Archduke Leopold Ludwig of Austria

Archduke Leopold Ludwig
Archduke Leopold Ludwig, lieutenant general
Born	(1823-06-06)6 June 1823 Milan, Lombardy–Venetia
Died	24 May 1898(1898-05-24) (aged 74) Hörnstein, Austria-Hungary
Full name Leopold Ludwig Maria Franz Julius Estorgius Gerhard
House	Habsburg-Lorraine
Father	Archduke Rainer Joseph of Austria
Mother	Princess Elisabeth of Savoy

Archduke Leopold Ludwig of Austria (German: Leopold Ludwig Maria Franz Julius Estorgius Gerhard Erzherzog von Ósterreich) (b. Milan 6 June 1823 – d. Hórnstein 24 May 1898) was an Austrian general and admiral.

He was the eldest son of Archduke Rainer Joseph of Austria (1783–1853) and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy (1800–1856) and a grandson of Emperor Leopold II. Leopold Ludwig was born in 1823 in Milan, where his father served as Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia from 1818 to 1848. A younger brother, Archduke Rainer Ferdinand (1827–1913), served as Austrian Minister President from 1859 to 1861. Leopold followed his father in a military career, attaining the rank of Feldmarschall-leutnant (lieutenant general) in the Austrian Army.

When Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian was preparing to accept the throne of Mexico in March 1864, Emperor Franz Josef I sent Leopold to Miramar to induce Maximilian to sign the Act of Renunciation. The two cousins had never been on friendly terms, and Maximilian viewed Leopold as one of the archdukes who would benefit from the renunciation of his hereditary rights in Austria. Maximilian delayed signing the 'Family Compact', as it was called, until the visit of Franz Josef to Miramar on 9 April 1864.

Undoubtedly to Maximilian's chagrin and irritation, Leopold was promoted to the rank of Viceadmiral and acted as Inspektor General of the Marinetroops and the fleet from 1865 up till 25 February 1868.

Leopold never married, and after stepping down as head of the Navy he faded into obscurity. He died at Hörnstein on 24 May 1898.