Charles I of Austria

Blessed Charles I Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, etc. Reign 21 November 1916 - November 1918 Coronation December 30 1916 Predecessor Franz Joseph I Successor Dissolution of Empire Burial Igreja Nossa Senhora do Monte, Madeira, Muri Abbey, Switzerland (heart) Consort Zita of Bourbon-Parma Issue Otto Adelheid Robert Felix Karl Ludwig Rudolf Charlotte Elisabeth House Habsburg-Lorraine Father Archduke Otto Franz Mother Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony 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 Bohemia as Charles III., Hungary and Croatia and Slavonia, 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 he "renounced participation" in state affairs, but did not abdicate. He spent the remaining years of his life attempting to restore the monarchy until his death in 1922. Following his beatification, he has become commonly known as Blessed Charles. Life Early life Charles was born on August 17 1887, in the Castle of Persenbeug in Lower Austria. He 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. As a child, Charles was reared a devout Catholic. In 1911, Charles married Princess Zita of Parma. Charles became heir-presumptive with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, his uncle, in Sarajevo in 1914, the event which precipitated World War I. Charles' reign began in 1916, when his great-uncle, Francis Joseph I died. Charles also became a Generalfeldmarschall in the Austro-Hungarian Army. Reign 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 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 turmoil in the final years of the war, with much tension between ethnic groups. As part of his Fourteen Points, US President Woodrow Wilson demanded that the Empire allow for autonomy and self-determination of its peoples. 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, as the nationalities were now determined to pull away from Vienna at the earliest possible moment. Foreign Minister Baron Istvan Burián asked for an armistice based on the Fourteen Points on October 14, and two days later Charles issued a proclamation transforming Austria into a federal union. However, Secretary of State Robert Lansing replied four days later that the Allies were now committed to the causes of the Czechs, Slovaks and South Slavs (in fact, a Czechoslovak provisional government had joined the Allies on October 14). Therefore, autonomy for the nationalities was no longer enough. The Lansing note effectively ended any efforts to keep the Empire together. One by one, the nationalities proclaimed their independence, and Charles' political future became uncertain. On October 31, Hungary officially ended the personal union between Austria and Hungary, effectively ending the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nothing remained of Charles' realm except the Danubian and Alpine provinces, and he was challenged even there by the German Austrian state council. His last prime minister, Heinrich Lammasch, advised him that it was fruitless to stay on. On November 11--the same day as the armistice ending the war--Charles issued a carefully worded proclamation in which he recognized the Austrian people's right to determine the form of the state and "relinquish(ed) every participation in the administration of the State." He also released his officials from their oath of loyalty to him. On November 13, he issued a similar proclamation for Hungary. Although it has widely been cited as an "abdication," that word was never mentioned in either proclamation. Charles deliberately avoided using the word "abdication" in hopes that the people of either Austria or Hungary would vote to recall him. Instead, the day after he issued his proclamation, German Austria proclaimed itself an independent republic. He then fled to Switzerland, escorted by Edward Lisle Strutt, and continued to pursue regaining power from exile. In 1919, the Austrian parliament passed a law which banished the Habsburgs from Austrian territory unless they renounced all intentions of reclaiming the throne and accepted the status of ordinary citizens. Encouraged by Hungarian nationalists, Charles 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. Charles left Hungary from the city of Baja forever, and later in 1921 the Hungarian parliament formally dethroned the Habsburgs. (For a more detailed account of Charles' attempts to regain the throne, see Charles IV of Hungary's conflict with Miklós Horthy.) Death Charles 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 except for his heart 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. His heart, and that of Empress Zita, repose in the Loreto Chapel of Muri Abbey. During his stay on the island, his personal chaplain was Priest Jorge de Faria e Castro. Charles' 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. Post-mortem 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 statesman 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." 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 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 the Austro-Hungarian Army's use of poison gas during World War I[1], when in fact he was the first, and only, world leader during the war who banned its use. On January 31, 2008, an ecclesiatstic tribunal, after a 16 month investigation formally recognized a second miracle attributed to Charles I (required for his Canonization as a Saint in the Catholic Church); in an uncommon twist, the Florida woman claiming the miracle cure is not Catholic but Baptist. Quotes "Now, we must help each other to get to Heaven." 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." 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." 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." 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!" Reciting his last words while contemplating a crucifix held by Empress Zita. Official grand title 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 Auschwtiz 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 (Grand Duke) of the Voivodship (Duchy) of Serbia etc. etc. Children Name Birth Death Notes Crown Prince Otto November 20 1912 married (1951) Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen and Hildburghausen (b. January 6 1925) and has seven children. *Archduchess Adelheid January 3 1914 October 2 1971 *Archduke Robert February 8 1915 February 7 1996 married (1953) Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta (b. April 7 1930) and had five children. *Archduke Felix May 31 1916 married (1952) Princess Anna-Eugénie of Arenberg (b. July 5 1925 d. June 9 1997 and had seven children. *Archduke Carl Ludwig March 10 1918 December 11 2007 married (1950) Princess Yolanda of Ligne (b. May 6 1923) and had four children. *Archduke Rudolf September 5 1919 married (1953) Countess Xenia Tschernyschev-Besobrasoff (b. June 11 1929 d. September 20 1968) and had four children. Married (secondly) (1971) Princess Anna Gabriele of Wrede (b. September 11 1940) and has one child. *Archduchess Charlotte March 1 1921 July 23 1989 married (1956) Duke Georg of Mecklenburg (b. October 4 1899 d. July 6 1963). *Archduchess Elisabeth May 31 1922 January 7 1993 married (1949) Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein (b. August 5 1916 d. April 17 1991) and had five children. Gallery King Charles taking his oath as part of the coronation ceremonies Budapest, 30 December 1916 King Charles IV of Hungary, with Zita and Crown Prince Otto. Coronation portrait Budapest, 1916 Tomb of Charles I Ancestors Ancestors of Charles I of Austria 16. Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor 8. Archduke Franz Karl of Austria 17. Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies 4. Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria 18. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria 9. Princess Sophie of Bavaria 19. Caroline of Baden 2. Archduke Otto Franz of Austria 20. Francis I of the Two Sicilies 10. Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies 21. Maria Isabella of Spain 5. Princess Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies 22. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen 11. Maria Theresa of Austria 23. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg 1. Charles I of Austria 24. Prince Maximilian of Saxony 12. John of Saxony 25. Princess Caroline of Parma 6. George of Saxony 26. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria (= 18) 13. Amalie Auguste of Bavaria 27. Caroline of Baden (= 19) 3. Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony 28. Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 4th Prince of Kohary 14. Ferdinand II of Portugal 29. Maria Antonia Koháry de Csábrág 7. Maria Anna of Portugal 30. Pedro I of Brazil 15. Maria II of Portugal 31. Maria Leopoldina of Austria See also Otto von Habsburg, Charles' oldest son and head of the Habsburg family Austria-Hungary Notes External links Media related to Karl I of Austria at Wikimedia Commons Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen [2] blessed Emperor Charles