Archduke

Crown of the Archduke of Austria.

The title of Archduke (feminine: Archduchess) (German: Erzherzog, feminine form: Erzherzogin) is a rank above Duke and under King. It is very rare. It was used only by princes of the House of Habsburg.

Ruler style

The English word is recorded only since 1530, derived from Middle Latin archidux, from arch(i)- (see arch- (adj.)) + dux 'duke' .

Archduke (Erzherzog) is a title distinct from Grand Duke (Großherzog or Großfürst) that is used in some other German royal houses and still in sovereign Luxemburg.

Fictional Archdukes

• Poggle the Lesser was the Archduke of Geonosis, a planet from the Star Wars universe.

Sources and references

• EtymologyOnLine
• Use of the title "archduke" in contemporaneous documents