Francis IV, Duke of Modena
| Francis IV | |
|---|---|
Francis IV of Modena with the Austrian Golden Fleece
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| Duke of Modena and Reggio | |
| Reign | 14 July 1814 – 21 January 1846 |
| Predecessor | Ercole III |
| Successor | Francis V |
| Born |
6 October 1779 Milan |
| Died | 21 January 1846 (aged 66) Modena |
| Spouse | Maria Beatrice of Savoy |
| Issue | |
| House | Austria-Este |
| Father | Archduke Ferdinand, Duke of Breisgau |
| Mother | Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa |
Francis IV Joseph Charles Ambrose Stanislaus (Italian: Francesco IV Giuseppe Carlo Ambrogio Stanislao d'Asburgo-Este; 6 October 1779 – 21 January 1846) was Duke of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola (from 1815), Duke of Massa and Prince of Carrara (from 1829), Archduke of Austria-Este, Royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Francis was born in Milan. His father was Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este, Duke of Breisgau, his mother Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este, Duchess of Massa and Princess of Carrara, Lady of Lunigiana.
He was a grandson of Maria Theresa of Austria, head of the House of Habsburg, and was heir to the Modena branch of the House of Este through his mother. He thus became the first member of the House of Habsburg-Este to rule the Este inheritance in Northern Italy.
Francis is distinguished for his stern and tyrannic rule by which he repressed all the democratic movements appearing during his reign, particularly following a major revolt in 1830. The harshness of the Ducal policies are illustrated by the hanging of Ciro Menotti for an attempted insurrection against the Duke (1831).
In 1812 Francis married his niece the Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy, who was the daughter of his sister Archduchess Maria Teresa of Austria-Este and King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. The couple had four children:
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