Archduke Stephen, Palatine of Hungary

Palatine Stephen of Hungary or Archduke Stephen Francis Victor of Austria (István nádor, Stefan Franz Viktor, Erzherzog von Österreich, Stephan Franz Viktor,) (14 September 1817, in Buda, Hungary – 19 February 1867, in Menton, France) was a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.

Biography
He was the son of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary and Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. His mother died shortly after giving birth to him and his twin sister, Archduchess Hermine of Austria. He was brought up by his stepmother, Maria Dorothea of Württemberg.

He spent much of his childhood in Buda and at the family estate in Alcsút and received an excellent education. He was mainly interested in Political Science, which he also studied later in Vienna.

Military career
He gained the rank of Lieutenant Field Marshal in the service of the Austrian Army. From 1839 until 1841 he was a courteor at Vienna. In 1841 he travelled through the different countries of the monarchy, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, the Tyrol, the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, the Papal States, Modena and Tuscany. In 1843 Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria appointed him governor of Bohemia. He stayed in that capacity until, in January 1847, his father died and he inherited the title of Count Palatine of Hungary, from 12 November 1847 to 26 September 1848.

He was the last of the Counts Palatine, as he died unmarried and without heirs.