The Habsburg dynasty reigned from 15th to 20th century over most of Europe.

The name derived from the family seat Habichtsburg (Hawk's Castle) in Switzerland.  The first of the Habsburg powerful family was Rudolf I, king of the Romans from 1273 to 1291. He conquered Austria and the province Styria which was passed on to two sons in 1282. The Habsburg made their name in history not to declare war and to conquer but to marry. In late 15th century Maximilian I marriage brought the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Burgundy. Maximilian's son Philip gained through marriage Castle, Aragon, and the Spanish New World Possessions.

The Holy Roman Empire was under the control of the Habsburg family. The height of their power was in the 16th century. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who was also Charles I king of Spain. Hungary and Bohemia joined the empire in 1526. Habsburg also controlled Naples, Sicily and Sardinia.

After Charles died, his brother Ferdinand ruled Germany and Austria. Ferdinand's son Philip II, ruled over Spain. During the 30 Year War, from 1618, the Habsburg dynasty lost some power but managed to add Portugal to their empire.

In the 18th century the Austrian Habsburg came to new heights under Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II. Then lost the Austrian Netherlands and the title Holy Roman Emperor at the end of the Napoleon war.

They survived the revolution in 1848 but after 1866 Austrian-Prussian war had to make concession to the Hungarian nationalism. They formed the monarchy Austria-Hungary.

The emperor Franz Joseph went against Russia because of their control of the Balkan and allied with Germany in 1879. As the Nationalists became more and more powerful and the First World War broke out, the empire was broken up.

1918 the last Habsburg monarch Charles I of Austria renounced his title.