Imperial–royal


The adjective kaiserlich-königlich, German for imperial–royal, was applied to the authorities and state institutions of the Austrian Empire until the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which established the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Thereafter the abbreviation k. k. only applied to institutions of the so-called Cisleithania. Common institutions of both halves of the empire were described from 1867 to 1918 as kaiserlich und königlich/k. u. k.. Contrary to the regulations, the Common Army continued to use the abbreviation k. k. to describe itself until 1889.
Today, the abbreviation k. k. is often replaced by the easier to pronounce k. u. k., but the two terms are historically and legally distinct. The prefix k. u. k. only properly referred to the authorities and institutions of both halves of the empire. The first k. referred to the Emperor of Austria. In k. k., the second k. referred, from 1867, to the King of Bohemia. In k. u. k., the second k. referred to the King of Hungary. Both the titles King of Bohemia and King of Hungary were borne by the Emperor.
The abbreviation h. k. k., which was frequently used in connexion with the central ministries, meant "high" imperial–royal, e.g. in h. k. k. Ministerium für Kultus und Unterricht, h. k. k. Statthalterei für Tirol und Vorarlberg, h. k. k. Ministerium für Handel und Volkswirthschaft, etc.

Terms used in other languages of the monarchy