This page lists princely families in the territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, whether extant or extinct. The style of address was Durchlaucht (Serene Highness); also used was Fürstliche Gnaden (Princely Grace). The Austrian princely title (Fürst) was the most prestigious title of the Austrian nobility, forming the higher nobility (hoher Adel) alongside the counts (Grafen). This close inner circle, called the 100 Familien (100 families), possessed enormous riches and lands. They also had great influence at the court and thus played an important role in politics and diplomacy.
became extinct firstly in male line, recreated for husband of heiress; junior members of this family were counts of Dietrichstein & Proskau-Leslie (first family) then Dietrichstein-Mensdorff-Pouilly (second family)[3]
became extinct firstly in male line, Bohemian possessions passed to the nearest male relatives via marriage, the Schwarzenberg family, and Styrian possessions likewise to the Herberstein family.[4][5][6][7]
title of Fürst for all members (see here); elevated to ducal status by primogeniture in 1917; the head of this house is titled Herzog von Hohenberg (Duke of Hohenberg)
also comital; became extinct firstly in male line, possessions passed to the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha branch of the family via marriage to the heiress of the last prince
^ abcAlmanach českých šlechtických rodů 2001, Praha 2001
^ abcAlmanach českých šlechtických rodů 2005, Praha 2005
^Schloss Eggenberg. By Barbara Kaiser. Graz: Christian Brandstätter Verlag, 2006. p. 204. ISBN3-902510-80-3 (English Edition) or ISBN3-902510-96-X (German Edition)
^Die Fürsten und Freiherren zu Eggenberg und ihre Vorfahren. By Walther Ernest Heydendorff. Graz: Verlag Styria, 1965. pp. 187-8.
^Hans Ulrich Fürst von Eggenberg: Freund und Erster Minister Kaiser Ferdinand II.. By Hans von Zwiedineck-Südenhorst. Vienna: Wilhelm Braumüller K. K. Hof- und Universitätsbuchhändler, 1880. p. 123.
^Ein Staat in Alt-Österreich: Besitzungen der Eggenberger. By Franz Kammerhofer. Graz: Franz Kammerhofer, 1998. p. 172. ISBN3-9500808-1-3