Rumor: Archduke Karl Ludwig to renounce his position as heir presumptive

September 30, 1891

One of the main Viennese newspapers, The Presse, published a rumor today that Archduke Karl Ludwig, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is about to "resign his title of heirship in favor of his son," Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Karl Ludwig is a younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph.  He became the heir presumptive following the death of Crown Prince Rudolph, the emperor's only son, who died in 1889.   He was born in 1833, and has been married three times.  His first wife was Princess Margarete of Saxony, who died in 1858.   Four years later, he married Princess Maria Annunziata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.  She died in 1871, and in 1873,  the archduke married Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal.  

Archduke Franz Ferdinand is the first child of Karl Ludwig's second marriage.  There were no children from the first marriage.    The archduke was born on December 18, 1863.  He is unmarried.