Emperor Franz Josef. Self: Kaiser Wilhelm and Emperor Franz Josef, and Prince Henry Riding Horseback. Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (18 August 1830 - 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 2 December 1848 until his death. From 1 May 1850 to 24 August 1866 he was also President of the German Confederation. He was the...