Ludwig, Erzherzog von Österreich#

b. Florence (Italy), Dec. 13, 1784, d. Vienna, Dec. 21, 1864, son of Emperor Leopold II. Until 1809 army officer (General Border Inspector), travelled with his brother Archduke Johann to France and England; repeatedly represented his brother Emperor Franz II (I) and was appointed in the latter's will to be head of the Geheime Staatskonferenz, which controlled all government offices on behalf of Emperor Ferdinand I from 1836 to 1848. L. was a strict advocate of absolutism; was in favour of Metternich's politics, retired after the Revolution of 1848.

Literature#