Francis Joseph, also known as Franz Joseph, was a 19th century emperor of Austria and king of Hungary. Synonyms for this name include Franz Josef, Francis Joseph I, and Franz Joseph I. He is best known for ruling over Austria-Hungary for 68 years, from 1848 until his death in 1916. During his reign, he saw significant changes in his empire, including rapid modernization and the rise of nationalism. Although he initially resisted these changes, he eventually made reforms to try and keep his empire together. Despite his efforts, World War I ultimately led to the dissolution of Austria-Hungary and the end of Francis Joseph's rule.