The Habsburg Monarchy (or Habsburg Empire) covers the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg (1278–1780), and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine (from 1780), between 1526 and 1867/1918.

The Imperial capital is Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it is moved to Prague.

The monarchy from 1804 to 1867 is usually referred to as the "Austrian Empire" and from 1867 to 1918 as "Austria-Hungary".

The head of the House of Habsburg is usually also the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1440 until its dissolution in 1806.

However, the two entities should not be considered coterminous, as the Habsburg Empire cover many lands beyond the Holy Roman Empire, and not all of the Holy Roman Empire is de facto under direct Habsburg control at any given time.

In some contexts, the term "Habsburg Empire" might also refer to extended Habsburg family possessions once ruled solely by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, or to the Spanish Empire ruled by the senior Spanish branch of the house.The Habsburg family originated with the Habsburg Castle in modern Switzerland and after 1278 came to rule in Austria (the Habsburg Hereditary Lands).

The Habsburg family grew to European prominence with the marriage and adoption treaty by Emperor Maximilian I at the First Congress of Vienna in 1515 and the subsequent death of adopted Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia in 1526.

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, the younger brother of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, is elected the next King of Bohemia and Hungary following the death of Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia, in the Battle of Mohács against the Turks.Emperor Francis II dissolves the empire in August 1806 after its defeat by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz.Emperor Francis II dissolves the empire in August 1806 after its defeat by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz.