Habsburg

is a contraction of Habichts - burg (Hawk’s Tower); so called from the castle on the right bank of the Aar, built in the eleventh century by Werner, Bishop of Strasburg, whose nephew (Werner II.) was the first to assume the title of “Count of Habsburg.” His great-grandson, Albrecht II., assumed the title of “Landgraf of Sundgau.” His grandson, Albrecht IV., in the thirteenth century, laid the foundation of the greatness of the House of Habsburg, of which the imperial family of Austria are the representatives.