Archduke Sigismund of Austria

Archduke Sigismund of Austria (Sigismund Leopold Maria Rainer Ambrosius Valentin) (Milan, 7 January 1826 – Vienna, 15 December 1891), was an Archduke of Austria.

Life

Palmhouse in the Gmünd Castle gardenIn Imperial-Austrian military services, Sigismund reached the rank of Fieldmarshal-Lieutenant and was owner of the Infantry Regiment No. 45. He participated at the head of a brigade in the Battles of Santa Lucia, Pastrengo and Novara (1848-1849). In 1852 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece by Emperor Franz Joseph.

In 1859 Sigismund came into the possession of Gmünd Castle. As a passionate botanist and dendrologist, he had an orchid and palm house as well as a spacious landscape park constructed.

Sigismund contracted a viral disease then called influenza (see 1889–1890 pandemic) in Vienna on December 15th 1891, died from pneumonia unmarried and childless four days later and was buried in his own mausoleum in the Gmünd cemetery.

Orders and decorations Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, 1852 Knight of the Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky Knight of the Imperial Order of the White Eagle Knight of the Imperial Order of Saint Anna, 1st Class

Ancestry