Grand Duke Of Tuscany Ferdinando Iv

Last Grand Duke of Tuscany who reigned from 1859 to 1860. The House of Habsburg-Lorraine continued to hold the title as pretenders until the end of World War I. He was the son of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Princess Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies. He married twice and had twelve children. He and his family were forced to flee Florence on 27 April 1859, with the outbreak of a revolution inspired by the outbreak of a war by France and Sardinia-Piedmont against Austria as part of the unification of Italy. The family took refuge in Austria. After the end of the war, Leopold II abdicated on 21 July, and Ferdinand succeeded him as Grand Duke. Ferdinand proved unable to return to Florence to claim his throne, and an elected Tuscan National Assembly formally deposed him only a month later, on 16 August. Ferdinand still hoped to recover his throne, as both France and Austria had promised to recognize his rights to it in the Armistice of Villafranca. However, neither power was willing to take any steps to bring about his restoration. The Kingdom of Sardinia annexed Tuscany on 22 March 1860, ending Ferdinand's hopes to reclaim the throne. Ferdinand spent the rest of his life in exile in Austria. He died there, in Salzburg, on 17 January 1908, aged 72. ... Full name: Ferdinando Salvatore Maria Giuseppe Giovan Battista Francesco Luigi Gonzaga Raffaello Ranieri Gennaro. Link to Wikipedia biography