Ferdinand I of Austria

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Emperor Ferdinand
Emperor Ferdinand

Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia (April 19, 1793June 29, 1875) succeeded his father (Franz II Holy Roman Emperor/Franz I of Austria) as emperor and king (as Ferdinand V) in 1835. He chose to abdicate, after a series of revolts in 1848. He was also King of Lombardy-Venetia.

Born Ferdinand Karl Leopold Joseph Franz Marchlin, he was feeble-minded and epileptic, but was nevertheless placed on the throne by Metternich in order to preserve the throne's legitimacy against all challenges. Though he was not declared incapacitated, a regent's council, including other Habsburgs and Metternich, steered the government. His marriage to Princess Maria Anna of Sardinia (1803-1884) was probably never consummated, nor is he believed to have had any other liaisons. He is famous for his one coherent command: when someone tried to keep him from eating dumplings because his digestive system could not stand them, he said “I'm the Emperor, and I want dumplings!” (German: Ich bin der Kaiser und will Knödel.) [1]

With the breakout of revolution in Vienna in 1848, Metternich fled the country. As the revolutionaries were marching on the palace, he is supposed to have asked Metternich for an explanation. When Metternich answered that they were making a revolution, Ferdinand is supposed to have said “But are they allowed to do that?” (German: Ja, dürfen's denn des?) He was convinced by Felix zu Schwarzenberg to abdicate in favour of his nephew, Franz Joseph, who would occupy the Austrian throne for the next sixty-eight years.

Ferdinand was the last King of Bohemia to be crowned as such. Due to his sympathy with Bohemia (where he spent the rest of his life in Prague Castle) he was given the Czech nickname “Ferdinand V, the Good” (Ferdinand Dobrotivý). In Austria, Ferdinand was similarly nicknamed “Ferdinand der Gütige” (Ferdinand the Benign), but also ridiculed as "Gütinand der Fertige" (Goodinand the Finished).

He is buried in tomb number 62 in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.

[edit] Ancestors

Ferdinand's ancestors in three generations
Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria Father:
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Father's father:
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Father's father's father:
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Father's father's mother:
Maria Theresa of Austria
Father's mother:
Maria Luisa of Spain
Father's mother's father:
Charles III of Spain
Father's mother's mother:
Maria Amalia of Saxony
Mother:
Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies
Mother's father:
Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
Mother's father's father:
Charles III of Spain
Mother's father's mother:
Maria Amalia of Saxony
Mother's mother:
Marie Caroline of Austria
Mother's mother's father:
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother's mother's mother:
Maria Theresa of Austria


[edit] References

  1. ^ According to A.J.P. Taylor, he was in fact asking for noodles - "But it is an unacceptable pun in English for a noodle to ask for noodles" - The Habsburg Monarchy 1809–1918

[edit] External links

Monarchical Styles of
Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria
Reference style His Imperial Majesty
Spoken style Your Imperial Majesty
Alternative style Sire
Preceded by
Francis I
Emperor of Austria
1835-1848
Succeeded by
Franz Joseph I
King of Hungary
1835-1848
King of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia
1835-1848
Head of House of Habsburg
1835-1848
Preceded by
Francis I
King of Bohemia
1835-1848
Succeeded by
Franz Joseph I
Preceded by
Francis I of Austria
President of the German Confederation
1835–1848
Succeeded by
Franz Joseph I of Austria