It would be presumption, of course, to represent this biography as the full and final portrait of Francis Joseph as he really is. The complete material for such a definite portrait of a sovereign is never made available during the sovereign’s life-time; and the portraits drawn by people who have occupied privileged positions at Court are generally the most colourless of all: misleading—and, as a rule, designed to mislead—by excess of eulogy. Discretion, in such cases, takes the place of criticism; the “selection” is not that of the artist, but of the courtier. The illustrious personage thus officially or semi-officially portrayed “comes out” not as an individual, but as a type: as conventional and as unconvincing as the stock “heavy father” or “gentlemanly villain” of melodrama. Sir Horace Rumbold’s polite portrait of Francis Joseph is one of many marked by those limitations. The popular Austrian portraits are still more distinctly marked by them.
One need not wonder, and one must not complain. The path to candour was blocked by the obligations, in the one case of hospitality, and, in the other, of loyalty; but there is no reason why the historian who is not under such obligations should not criticise more freely. His object is neither depreciation nor flattery, but truth—as much of the truth as is attainable at the given moment; and he must therefore resist the common tendency of the biographers of contemporary rulers to credit their subjects, not only with their own particular virtues, but with all other people’s virtues as well. The only result, in moral portraiture, of attributing virtues with too heavy a hand is to produce a picture in which the wood cannot be seen for the trees.
That error must be avoided, as much in the interest of the subject of the portrait as in that of the public to which it is to be submitted. The real virtues will be more conspicuous if no imaginary virtues are allowed to block our view of them, and if other miscellaneous qualities which contrast with them are given their due tribute of attention. Cromwell, it will be remembered, insisted that the artist should paint him “warts and all,”; and if the Life of an Emperor is not to be written in that spirit, one might just as well refrain from writing it, for there would be nothing to be learnt from it when it was written.
FRANCIS GRIBBLE.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
|---|---|
| Chapter I | |
| The collapse of the Holy Roman Empire—The impossibility of reviving it—The German Federation—The Holy Alliance—The policy of sitting on the safety valve—The consequent explosions—The problems consequently prepared for Francis Joseph—The Head of the House of Habsburg—Inseparable connection between the events of his public and private life | [1] |
| Chapter II | |
| The House of Habsburg from the standpoint of Eugenics—The “Habsburg jaw”—Degeneracy the consequence of consanguineous marriages—Sound physiological instinct of King Cophetua—And of those Habsburgs who have followed his example—Morganatic marriages—The family organism fighting for its life—Has Francis Joseph understood?—Indications that he has understood in part | [10] |
| Chapter III | |
| Francis Joseph’s ancestors—Francis, Duke of Lorraine—Francis II.—Leopold II.—Collaterals—The Spanish marriages of the Habsburgs—Their alliances with Portugal, the various Bourbons, and the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria—Moral and mental defects thus perpetuated and emphasised—Francis Joseph as the sane champion of a mad family | [20] |
| Chapter IV | |
| Francis Joseph’s childhood—The severe education which prepared him for his rôle—Difficulties of that rôle—The Liberal revolt against the Metternich system—The idea of nationality—Hübner’s surprise that anyone should object to Austrian rule—Every Austrian a policeman at heart—The Italian rising of 1848—Francis Joseph in action—Radetzky’s remonstrances—Francis Joseph’s return to his studies | [29] |
| Chapter V | |
| The risings of 1848—Princess Mélanie Metternich’s excited account of it—Disorderly flight of Metternich from Vienna—The House of Habsburg saved by “three mutinous soldiers”—Abdication of the Emperor Ferdinand in favour of his nephew, Francis Joseph—Hübner’s description of the ceremony | [39] |
| Chapter VI | |
| Attitude of the Hungarians towards Francis Joseph—They denounce him as a traitor, and banish him from Hungary—Contempt of Austrians for Hungarians—The conquest of Hungary with Russian help—Repression and atrocities—Women flogged by order of Marshal Haynau—Marshal Haynau himself flogged by Barclay and Perkins’ draymen in London, and spat upon by women in Brussels—Popular song written on that occasion | [51] |
| Chapter VII | |
| Why Francis Joseph was called “The child of the gallows”—His affront to Napoleon III., and its consequences—The Bach system and the objections to it—Francis Joseph’s bonhomie—The attempt on his life—Impressions formed of him by the King of the Belgians, and Lady Westmorland—The story of his romantic marriage | [64] |
| Chapter VIII | |
| The failure of the marriage—Difficulty of explaining it—The two conflicting personalities—Francis Joseph’s personality obvious—The Empress Elizabeth’s personality mysterious—Her sympathy with the Hungarians, and its political importance—Her confession of melancholy | [77] |
| Chapter IX | |
| Francis Joseph’s Egeria—Elizabeth’s mother-in-law—Elizabeth’s quarrels with etiquette—The beginnings of estrangement—The functions of Countess Marie Larisch in the imperial household—Captain “Bay” Middleton—Nicholas Esterhazy—Elizabeth’s fairy story—Her cynical attitude towards life | [86] |
| Chapter X | |
| “The Martyrdom of an Empress”—Correction of inaccuracies contained in that popular work—Francis Joseph’s friends—“A Polish Countess”—Frau Katti Schratt—Enduring attachment—Rumour of morganatic marriage—Interview with Frau Schratt on that subject—“Darby and Joan” | [99] |
| Chapter XI | |
| Francis Joseph’s passion for field sports—Enthusiasm of a nation of sportsmen for a sportsman Emperor—Anecdotes of sport—Estrangement of the Emperor and the Empress—The Empress’s departure for Madeira—Her wanderjahre—Her attitude towards life—The keeping up of appearances | [113] |
| Chapter XII | |
| Francis Joseph’s snub to Napoleon III.—Proposal to address him as “Sir” instead of “Brother”—The consequences—Napoleon asks: “What can one do for Italy?”—Austria at war with France and Italy—The crimes committed by Austria in Italy—Battles of Magenta and Solferino—Francis Joseph compelled to surrender Lombardy, but allowed to retain Venetia | [122] |
| Chapter XIII | |
| An interval of peace—Beginnings of trouble with Prussia—Habsburg pride precedes a Habsburg fall—Refusal to sell Venetia to Italy—Italy joins Prussia—The war of 1866—The disaster of Sadowa—Benedek’s failure—Shameful treatment of Benedek by the Empire—Vain attempts to conciliate him—His widow’s comments | [132] |
| Chapter XIV | |
| Francis Joseph comes to terms with Hungary—His famous interview with Francis Deák—“Well, Deák, what does Hungary demand?”—Dualism—The objection of the Slavs to Dualism—Coronation at Buda—Andrassy, whom he had hanged in effigy, becomes his Prime Minister | [143] |
| Chapter XV | |
| Attitude of Austria in the Franco-German War—Proposed alliance of France, Italy, and Austria against Prussia—General Türr’s interview with Francis Joseph—Victor Emmanuel’s conditions—The bargain concluded—The French plan of campaign drafted by the Archduke Albert—Beust’s fetter to Richard Metternich—Reasons why the Austrian promises were not fulfilled | [148] |
| Chapter XVI | |
| Austrian expansion in the Balkans—Occupation of Bosnia—Problem of Servia Irredenta—Postponement of the day of reckoning—Luck of the Habsburgs in public life—Calamities dog them in private life—List of Habsburg fatalities during Francis Joseph’s reign | [158] |
| Chapter XVII | |
| Francis Joseph’s brother Maximilian—Invited to be Emperor of Mexico—Hesitates, but consents to please his wife—Resignation of his rights as a Habsburg—The Pacte de Famille and the quarrel about it—The compromise—The last meeting of the brothers—Maximilian’s melancholy—He composes poetry—He receives the benediction of the Pope and departs for his Empire | [164] |
| Chapter XVIII | |
| Vanity and nervousness of the Empress Charlotte—Evil omens which frightened—Her journey to Europe to seek help for Maximilian—Her cold reception by Napoleon III.—Symptoms of approaching insanity—Her madness—Maximilian abandoned by the French—Attacked by the Republicans—Captured at Queretaro—Francis Joseph’s vain attempt to save him—His trial and execution | [176] |
| Chapter XIX | |
| Habsburgs and Wittelsbachs—Which is the madder House?—Insanity of the Empress Elizabeth’s cousin, Ludwig II. of Bavaria—His eccentricities—His tragic death—Grief of the Empress—Suicide of Elizabeth’s brother-in-law, the Comte de Trani—Tragic death of the Archduchess Elizabeth | [187] |
| Chapter XX | |
| The Crown Prince Rudolph—His quarrel with the German Emperor—His affability and his hauteur—A spoiled child—His search for a wife—Marriage to Princess Stéphanie—Disappointment and disillusion—Stéphanie’s book—“A long, long, terrible night has gone by for me”—Mary Vetsera and her family—How Mary Vetsera was taken first to the Hofburg and thence to Meyerling | [193] |
| Chapter XXI | |
| What the Archduchess Stéphanie knew—What Rudolph knew that she knew—The search for Mary Vetsera by her relatives—The news of the Meyerling tragedy—The two official versions—The many unofficial versions—The attempt to hush the matter up—Mary Vetsera’s letter to Countess Marie Larisch | [208] |
| Chapter XXII | |
| Fantastic legends of the Meyerling tragedy—Talks with the Crown Prince’s valet—Foolish story given by Berliner Lokal Anzeiger—What the Grand Duke of Tuscany knew—What Count Nigra knew—What Countess Marie Larisch tells—Her story confirmed from a contemporary source—Doubts which remain in spite of it—Was it suicide or murder? | [218] |
| Chapter XXIII | |
| The Archduke John Salvator—His many accomplishments—His criticisms of his superiors—His disgrace at Court—His love affair with an English lady—“Your darling Archduckling”—His proposal to abandon his rank and earn his living as a teacher of languages—His love affair with Milly Stübel—He quarrels with Francis Joseph, takes the name of John Orth, and leaves Austria | [232] |
| Chapter XXIV | |
| John Orth—Had he been plotting with Rudolph?—Indirect confirmation of story told by Countess Marie Larisch—Did John Orth really marry Milly Stübel?—Failure to find the proofs of the marriage—John Orth’s letters written on the eve of his departure for America—Disappearance of his ship off Cape Horn—Is John Orth really dead?—Examination of the reasons for believing that he is still alive | [244] |
| Chapter XXV | |
| The revolt of the Archdukes—Instructive analogies—Later years of the Empress Elizabeth—Her manner of life described by M. Paoli, the Corsican detective—Her fearlessness—Her superstitions—Various evil omens—The last excursion—Assassination of the Empress at Geneva—How Francis Joseph received the news | [259] |
| Chapter XXVI | |
| “Austria’s idiot Archdukes”—A catalogue raisonné—The Emperor’s brothers—The Archduke Rainer—The Archduke Henry and the actress—The Archduke Louis Salvator, the Hermit of the Balearic Islands—The Archduke Charles Salvator—The Archduke Joseph—The Archduke Eugène and his vow to be “as chaste as possible”—The Archduke William and his courtship in the café—The Archduke Leopold—The awful Archduke Otto and his manifold vagaries | [272] |
| Chapter XXVII | |
| The centrifugal marriages of the Habsburgs—Francis Joseph’s attitude towards them—His attitude towards Baron Walburg, the Habsburg who had come down in the world—Where he draws the line—His refusal to sanction the marriage of the Archduke Ferdinand Charles to the daughter of a high-school teacher—The Archduke resigns his rank and becomes Charles Burg—Marriage of the daughter of Archduchess Gisela to Baron Otto von Seefried zu Buttenheim | [284] |
| Chapter XXVIII | |
| The marriage of Archduchess Stéphanie to Count Lonyay—Attitude of the King of the Belgians towards that marriage—Attitude of Francis Joseph—He sanctions the union, but snubs the bridegroom—Marriage of the Archduchess Elizabeth to Otto von Windischgraetz—Francis Joseph’s approval—The Windischgraetzes raised to the rank of Serene Highnesses | [294] |
| Chapter XXIX | |
| The Archduke Francis Ferdinand—An invalid who delayed to marry—Report of his betrothal to the Archduchess Gabrielle—Announcement of his betrothal to Countess Sophie Chotek—Anecdotes of the courtship—Indignation of the Archduchess Gabrielle’s mother—Attitude of Francis Joseph—He permits the marriage on condition that it shall be morganatic—Francis Ferdinand compelled to swear a solemn oath that he is marrying beneath him, and that his children will be unworthy to succeed him—Reason for doubting whether he will eventually be bound by his oath | [301] |
| Chapter XXX | |
| The “terrible year” of the Habsburg annals—Proceedings of Princess Louisa of Tuscany—The taint inherited from the Bourbons of Parma—Princess Louisa’s suitors—Her marriage to Prince Frederick August of Saxony—She bicycles with the dentist—She runs away to Switzerland with her brother, the Archduke Leopold, and her children’s tutor—Attitude of the Courts towards her escapade—Official notice on the subject in the Wiener Zeitung | [315] |
| Chapter XXXI | |
| The romantic Quadruple Alliance—The jarring notes—Princess Louisa’s objections to her brother’s companion Fräulein Adamovics—The sentimental life of the Archduke Leopold—He becomes “Herr Wulfling,” and marries Fräulein Adamovics—Herr and Frau Wulfling run wild in woods—Herr Wulfling divorces his wife and marries again—His confidences to Signor Toselli—Princess Louisa’s conception of the Simple Life—Her manners shock the Swiss—She dismisses M. Giron—Her marriage to Signor Toselli | [326] |
| Chapter XXXII | |
| The summing up—The probable future of Austria—The probable future of the House of Habsburg—Questions both personal and political which will be raised when Francis Joseph dies—The extent to which he has been “in the movement”—The faithful companion of his old age | [341] |
| INDEX | [353] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH (from a recent portrait by Bieber) | [frontispiece] |
| THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH AT THE TIME OF HIS ACCESSION IN 1848 | To face page[ 52] |
| THE EMPRESS ELIZABETH OF AUSTRIA | [ 82] |
| THE COUNTESS MARIE LARISCH AT THE TIME OF HER MARRIAGE | [96] |
| THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH IN 1866 | [138] |
| MAXIMILIAN, EMPEROR OF MEXICO | [166] |
| CHARLOTTE, WIFE OF MAXIMILIAN, EMPEROR OF MEXICO | [180] |
| KING LUDWIG II. OF BAVARIA | [190] |
| THE CROWN PRINCE RUDOLPH | [196] |
| THE HOFBURG, VIENNA | [204] |
| THE CROWN PRINCESS STÉPHANIE | [210] |
| THE BARONESS MARY VETSERA | [224] |
| THE ARCHDUKE JOHN OF TUSCANY (John Orth) | [254] |
| THE ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND | [302] |
| THE DUCHESS OF HOHENBERG (wife of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand) | [312] |
| PRINCESS LOUISA OF TUSCANY (Ex-Crown Princess of Saxony) | [338] |
| FRAU SCHRATT | [350] |