Otto Habsburg Dies.
Was son of Charles I- last Emperor of Austria-Hungary (1916-1918), and Zita (1892-1989).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Habsburg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_Austria
Charles I was son of Otto Franz (1865-1906), brother of Franz Ferdinand (1864-1914), whose June 28, 1914 assassination alongside his part German Czech wife, insufficently dynastic Sophia Chotek, married "morganatically" (meaning no succession via their offspring), was used to spark WWI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria
Historians have disagreed on how to characterize the political philosophies of Franz Ferdinand, some attributing generally liberal views on the empire's nationalities while others have emphasized his dynastic centralism, Catholic conservatism, and tendency to clash with other leaders.[9] He advocated granting greater autonomy to ethnic groups within the Empire and addressing their grievances, especially the Czechs in Bohemia and the Yugoslavic peoples in Croatia and Bosnia, who had been left out of the Austro-Hungarian compromise of 1867.[17] Yet his feelings towards the Hungarians were less generous; he regarded Magyar nationalism as a revolutionary threat to the Habsburg dynasty and reportedly became angry when officers of the 9th Hussars Regiment (which he commanded) spoke Magyar in his presence - despite the fact that it was the official regimental language.[10] He further regarded the Hungarian branch of the Dual Monarchy's army, the Honvédség, as an unreliable and potentially threatening force within the empire, complaining at the Hungarians' failure to provide funds for the joint army[18] and opposing the formation of artillery units within the Hungarian forces.[19]
He also advocated a careful approach towards Serbia - repeatedly locking horns with Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, Vienna's hard-line Chief of the General Staff, warning that harsh treatment of Serbia would bring Austria-Hungary into open conflict with Russia, to the ruin of both Empires.
He was disappointed when Austria-Hungary failed to act as a Great Power, such as during the Boxer Rebellion; in 1900 other nations, including, in his description, "dwarf states like Belgium and Portugal",[20] sent troops to protect Westerners and punish the Chinese, but Austria-Hungary did not.
Franz Ferdinand was a prominent and influential supporter of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in a time when sea power was not a priority in Austrian foreign policy and the Navy was relatively little known and supported by the public. After his assassination in 1914, the Navy honoured Franz Ferdinand and his wife with a lying in state aboard the SMS Viribus Unitis.
United States of Greater Austria- Franz Ferdinand sought extending greater rights and powers for the nationalities beyond German and Hungarian.
Otto Franz and Franz Ferdinand were sons of Archduke Karl Ludwig- brother of Austria-Hungary Emperor Franz Joseph, who was born in 1830, became Emperor 1848, reigning to his death in 1916.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archduke_Karl_Ludwig_of_Austria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Joseph_I_of_Austria
Emperor Franz Joseph was married to Emperess Elisabeth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_Bavaria
Together, they had a son, Crown Prince Rudolf, born 1858, who committed suicide in 1889 under unusual circumstances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Prince_Rudolf_of_Austria
Some 9 years later in 1898, Empress Elisabeth was assassinated via a stabbing by "anarchist" Luigi Lucheni.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Lucheni
One of her pages was the future Jesuit Superior General of the time of the end of the Austria-Hungary Empire.