Biography
He was born at Schönbrunn in Vienna, the son of Archduke Franz Karl of Austria (1802–1878) and his wife Sophie of Bavaria (1805–1872). His siblings included Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria and Maximilian (1832–1867), the executed Emperor of Mexico.
After the death of his nephew Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (1858–1889), he became heir presumptive to Austro-Hungarian Empire but renounced his succession rights a few days later in favour of his eldest son Franz Ferdinand.
He married three times.
His first wife, whom he married on 4 November 1856 at Dresden, was his first cousin Margaretha of Saxony (1840–1858), the daughter of Johann of Saxony (1801–1873) and Amalie Auguste of Bavaria (1801–1877). She died on 15 September 1858 and they had no children.
His second wife, whom he married by proxy on 16 October 1862 at Rome, and in person on 21 October 1862 at Venice, was Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1843–1871), daughter of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies (1810–1859) and Maria Theresa of Austria (1816–1867).
They had four children:
- Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (1863–1914). Married morganatically to Sophie Chotek; had issue.
- Archduke Otto Franz of Austria (1865–1906). Married Maria Josepha of Saxony; had issue including Karl I of Austria.
- Archduke Ferdinand Karl of Austria (1868–1915). Married morganatically to Bertha Czuber; no issue.
- Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria (1870–1902). Married Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg; had issue.
Maria Annunciata died on 4 May 1871.
His third wife, whom he married on 23 July 1873 at Kleinheubach, was Infanta Maria Theresa of Portugal (1855–1944), daughter of Miguel I of Portugal (1802–1866) and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1831–1909).
They had two daughters:
- Archduchess Maria Annunziata of Austria (1876–1961). Abbess of the Theresia Convent in the Hradschin, Prague.
- Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria (1878–1960). Married Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein; had issue including Franz Joseph II of Liechtenstein.
Karl Ludwig died of typhoid at Schönbrunn in Vienna. His widow, Maria Teresa died 12 February 1944.
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