Hapsburgs

Hapsburgs are a German royal family founded by Albert, Count of Hapsburg. The family has been prominent in Europe since the 13th century. Many members of the Hapsburg family have been rulers of several other countries in Europe. These countries included Bohemia, Hungary and Spain. This family was able to keep control in Austria by giving power to all the male members of the families, instead of just individuals. In 1364, three of Hapsburgs brothers agreed to one brother, Rudolph IV being the supreme head of the house. After Rudolph IV died, the other two brothers agreed to split the land and one brother ruled Austria while the other brother ruled Syria. Hapsburg family members ruled many areas of Europe until the end of World War I. The Hapsburg family also managed to keep power by intermarrying to keep power in their own family.

The Hapsburg empire finally fell in World War I. Charles was the last Emperor and King of the Hapsburg empire. During the war, as territories were being claimed, he was left with nothing except German Austria and Hungary proper. He later needed to renounced any right to rule, but kept his title. During the Hitler era, Hapsburgs were stripped of their assets but later reclaimed some of them.

An interesting fact about the Hapsburg family is that some members had physical and mental problems due to inbreeding or intermarrying. The family intermarried to keep power, but there were other side effects. Many members of the Spanish Hapsburg family had a jaw deformity that came to be known as Hapsburg Lip or Hapsburg Jaw. People with the Hapsburg Jaw has a large underbite and protruding chin.

Today, the Hapsburg family continues to have members who are socially and politically involved in European countries.