Hungary 1870 10 Silver Kreutzer Franz Joseph I the emperor of Austria (German: Kaiser von Österreich, Latin: Imperator Austriae) was the ruler of the Austrian Empire and later Cisleithania portion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The hereditary imperial title and office was proclaimed in 1804 by Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and continually held by him and his heirs until Charles I relinquished power in 1918.