Austria – Cap badge (Kappenabzeichen), Erzherzog Karl von Österreich

Description

This is an Austrian World War I cap badge (Kappenabzeichen), depicting Erzherzog Karl von Österreich (Archduke Charles of Austria), later Emperor Charles I of Austria (1916–1918), the last monarch of Austria-Hungary.

Portrait: Charles of Austria is depicted in uniform with a decorated collar.

Surroundings: The badge is framed by a wreath (probably laurel or oak) and surmounted by the imperial crown.

Material: Appears to be made of a cheaper metal, probably zinc or aluminum, which was common during the war years. The pin in the back have been replaced.

This badge was made around 1916, when Charles became Emperor after the death of Franz Joseph I. He was a reformist leader who tried to negotiate peace, but the monarchy fell in 1918 after the end of the war.