Königreiche und unabhängige Fürstentümer in sich fassenden Staaten gebühret, und durch völkerrechtliche Ausübung und Tractaten versichert ist .... In Gemäßheit dessen haben wir... beschlossen, für Uns undUnsere Nachfolger in dem unzertrennlichen Besitze Unserer Unabhängigen Königreiche und Staaten, den Titel und die Würde eines erblichen Kaisers von Österreich (als den Nahmen Unsers Erzhauses) dergestallt feyerlichst anzunehmen..."The versions inscribed on the Great Seals of Nov. 5, 1804 are, in Latin:
large seal: Franciscus II, divina favente clementia electus Romanorum Imperator, semper Augustus, haereditarius Austriae Imperator; Germaniae, Hierosolymae, Hungariae, Bohemiae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Slavoniae, Galiciae et Lodomeriae Rex; Archidux Austriae; Dux Lotharingiae, Venetiarum, Salisburgi, Styriae, Carinthiae, Carnioliae; Magnus Princeps Transilvaniae; Marchio Moraviae; Dux Würtembergae, Silesiae, Parmae; Comes Habsburgi, Tirolis; Landgravius Brisgoviae etc.These styles reflect the consequences of the recent wars, and in particular the treaties of Campo-Formio of 1797 and Lunéville of 1801 (loss of the Low Countries, Tuscany, Milan, addition of Salzburg, Venice, etc).
middle seal: Franciscus II Dei Gratia Romanorum Imperator, semper Augustus, haereditarius Austriae Imperator; Germaniae, Hungariae, Bohemiae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Slavoniae, Galiciae et Lodomeriae Rex; Archidux Austriae; Dux Lotharingiae, Venetiarum, Salisburgi; Magnus Princeps Transilvaniae; Dux Styriae, Carinthiae, Carnioliae, Würtembergae, Silesiae; Comes Habsburgi, Tirolis.
small seal: Franciscus II Dei Gratia Romanorum et haereditarius Austriae Imperator
On August 6, 1806 Franz II abdicated the dignity of German Emperor and became Franz I of Austria, with the following titles:
Wir, Franz der Erste, von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von Österreich, König zu Jerusalem, Hungarn, Böheim, Dalmazien, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien und Lodomerien; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog von Lothringen, zu Salzburg, zu Würzburg und in Franken, zu Steyer, Kärnthen und Krain; Großherzog von Krakau; Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen; Markgraf in Mähren; Herzog zu Sandomir, Massovien, Lublin, Ober- und Niederschlesien, zu Auschwitz und Zator, zu Teschen und zu Friaul; Fürst zu Berchtoldsgaden und Mergentheim; gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, Tyrol, Kyburg, Görz und Gradiska; Markgraf zu Ober- und Niederlausitz und in Istrien; Herr der Lande Vollhynien, Podlachein und Berzesz, zu Triest, zu Freudenthal und Eulenburg und auf der Windischen Mark etc. etc. etc.The "middle title" was altered on 27 Dec 1809:
Wir, Franz der Erste, von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von Österreich, König zu Jerusalem, zu Hungarn, Böhmen, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien und Lodomerien; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Lothringen, zu Würzburg und in Franken; Großfürst in Siebenbürgen, Herzog zu Steyer, Kärnthen, Ober- und Niederschlesien, gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg.then again on 12 March 1813:
Wir, Franz der Erste, von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von Österreich, König zu Jerusalem, zu Hungarn, Böhmen, Croatien, Slavonien, Galizien und Lodomerien; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Herzog zu Lothringen, zu Würzburg und in Franken; Großfürst in Siebenbürge; Markgraf in Mähren; Herzog zu Steyer und Kärnthen, Ober- und Niederschlesien, gefürsteter Graf zu Habsburg, etc. etc.and again on 3 June 1815:
middle title: Nos Franciscus Primus, divina favente clementia Austriae Imperator, Hierosolimae, Hungariae, Bohemiae, Lombardiae et Venetiarum, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Slavoniae, Galiciae et Lodomeriae Rex; Archidux Austriae; Dux Lotharingiae, Salisburgi, Styriae, Carinthiae, Carniolae, superioris et inferioris Silesiae, Magnus Princeps Transilvanae, Marchio Moraviae, Comes Habsburgi et Tyrolis, etc. etc.and on 13 May 1836:
short title: Nos Franciscus Primus, Austriae Imperator; Hungariae, Bohemiae, Lombardiae et Venetiarum, Galiciae et Lodomeriae Rex, etc.; Archidux Austriae, etc. etc.
large seal: Ferdinandus Primus, divina favente clementia Austriae Imperator, Hungariae et Bohemiae Rex, hujus nominis quintus; Rex Lombardiae et Venetiarum, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Slavoniae, Galiciae, Lodomeriae et Illyriae; Rex Hierosolimae; Archidux Austriae; Magnus Dux Hetruriae; Dux Lotharingiae, Salisburgi, Styriae, Silesiae, Mutinae, Parmae, Magnus Princeps Transilvanae, Marchio Moraviae, Comes Habsburgi, Tyrolis, etc.On 25 Sep 1815 it had been decided to use the "middle title" until a "long title" could be decided upon. This seems to have come only on 18 November 1849:
middle seal: Ferdinandus Primus, Dei Gratia Austriae Imperator; Hungariae et Bohemiae Rex, hujus nominis quintus; Rex Lombardiae et Venetiarum, Galiciae, Lodomeriae et Illyriae; Archidux Austriae; Dux Lotharingiae, Salisburgi, Styriae; Magnus Princeps Transilvanae; Marchio Moraviae; Comes Habsburgi, Tyrolis, etc.
small seal: Ferdinandus Primus, Dei Gratia Austriae Imperator etc. etc.
Franz Joseph I. von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von Österreich, König von Ungarn und Böhmen, König der Lombardei und Venedigs, von Dalmatien, Croatien, Slawonien, Galicien, Lodomerien und Illyrien; König von Jerusalem, etc; Erzherzog zu Österreich; Großherzog von Toskana und Krakau; Herzog von Lothringen, von Salzburg, Steyer, Kärnthen, Krain und der Bukowina; Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen; Markgraf von Mähren; Herzog von Ober- und Niederschlesien, von Modena, Parma, Piacenza und Guastalla, von Auschwitz und Zator, von Teschen, Friaul, Ragusa und Zara; gefürsteter Graf von Habsburg und Tyrol, Kyburg, Görz und Gradiska, Fürst von Trient und Brixen; Markgraf von Ober- und Niederlausitz und in Istrien; Graf von Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, etc., Herr von Triest, von Cattaro und auf der Windischen Mark, Großwojwode der Wojwodschaft Serbien etc. etc.It was modified on 3 Oct 1866 to remove Lombardy and Venetia, and finalized on 29 Jan 1869:
Franz Joseph I. von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von Österreich, König von Ungarn und Böhmen, von Dalmazien, Croatien, Slavonien, Galicien, Lodomerien und Illyrien, König von Jerusalem; Erzherzog zu Österreich, Großherzog von Toskana und Krakau, Herzog von Lothringen, von Salzburg, von Steyer, Kärnthen, Krain und der Bukowina, Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen; Markgraf von Mähren; Herzog von Ober- und Niederschlesien, von Modena, Parma, Piacenza und Quastalla, von Auschwitz und Zator, von Teschen, Friaul, Ragusa und Zara; gefürsteter Graf von Habsburg und Tyrol, Kyburg, Görz und Gradiska, Fürst von Trient und Brixen, Markgraf von Ober- und Niederlausitz und in Istrien, Graf von Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, etc., Herr von Triest, von Cattaro und auf der Windischen Mark, Großwojwode der Wojwodschaft Serbien etc. etc.It remained essentially unchanged until 1918, as the style of the last Austrian Emperor shows:
Karl der Erste, von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von Österreich, König von Ungarn, dieses Namens der Vierte, König von Böhmen, von Dalmatien, Kroatien, Slawonien, Galizien, Lodomerien und Illyrien; König von Jerusalem etc; Erzherzog von Österreich; Großherzog von Toskana und Krakau; Herzog von Lothringen, von Salzburg, Steier, Kärnthen, Krain und der Bukowina; Großfürst zu Siebenbürgen, Markgraf von Mähren, Herzog von Ober- und Niederschlesien, von Modena, Parma, Piascenza und Quastalla, von Auschwitz und Zator, von Teschen, Friaul, Ragusa und Zara; gefürsteter Graf von Habsburg und Tirol, von Kyburg, Görz und Gradiska; Fürst von Trient und Brixen; Markgraf von Ober- und Niederlausitz und in Istrien; Graf von Hohenembs, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, etc., Herr von Triest, von Cattaro und auf der Windischen Mark; Großwojwode der Wojwodschaft Serbien etc. etc.(Source: Franz Gall: Österreichische Wappenkunde, Wien: 1992, Böhlau.)
As a result of the Compromise of 1867, a dual monarchy was implemented by the Austrian law of 21 Dec 1867, and the Hungarian law II. Gesetzartikel 1865/67. The change in titles folllowed by rescript (allerhöchste Handschreiben) of 14 Nov 1868: the Empire became the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy or Austrian-Hungarian Empire (Österreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie, Österreichisch-Ungarisches Reich), its emperor titled Kaiser von Österreich, König von Böhmen u. s. w. und Apostolischer König von Ungarn or in abbreviated form Kaiser von Österreich und Apostolischer König von Ungarn with the style of Seine Majestät der Kaiser und König or Seine k. u. k. (kaiserliche und königliche) Apostolische Majestät. On Oct 17, 1889 the army and navy of the monarchy acquired the style of "k. u. k.", as did on Nov 17, 1889 the Imperial court (with the exception of those entities specific to the the Hungarian monarchy, such as the royal-Hungarian Lifeguards).
It is important to avoid the confusion between:
"voluntate nostra, ipso Rege inconsulto, perhonorificum Fidelissimi Titulum nos ipsi excogativimus, quem eidem Regi, ejusque in Regno successoribus uti jam superius indicavimus, elargiti sumus."