Chapter I: Preface

There exist plenty of surveys of the modern history and political conditions of Austria. Mr. Henry Wickham Steed’s “The Habsburg Monarchy” is the most recent, and probably the best, though Mr. R. P. Mahaffy’s “Francis Joseph I.: His Life and Times”—a smaller and less pretentious book—is also very good. One knows equally well where to turn for gossipy compilations—some of them authoritative, and others devoid of authority—dealing with the inner life of the Austrian Court. Sir Horace Rumbold has treated the subject with the dutiful reticence of a diplomatist in “The Austrian Court of the Nineteenth Century”; Countess Marie Larisch and Princess Louisa of Tuscany, occupying positions of greater freedom and less responsibility, have in “My Past” and “My Own Story” lifted the veil with indignant gestures, and pointed fingers of scorn at the intimate pictures which they have revealed. M. H. de Weindel, again, has written of “François-Joseph Intime”; while the enterprise of an American journalist has contributed “The Keystone of Empire,” “The Martyrdom of an Empress,” and “The Private Life of Two Emperors—William II. of Germany and Francis Joseph of Austria.”

This bibliographical list—to which additions could easily be made—might seem to indicate that the ground has already been well covered; but that is not the case. There exists no life of Francis Joseph, and no History of Austria, in which the personal and political aspects of the subject are considered in their relation to each other. The assumption of writers who have previously treated the theme has been that tittle-tattle is tittle-tattle, and that history is history, and that the two can never meet. The two things, however, are liable to meet anywhere; and in the country and period here under review they are continually meeting. Austria is not one of the “inevitable” countries, like England and Spain, bound to have a separate existence under some form of government or other because of their geographical situation and the national characteristics of their inhabitants. There is no Austrian nation: only a medley of races which detest each other, bound (but by no means welded) together for the supposed convenience of the rest of Europe, and unified only by the fact that its component parts all appertain to the dominions of the House of Habsburg.

It follows that the personality of the Habsburgs matters in a sense in which the personalities of rulers who are mere figure-heads does not matter; and that personality—the collective personality as well as the separate personalities of individual members of the House—can only be gauged by those who study their private lives in conjunction with their public performances. The history of the property (seeing that it comprises peoples as well as lands) includes and implies the history of the owners of the property. Our spectacle, in so far as one can sum it up in a sentence, is that of an Empire continually threatened with dissolution under the control of an historic family continually displaying all the symptoms of decadence. The political and the personal factors in the problem are perpetually interacting; and one of the questions which the political prophet has to consider is: Will not the decadence of the family hasten the dissolution of the Empire?

Whence it follows, as a secondary sequence, that, in the history of modern Austria, tittle-tattle matters; for it is only by the careful study of the tittle-tattle that we can hope to discover whether the Habsburgs of to-day are true or false to the proud and impressive traditions of their House. In their case, as in that of any other House, a stray story of a romantic or scandalous character might properly be ignored as appertaining to the domain of idle gossip; but when stories of that kind meet us at every turn—and meet us with increasing frequency as time proceeds—we are no longer entitled to dismiss them with superior indifference. They are significant; the key to the situation is to be found in them. Tittle-tattle, in short, when one encounters it, not in sample but in bulk, ceases to be tittle-tattle, but attains to the dignity of history, and furnishes the raw material for the generalisations of the political philosopher.

The annals of the House of Habsburg furnish a case in point—the best of all possible cases. There is no House in Europe whose annals are richer in incident and eccentricity; and the eccentricities, whether romantic or scandalous, are such as to challenge the scientific investigator—whether he be a student of eugenics or of politics—to group them and see what inferences he can draw. The present writer has decided to take up the challenge; and, in order to take it up, he will be obliged to deal with a good many matters besides the political manœuvres of the Emperor and his Ministers. “John Orth” pelting the Emperor with the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece; “Herr Wulfling” cracking nuts in a tree with Fräulein Adamovics; Princess Louisa of Tuscany, first bicycling with the dentist in the Dresden Park, and then appealing to her son’s tutor to come and “compromise” her in Switzerland—all these are matters which may suggest reflections quite as far-reaching as anything that we read about Francis Joseph’s skill in extricating his country from embarrassments with rival Powers and keeping the peace (in so far as it has been kept) between Ruthenians and Galicians.

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