Francis I Stephen of Lorraine
Francis I Stephen, Duke of Lorraine and Grand Duke of Tuscany, was Holy Roman Emperor from 1745 to 1765 as the husband of Maria Theresa, the effective ruler of the Habsburg lands. His election as emperor following the death of the Wittelsbach claimant Charles VII restored the imperial dignity to the house that had dominated it for centuries, though now under the dynastic name Habsburg-Lorraine. Francis was content to leave the actual governance of the Habsburg monarchy to his formidably capable wife. He had a genuine gift for finance and economic matters, managing the family's private fortune with considerable success. Francis's death in August 1765 devastated Maria Theresa, who wore mourning for the rest of her life. His significance lies primarily in founding the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty that would rule Austria until 1918.
- Lived: 1708 CE – 1765 CE
- Nationality: austrian
- Roles: emperor, head_of_state
