Charles I of Austria
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The Blessed Charles I (Karl Franz Josef Ludwig Hubert Georg Maria von Habsburg-Lothringen) (17 August 1887 – 1 April 1922) (Hungarian: IV. Károly (Károly Ferenc József)) was (among other titles) the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary and Bohemia, and the last monarch of the Habsburg dynasty. He reigned as Charles I as Emperor of Austria and Charles IV as King of Hungary from 1916 until 1918, when Austria was proclaimed a republic and he renounced this new form of government, but did not abdicate. He spent the remaining years of his life attempting to restore the monarchy until his death in 1922. His name is usually anglicized as "Charles".
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[edit] Life
Charles was the son of Archduke Otto Franz of Austria (1865–1906) and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony (1867–1944); he was also a nephew of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Este, whose assassination triggered World War I. In 1911, he was married to Princess Zita of Parma.
Charles became heir-presumptive when his uncle Francis Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914, the event which precipitated World War I. Charles' reign began in 1916, with the death of his grand-uncle, Francis Joseph I. In 1916, he also became a Generalfeldmarschall in the Austro-Hungarian Army. On 2 December 1916, he took over the title of Supreme Commander to a whole army from Archduke Frederick. In 1917, Charles secretly entered into peace negotiations with France. Although his foreign minister, Ottokar Czernin, was only interested in negotiating a general peace which would include Germany as well, Charles himself, in negotiations with the French with his brother-in-law, Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma, an officer in the Belgian army, as intermediary, went much further in suggesting his willingness to make a separate peace. When news of the overture leaked in April 1918, Charles denied all involvement until the French prime minister Georges Clemenceau published letters signed by him. This led to Czernin's resignation, forcing Austria-Hungary into an even more dependent position with respect to its seemingly wronged German ally.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was wracked by inner turmoil in the final years of the war, with much tension between ethnic groups. US President Woodrow Wilson demanded that the Empire allow for the self-determination of its peoples as part of his Fourteen Points. In response, Charles agreed to reconvene the Imperial parliament and allow for the creation of a confederation with each national group exercising self-governance. However, the reforms quickly spiraled out of control, with each national government declaring complete independence. Charles' political future quickly became uncertain. For a while it appeared as though he might reign as monarch of a newly independent Austria, but Austria's new republican government ultimately vetoed this idea.
On 11 November 1918, he proclaimed formally "I relinquish every participation in the administration of the State" but did not abdicate his thrones[1]. By this time, nearly all the nationalities of the empire had proclaimed their intention to secede from the monarchy[1]. He then fled to Switzerland and continued to pursue regaining power from exile. Encouraged by Hungarian nationalists, he sought twice in 1921 to reclaim the throne of Hungary but failed due to various factors including the lack of support of the Hungarian Regent Miklós Horthy. Horthy's failure to support Charles' restoration attempts is often described as "treasonous" by monarchists. Critics suggest that Horthy's actions were more firmly grounded in political reality than the King of Hungary and his supporters. He left Hungary from the city of Baja forever. (For a more detailed account of Charles' attempts to regain the throne, see Charles I of Austria's conflict with Miklós Horthy.)
His brief rule is considered by the Roman Catholic Church to have expressed Catholic social teaching, and he created a social legal framework which survives in part to this day. After his failed attempts to regain the Hungarian Crown, he and his Queen were first imprisoned and then exiled to Madeira, together with their children, where they lived in impoverished conditions until his death [2]
He died of severe pneumonia (brought on after Charles, an already sickly man, walked into town on a freezing winter's day) on the Portuguese island of Madeira in 1922. His remains are still kept on the island, in the Church of Our Lady of the Monte, in spite of several attempts to move them to the Habsburg Crypt in Vienna. During his stay on the island, his personal chaplain was Priest Jorge de Faria e Castro.
[edit] After his death
Historians have been mixed in their evaluations of Charles and his reign. One of the most critical has been Helmut Rumpler, head of the Habsburg commission of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, who has described Charles as "a dilettante, far too weak for the challenges facing him, out of his depth, and not really a politician." However, others have seen Charles as a brave and honorable figure who tried as emperor-king to halt World War I. The English writer, Herbert Vivian, wrote: "Karl was a great leader, a prince of peace, who wanted to save the world from a year of war; a stateman with ideas to save his people from the complicated problems of his empire; a king who loved his people, a fearless man, a noble soul, distinguished, a saint from whose grave blessings come." Furthermore, Anatole France, the French novelist, stated: "Emperor Karl is the only decent man to come out of the war in a leadership position, yet he was a saint and no one listened to him. He sincerely wanted peace, and therefore was despised by the whole world. It was a wonderful chance that was lost."
All of these various viewpoints give weight to the words of Pope Saint Pius X during an audience with a young Charles: "I bless Archduke Charles, who will be the future Emperor of Austria and will help lead his countries and peoples to great honor and many blessings--but this will not become obvious until after his death."
[edit] Beatification
Charles has been solemnly declared blessed in the ceremony of beatification by the Roman Catholic Church. The Church has praised Charles for putting his Christian faith first in making political decisions, and for his perceived role as a peacemaker during the war, especially after 1917. During the Mass of Beatification on 3 October 2004, Pope John Paul II stated:
The decisive task of Christians consists in seeking, recognizing and following God's will in all things. The Christian statesman, Charles of Austria , confronted this challenge every day. To his eyes, war appeared as "something appalling". Amid the tumult of the First World War, he strove to promote the peace initiative of my Predecessor, Benedict XV.
From the beginning, the Emperor Charles conceived of his office as a holy service to his people. His chief concern was to follow the Christian vocation to holiness also in his political actions. For this reason, his thoughts turned to social assistance. May he be an example for all of us, especially for those who have political responsibilities in Europe today!
The cause or campaign began in 1949 when testimony of his holiness was collected in the Archdiocese of Vienna. In 1954, he was declared venerable, the first step on the process beatification. The League of Prayers established for the promotion of his cause has created this website. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna has been the Church's sponsor for his beatification.
Recent milestones include:
- On 14 April 2003, the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the presence of Pope John Paul II, promulgated Charles of Austria's "heroic virtues."
- On 21 December 2003, the Congregation certified, on the basis of three expert medical opinions, that a miracle in 1960 occurred through the intercession of Charles. The miracle attributed to Charles was the scientifically inexplicable healing of a Brazilian nun with debilitating varicose veins; she was able to get out of bed after she prayed for his beatification.
- On 3 October 2004, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II. The Pope also declared 21 October, the date of Charles' marriage in 1911 to Princess Zita, as Charles' feast day. The beatification has caused controversy because of the mistaken belief that Charles authorized his army's use of poison gas during World War I[2], when he was the first, and only, world leader during the war who banned its use.
- Currently, several possible miracles attributed to his intercession are being investigated and documented. Another miracle is required for his canonization as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
[edit] Issue
The Emperor Charles had eight children (six boys and two girls):
- Crown Prince Otto (1912–), married Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen and Hildburghausen and has issue
- Archduchess Adelheid (1914–1971), unmarried
- Archduke Robert (1915–1996), married Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta and had issue
- Archduchess Marie Beatrice (b. 1954)
- Archduke Lorenzo (b. 1955), married Princess Astrid of Belgium and has issue
- Archduke Amedeo (b. 1986)
- Archduchess Maria Laura (b. 1988)
- Archduke Joachim (b. 1991)
- Archduchess Luisa Maria (b. 1995)
- Archduchess Laetitia Maria (b. 2003)
- Archduke Gerhard (b. 1957)
- Archduke Martin (b. 1959)
A crowned King Charles on horseback on the coronation mound
One of the traditional features of the coronation of Hungarian monarchs. - Archduchess Isabella (b. 1963)
- Archduke Felix (1916–), married Princess Anna-Eugénie of Arenberg and has issue
- Archduke Karl Ludwig (1918–), married Princess Yolande of Ligne and has issue
- Archduke Rudolf (b. 1950)
- Archduchess Alexandra (b. 1952)
- Archduke Karl Christian (b. 1954), married Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg and has issue
- Archduchess Marie Christine (b. 1983)
- Archduke Imre (b. 1985)
- Archduke Christoph (b. 1988)
- Archduke Alexander (b. 1990)
- Archduchess Gabriella (b. 1994)
- Archduchess Maria Constance (b. 1957)
- Archduke Rudolf (1919–), married firstly Countess Xenia Tschernyscheva-Besobrasova and secondly Princess Anna of Wrede, has issue by both
- Archduchess Maria-Anne (b. 1954)
- Archduke Carl Peter (b. 1955)
- Archduke Simeon (b. 1958)
- Archduke Johannes Carl (1962–1975)
- Archduchess Catherine (b. 1972)
- Archduchess Charlotte (1921–1989), married Count Georg of Carlow, Duke of Mecklenburg
- Archduchess Elisabeth (1922–1993), married Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein and had issue
[edit] Quotes
- "Now, we must help each other to get to Heaven."[3] Addressing Empress Zita on October 22, 1911, the day before their wedding.
- "I am an officer with all my body and soul, but I do not see how anyone who sees his dearest relations leaving for the front can love war."[4] Addressing Empress Zita after the outbreak of World War I.
- "I have done my duty, as I came here to do. As crowned King, I not only have a right, I also have a duty. I must uphold the right, the dignity and honor of the Crown... For me, this is not something light. With the last breath of my life I must take the path of duty. Whatever I regret, Our Lord and Savior has led me."[5] Addressing Cardinal Csernoch after the defeat of his attempt to regain the Hungarian throne in 1921. The British Government had vainly hoped that the Cardinal would be able to persuade him to renounce his title as King of Hungary.
- "I must suffer like this so my people will come together again."[6] Spoken in Madeira, during his last illness.
- "I can't go on much longer... Thy will be done... Yes... Yes... As you will it... Jesus!"[7] Reciting his last words while contemplating a crucifix held by Empress Zita.
[edit] Ancestors
| Charles I, Emperor of Austria | Father: Otto Franz of Austria |
Father's father: Karl Ludwig of Austria |
Father's father's father: Franz Karl of Austria |
| Father's father's mother: Sophie of Bavaria |
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| Father's mother: Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies |
Father's mother's father: Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies |
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| Father's mother's mother: Maria Theresa of Austria |
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| Mother: Maria Josepha of Saxony |
Mother's father: George of Saxony |
Mother's father's father: John I of Saxony |
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| Mother's father's mother: Amelia of Bavaria |
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| Mother's mother: Maria Anna of Portugal |
Mother's mother's father: Ferdinand II of Portugal |
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| Mother's mother's mother: Maria II of Portugal |
[edit] Official style of Charles I
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His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty,
Charles the First,
By the Grace of God, Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, of this name the Fourth, King of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, and Galicia, Lodomeria, and Illyria; King of Jerusalem etc., Archduke of Austria; Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow, Duke of Lorraine and of Salzburg, of Styria, of Carinthia, of Carniola and of the Bukovina; Grand Prince of Transylvania; Margrave of Moravia; Duke of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, of Auschwitz and Zator, of Teschen, Friuli, Ragusa and Zara; Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia and Gradisca; Prince of Trent and Brixen; Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria; Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, etc.; Lord of Trieste, of Cattaro, and in the Wendish Mark; Grand Voivode of the Voivodship of Serbia etc. etc.
[edit] See also
- Otto von Habsburg, Charles' oldest son and as of 2007 head of the Habsburg family
- Austria-Hungary
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Kings and Queens of Hungary & Princes of Transylvania, by István Gombás published by Corvina, Budapest, 2002 (ISBN 963-13-5152-1)
- ^ Blessed Emperor Charles, Prince of Peace for a United Europe, a Roman Catholic pamphlet, Nihil Obstat: Archdiocese of Vienna, 6.7.2005, K1238/05.
- ^ James and Joanna Bogle, "A Heart for Europe," page 35.
- ^ Bogle, "A Heart for Europe," page 54.
- ^ Bogle, "A Heart for Europe," page 137.
- ^ Bogle, "A Heart for Europe," page 143.
- ^ Bogle, "A Heart for Europe," page 144.
[edit] External links
| House of Habsburg-Lothringen Born: 17 August 1887 Died: 1 April 1922 |
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| Preceded by Franz Joseph I |
Emperor of Austria 1916-1918 |
Succeeded by Directory of the Council of State |
| King of Hungary 1916-1918 |
Succeeded by Mihály Károlyi Provisional President |
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| King of Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1916-1918 |
Succeeded by National Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs |
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| King of Bohemia 1916-1918 |
Succeeded by Tomáš Masaryk President of Czechoslovakia |
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| Head of the house of Habsburg 1916-1922 |
Succeeded by Otto von Habsburg |
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| Preceded by Archduke Franz Ferdinand |
Archduke of Austria-Este 1914-1917 |
Succeeded by Archduke Robert |
Categories: 1887 births | 1922 deaths | Deaths by pneumonia | Austrian Field Marshals | Beatified people | Bohemian monarchs | Emperors of Austria | Field Marshals of Germany | Hungarian monarchs | House of Habsburg-Lorraine | Knights of the Golden Fleece | Knights of Malta | Roman Catholic politicians | Roman Catholic monarchs
