 Archduke Charles traveled to Villa Pianore and asked for Zita ’ s hand and , on 13 June 1911 , their engagement was announced at the Austrian court . Zita in later years recalled that after her engagement she had expressed to Charles her worries about the fate of the Austrian Empire and the challenges of the monarchy . Charles and Zita were married at the Schwarzau castle on 21 October 1911 . Charles 's great @-@ uncle , the 81 @-@ year @-@ old Emperor Franz Joseph attended and , relieved to see an heir make a suitable marriage , was in good spirits , even leading the toast at the wedding breakfast . Archduchess Zita soon conceived a son , and Otto was born 20 November 1912 . Seven more children would follow in the next decade . 
