The definitions of controllability, observability and stability were presented for fractional-order linear systems. Using the Cayley-Hamilton theorem and Mittag-Leffler function in two parameters, the sufficient and necessary conditions of controllability and observability for such systems were derived. In terms of Lyapunov's stability theory, using the theorems of Mittage-Leffler function in two parameters this paper directly derived the sufficient and necessary condition of stability for such systems. The results obtained are useful for the analysis and synthesis of fractional-order linear control systems.