Archduke Louis was born at Florence, Italy. He entered the Austrian Imperial Army at an early age and soon gained the rank of Feldmarschal-Leutnant. In 1809, he was appointed commander of V Armeekorps. In this capacity, he fought at the battles of Abensberg, Landshut, and Ebersberg in April and May, after which he relinquished his command.
He also demonstrated his political abilities by representing his brother, Emperor Francis II, on several occasions and was appointed in his brother’s will to be head of the State Conference (from 1836 to 1848) which controlled all government offices on behalf of Emperor Ferdinand I. The Archduke was in favour of Metternich’s politics and supported absolutism.
He retired after the revolution of 1848 and lived quietly until his death in Vienna.
References
Bowden, Scotty & Tarbox, Charlie. Armies on the Danube 1809. Arlington, Texas: Empire Games Press, 1980.
Generations are numbered by male-line descent from the first archdukes. Later generations are included although Austrian titles of nobility were abolished in 1919.
Generations are numbered from the children of Francesco de' Medici, first Grand Duke of Tuscany. Later generations are included but the grand duchy was abolished in 1860.
