See Also

Karl I of Austria

Charles I , , was the last Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o ... 

 of Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

, the last King of Hungary Hungary

Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked [i] country in Central Europe [i], ... 

 and Bohemia Bohemia

Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe [i], occupying th ... 

, and the last monarch of the Habsburg Dynasty Habsburg

Habsburg was an important ruling house [i] of Europe [i] and is best known as the ruling Ho ... 

. He reigned as Emperor Charles I of Austria, King Charles IV of Bohemia and King Charles IV of Hungary from 1916 until 1918, when he renounced the government , and spent the remaining years of his life attempting to regain the throne until his death in 1922.

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Timeline

1887   Born

1922   Died



Encyclopedia


Charles I , , was the last Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o... 

 of Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

, the last King of Hungary Hungary

Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked [i] country in Central Europe [i], ... 

 and Bohemia Bohemia

Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe [i], occupying th ... 

, and the last monarch of the Habsburg Dynasty Habsburg

Habsburg was an important ruling house [i] of Europe [i] and is best known as the ruling Ho ... 

. He reigned as Emperor Charles I of Austria, King Charles IV of Bohemia and King Charles IV of Hungary from 1916 until 1918, when he renounced the government , and spent the remaining years of his life attempting to regain the throne until his death in 1922.

Life

Karl was the son of Archduke Otto Franz of Austria  and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony

Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony,, was the mother of Emperor Karl I of Austria [i]; she was never Empres ... 

 ; he was also a nephew of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este was an Archduke [i] of Austria [i], Prince Imperial of Austr ... 

, whose assassination triggered World War I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

. In 1911, he was married to Princess Zita of Parma Zita of Bourbon-Parma

Zita of Bourbon-Parma was the last Empress-consort of Austria [i] and Queen-consort of Hungary [i] ... 

.

He had eight children :

  • Crown Prince Otto Otto von Habsburg

    Otto von Habsburg, born 20 November [i], 1912 [i] as Archduke Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Kar ... 

     , married Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen and Hildburghausen and has issue
  • Archduchess Adelheid , unmarried
  • Archduke Robert , married Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta and had issue
    • Archduchess Marie Beatrice
    • Archduke Lorenzo Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este

      Prince Lorenz Otto Carl Amadeus Thadeus Maria Pius Andreas Marcus d'Aviano of Belgium, Duke of Este, Duke ... 

       , married Princess Astrid of Belgium Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este

      Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este, styled Her Imperial and Royal Highness Pri... 

      • Achduke Amedeo Prince Amedeo, Archduke of Austria-Este

        Prince Amedeo Marie Joseph Carl Pierre Philippe Paola Marcus d'Aviano of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este [i] ... 

      • Archduchess Maria Laura Princess Maria Laura, Archduchess of Austria-Este

        Princess Maria Laura Zita Beatrix Gerhard of Belgium,, Archduchess of Austria-Este [i], Princess Imp ... 

      • Archduke Joachim Prince Joachim, Archduke of Austria-Este

        Prince Joachim Carl Maria Nikolaus Isabelle Marcus d'Aviano of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este [i] ... 

      • Archduchess Luisa Maria Princess Luisa Maria, Archduchess of Austria-Este

        Princess Luisa Maria Anna Martine Pilar of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este [i], Princess Imperi... 

      • Archduchess Laetitia Maria Princess Laetitia Maria, Archduchess of Austria-Este

        Princess Laetitia Maria Nora Anna Joachim Zita of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este [i], Princess ... 

    • Archduke Gerhard
    • Archduke Martin
    • Archduchess Isabella
  • Archduke Felix , married Princess Anna-Eugénie of Arenberg and has issue
  • Archduke Karl Ludwig , married Princess Yolande of Ligne and has issue
    • Archduke Rudolf
    • Archduchess Alexandra
    • Archduchess Karl Christian , married Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria

      Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia, Luxembourg, Nassau and Parma, is the ... 

    • Archduchess Maria Constance
  • Archduke Rudolf , married firstly Countess Xenia Tschernyscheva-Besobrasova and secondly Princess Anna of Wrede, has issue by both
    • Archduchess Maria-Anne
    • Archduke Carl Peter
    • Archduke Simeon
    • Archduke Johannes Carl
    • Archduchess Catherine
  • Archduchess Charlotte , married Count Georg of Carlow, Duke of Mecklenburg
  • Archduchess Elisabeth , married Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein and had issue



Karl became heir-presumptive when his uncle Franz Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este was an Archduke [i] of Austria [i], Prince Imperial of Austr ... 

 was assassinated in Sarajevo Sarajevo

Sarajevo is the capital city [i] and largest urban center of Bosnia and Herzegovina [i], with an estima... 

 in 1914, the event which precipitated World War I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

. Karl's reign began in 1916, with the death of his grand-uncle, Franz Joseph Franz Joseph I of Austria

Francis Joseph I of the Habsburg Dynasty [i] was Emperor of Austria [i], Apostolic King [i] ... 

. In 1916, he also became a Generalfeldmarschall Generalfeldmarschall

Generalfeldmarschall was a rank in the armies of several German [i] states, the Holy Roman Empire [i] ... 

 in the Austro-Hungarian Army Austro-Hungarian Army

The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian [i] Dual Monarchy ... 

. In 1917, Karl secretly entered into peace negotiations with France. Although his foreign minister, Ottokar Czernin Ottokar Graf Czernin

Ottokar Theobald Otto Maria Graf Czernin von und zu Chudenitz.... 

, was only interested in negotiating a general peace which would include Germany as well, Karl 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, Karl denied all involvement until the French prime minister Georges Clemenceau Georges Clemenceau

Georges Clemenceau was a French [i] statesman, doctor and journalist [i]. ... 

 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 Woodrow Wilson

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States [i] . ... 

 demanded that the Empire allow for the self-determination of its peoples as part of his Fourteen Points Fourteen Points

The Fourteen Points were listed in a speech delivered by President [i] Woodrow Wilson [i]... 

. In response, Karl 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. Karl's political future quickly became uncertain. For a while it appeared as though he might reign as monarch of a newly independent Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

, but Austria's Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

 new republican government ultimately vetoed this idea.

On November 11, 1918, he proclaimed formally "I relinquish every participation in the administration of the State" but did not abdicate his thrones. He then fled to Switzerland Switzerland

Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked [i] Alpine country [i] in Central Europe [i] ... 

 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 Miklós Horthy

Mikls Horthy de Nagybnya, Duke of Szeged and Otranto was an Admiral [i] in the Austro-Hungarian [i] ... 

. Horthy's failure to support Karl's 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 Baja, Hungary

Baja is a city in southern Hungary [i]. ... 

 forever.

He died of severe pneumonia Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an illness of the lung [i]s and respiratory system [i] in which the alveoli [i] ... 

  on the Portuguese Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe [i] on the Iberian Peninsula [i] ... 

 island of Madeira Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese [i] archipelago [i] in the north Atlantic Ocean [i] that lies between ... 

 in 1922. His remains are still kept in 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.

After his death


Some historians have seen Karl as a brave and honourable figure who tried as emperor-king to halt World War I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

. Helmut Rumpler, head of the Habsburg commission of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, has described Karl as "a dilettante, far too weak for the challenges facing him, out of his depth, and not really a politician."

Beatification

Karl has been solemnly declared blessed in the ceremony of beatification by the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian [i] Church [i] ... 

. The cause or campaign began in 1949 when testimony of his holiness was collected in the Archdiocese Diocese

In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit administrated by a bishop [i] ... 

 of Vienna Vienna

Vienna is the capital [i] of Austria [i], and also one of the nine States of Austria [i]. ... 

. In 1954, he was declared venerable Venerable

Venerable is a title confered on persons for a number of religious reasons, particularly in the Christian churches [i] ... 

, the first step on the process beatification. The guild established for the promotion of his cause has created this . The Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian [i] Church [i] ... 

 has praised Karl for putting his Christian faith first in making political decisions, and for his perceived role as a peacemaker during the war, especially after 1917. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn Christoph Cardinal Schönborn

... 

 of Vienna Vienna

Vienna is the capital [i] of Austria [i], and also one of the nine States of Austria [i]. ... 

 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 Pope John Paul II

    Pope John Paul II , , born Karol Jzef Wojtyla reigned as Pope [i] of the Catholic Church [i] fro ... 

    , promulgated Karl 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 Karl. The miracle attributed to Karl was the scientifically inexplicable healing of a Brazilian nun Nun

    In general, a nun is a female [i] ascetic [i] who chooses to voluntarily leave mainstream [i] ... 

     with debilitating varicose vein Varicose veins

    Varicose veins are vein [i]s on the leg [i] which are large, twisted, and ropelike, and can ca ... 

    s; 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 Karl's marriage in 1911 to Princess Zita, as Karl's feast day. The beatification has caused controversy because of the erroneous belief that Karl may have authorized his army's use of poison gas Chemical warfare

    The Battle of Barnet, which took place on April 14 [i], 1471 [i], was a decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses [i] ... 

     during World War I World War I

    World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

    .

Official Title of Karl I



His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty,

Charles the First,

By the Grace of God,
Emperor of Austria Austrian Empire

The Austrian Empire was an empire centred on what is modern day Austria [i] that lasted from 1804 [i] to ... 

,
Apostolic King of Hungary Kingdom of Hungary

[i] to [[1918]... 

, of this name the Fourth,
King of Bohemia Bohemia

Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe [i], occupying th ... 

, Dalmatia Dalmatia

Dalmatia is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea [i], in modern Croatia [i], spreading be... 

, Croatia Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in Europe [i], at the crossroads of th ... 

, Slavonia Slavonia

Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia [i]. ... 

, and Galicia, Lodomeria Lodomeria

Lodomeria is the Latin [i]ized name of Volodymyr [i]-Volhynia [i], a medieval Ruthenia [i] ... 

, and Illyria Illyria

Illyria was in Classical antiquity [i] a region in the western part of today's Balkan Peninsula [i], fo ... 

; King of Jerusalem Kingdom of Jerusalem

The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian [i] kingdom established in the Levant [i] in 1099 [i] ... 

 etc., Archduke of Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

; Grand Duke of Tuscany Tuscany

Tuscany is a region in central Italy [i], bordering on Latium [i] to the south, Umbria [i] and Marche [i]... 

 and Cracow Kraków

Krakw see also Names of European cities in different languages [i]) is one of the oldest and larges ... 

, Duke of Lorraine and of Salzburg Salzburg

Salzburg is a city [i] in western Austria [i] and the capital [i] ... 

, of Styria Styria (state)

Styria is a state [i] or Land, located in the south east of Austria [i]. ... 

, of Carinthia Carinthia

Carinthia may refer to:
... 

, of Carniola Carniola

Carniola is a traditional and historical region of Slovenia [i]. ... 

 and of the Bukovina Bukovina

Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains [i] and ... 

; Grand Prince of Transylvania Transylvania

Transylvania is a historical region [i] in the center of Romania [i]. ... 

; Margrave of Moravia Moravia

Moravia is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic [i]. ... 

; Duke of Upper and Lower Silesia Silesia

Silesia is a historical region in central Europe [i]. ... 

, of Modena Duchy of Modena and Reggio

The Duchy of Modena was a small Italian [i] state that existed from 1452 [i] to 1859 [i], with a b ... 

, Parma, Piacenza Piacenza

Piacenza is a city [i] in the Emilia-Romagna [i] region of northern Italy [i]. ... 

 and Guastalla, of Auschwitz Oswiecim

Oswiecim is a town in southern Poland [i] with about 43,000 inhabitants, situated some 50 km [i] ... 

 and Zator Zator

Zator is a historic town in southern Poland [i], in Lesser Poland Voivodeship [i], previously in Bielsko-Biala Voivodeship [i] ... 

, of Teschen, Friuli Friuli

See also: Friuli-Venezia Giulia [i]; Frioul archipelago [i]
... 

, Ragusa Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |
... 

 and Zara Zadar

Zadar is a city [i] in Croatia [i] on the Adriatic Sea [i], with a population ... 

; Princely Count of Habsburg Habsburg

Habsburg was an important ruling house [i] of Europe [i] and is best known as the ruling Ho ... 

 and Tyrol Tyrol

The Tyrol is a historical region in Western Central Europe [i], which includes the Austrian state [i] ... 

, of Kyburg, Gorizia Gorizia

Gorizia is a small town at the foot of the Alps [i], in northeastern Italy [i], on the border with Slovenia [i] ... 

 and Gradisca; Prince of Trent Trento

Trento, in English sometimes called Trent, Italian [i] Trento , German [i] ... 

 and Brixen; Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia Lusatia

align="center" style="background:#efefef;" colspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;" | Lusatia
... 

 and in Istria Istria

Istria is the largest peninsula [i] in the Adriatic Sea [i].... 

; Count of Hohenems Hohenems

Hohenems is a town in the westernmost Austria [i]n province of Vorarlberg [i], in the Dornbirn district [i] ... 

, Feldkirch Feldkirch, Vorarlberg

Feldkirch is a medieval city [i] in the western Austria [i]n state of Vorarlberg [i], at , o ... 

, Bregenz Bregenz

Bregenz is the capital of Vorarlberg [i], the westernmost federal state of Austria [i]. ... 

, Sonnenberg, etc.; Lord of Trieste Trieste

Trieste is a city and port in northeastern Italy [i] right on the border with Slovenia [i]. ... 

, of Cattaro Kotor

Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro [i]. ... 

, and in the Wendish Mark; Grand Voivode Grosswojwod

Grosswojwod is the German version, official under the Habsburg monarchy [i] in the case of the present Serbia [i] ... 

 of the Voivodship of Serbia Voivodship of Serbia and Tamiš Banat

... 

 etc. etc.

See also

  • Otto von Habsburg Otto von Habsburg

    Otto von Habsburg, born 20 November [i], 1912 [i] as Archduke Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Kar ... 

    , Karl's oldest son and as of 2006 2006

    2006 is a common year starting on Sunday [i] of the Gregorian calendar [i].

... 

 head of the Habsburg Habsburg

Habsburg was an important ruling house [i] of Europe [i] and is best known as the ruling Ho ... 

 family
  • Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary

    Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Dual Monarchy or k.u.k. [i] ... 



External links