The archducal hat (German: Erzherzogshut) is the insignia of the Archduchy of Austria and is kept in the treasury of Klosterneuburg Monastery. It appears in heraldry such as the state coat of arms of Upper Austria.
>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
In this Dossier
Archducal hat in the context of Archduke of Austria
Archduke (feminine: archduchess; German: Erzherzog, feminine form: Erzherzogin) was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within the former Holy Roman Empire (962–1806), which was below that of emperor, and roughly equal to that of king, prince-(arch)bishop, and grand duke, but above that of sovereign prince and duke.
The territory ruled by an archduke or archduchess was called an archduchy. All remaining archduchies ceased to exist in 1918. The current head of the House of Habsburg is Karl Habsburg.
Archducal hat in the context of Privilegium Maius
The Privilegium maius (German: Großer Freiheitsbrief 'greater privilege') was a set of medieval documents forged in 1358 or 1359 at the behest of Duke Rudolf IV of Austria (1358–65) of the House of Habsburg. It was essentially a modified version of the Privilegium minus issued by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1156, which had elevated the former March of Austria into a duchy. In a similar way, the Privilegium maius elevated the duchy into an Archduchy of Austria.
The privileges described in the documents had great influence on the Austrian political landscape, and created a unique connection between the House of Habsburg and Austria.