The New Student's Reference Work/Francis II

Francis II of Germany and I of Austria, was born at Florence, Italy, on Feb. 12, 1768, and succeeded his father, Leopold II, in 1792. His reign was a series of wars against Napoleon, in which, with the exception of the last, he was beaten. In 1806 he formally abdicated the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and made Austria an empire, himself becoming its first emperor. Although narrow-minded, Francis was a popular ruler. He died at Vienna on March 2, 1835.