Charles I of Austria

Charles I and IV, born Karl Franz Josef Ludwig Hubert Georg Otto Maria, was the last Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. He ruled from November 1916 until the monarchy ended in November 1918. Charles was the son of Archduke Otto of Austria and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony, and he became the heir to the throne after his uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in 1914. In 1911, he married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma.

Charles took over the thrones in November 1916 after the death of his grand-uncle, Emperor Franz Joseph. He tried to end the First World War through secret talks with the Allies, but these efforts did not succeed. Despite his attempts to keep the empire together by supporting federalism and Austro-Slavism, the empire began to break apart. New nations like Czechoslovakia and the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs were formed, and Hungary separated from Austria by late October 1918.

After the Armistice of November 11, 1918, Charles said he would no longer take part in government, but he did not officially step down. The next day, the Republic of German-Austria was declared, and in April 1919, the National Assembly removed the Habsburgs from power and banned Charles from Austria. He lived in exile in Switzerland and later tried twice to return to the Hungarian throne in 1921, but failed due to opposition from Hungary's regent, Miklós Horthy.

Charles was then sent to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he became sick and passed away in April 1922. He was known for his strong religious beliefs, and the Catholic Church recognized him as blessed in 2004, with October 21 as his special day of remembrance.

Early life

Charles was born on 17 August 1887 in the Castle of Persenbeug, in Lower Austria. His parents were Archduke Otto Franz of Austria and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony. At that time, his grand-uncle Franz Joseph was the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

Charles grew up in a strong Catholic faith. He lived in different places where his father's army was stationed, and later in Vienna and Reichenau an der Rax. He went to a public school called the Schottengymnasium and later joined the army. From 1906 to 1908, he served mainly in Prague, studying Law and Political Science alongside his duties.

Marriage

On 21 October 1911, Charles married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. They had met when they were children but did not see each other for almost ten years as they both continued their education.

Later, Charles and Zita met again and became close friends. Charles asked Zita to marry him, and their engagement was announced on 13 June 1911. They were married at the Bourbon-Parma castle of Schwarzau in Austria on 21 October 1911. Their first son, Otto, was born on 20 November 1912, and they had seven more children over the next ten years.

Heir presumptive

Charles became the expected next ruler after his uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was killed in Sarajevo in 1914. This event helped start World War I. The older Emperor wanted to teach Charles about ruling, but the war made this hard. At first, Charles was at headquarters in Teschen but did not have any military power.

Later, Charles became a Field Marshal in the Austro-Hungarian Army. In spring 1916, he led a group of soldiers in a battle against Italy. After that, he led troops on the eastern front against the Russians and Romanians.

Reign

Charles became the ruler of Austria-Hungary on November 21, 1916, after the death of his grand-uncle, Emperor Franz Joseph. He was also crowned King of Hungary later that same year. In 1917, Charles tried to negotiate peace with France through his brother-in-law, Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma, but these talks failed because the Allies wanted Austria to give up land to Italy, which Charles refused.

As the war continued, different groups within the empire wanted more freedom. Charles agreed to let each group govern itself, but it was too late. By October 1918, many groups had already declared independence. On October 14, Charles announced plans to change the empire into a union of four parts: German, Czech, South Slav, and Ukrainian. However, this was rejected, and soon after, many nations, including Croatia, declared independence. By the end of October 1918, the empire was falling apart, and Charles was advised to give up his power temporarily.

Proclamations of November 1918

On November 11, 1918, Charles issued a proclamation recognizing the Austrian people's right to decide their government's form. He stepped back from running the state and released his officials from their promise of loyalty to him. That same day, the Imperial Family left Schönbrunn Palace and moved to Schloss Eckartsau, east of Vienna. On November 13, after meeting with important Hungarian leaders, Charles made a similar announcement for Hungary.

Although many called it an "abdication," Charles never used that word in his announcements. He hoped that the people of Austria or Hungary might choose to bring him back as their leader. In a private letter to Friedrich Gustav Cardinal Piffl, the Archbishop of Vienna, Charles said he did not truly step down.

On November 12, the day after his first announcement, the new Republic of German-Austria was declared, followed by the First Hungarian Republic on November 16. Charles left Austria on March 24, 1919, traveling to Switzerland. He continued to believe he was the rightful ruler, even declaring that decisions made by the new government after November 11 had no meaning for him or his family.

The Austrian government responded with a law in April 1919 that removed the Habsburgs from power and banned them from returning to Austria. Other male members of the Habsburg family could only return if they gave up any hope of reclaiming the throne and agreed to live as regular citizens. Charles and his family stayed in Switzerland, first at Castle Wartegg near Rorschach at Lake Constance, and later at Château de Prangins at Lake Geneva on May 20.

Attempts to reclaim throne of Hungary

Main article: Charles IV of Hungary's attempts to retake the throne

After the Kingdom of Hungary was restored, Charles tried twice in 1921 to take back the Hungarian throne. However, he failed mainly because Hungary's regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, refused to support him. Horthy was the last commander of the Imperial and Royal Navy. Some people called Horthy's decision "treasonous," but others believed it was more realistic. Nearby countries had warned they would invade Hungary if Charles tried to become king again.

Princess Zita said that Charles had privately agreed with the French leaders Aristide Briand that France would support and recognize Hungary if the Habsburg family returned to power. But if the plan failed, Briand promised to deny any involvement, which he did during both attempts. Later in 1921, the Hungarian parliament officially ended the Pragmatic Sanction, which meant the Habsburg family was no longer the rulers of Hungary.

Exile in Madeira, Portugal, and death

After trying to return to rule in Hungary for a second time but failing, Charles and his pregnant wife Zita were arrested and put in Tihany Abbey. They were then taken down the Danube River on the gunboat HMS Glowworm and across the Black Sea on the cruiser HMS Cardiff.

Charles and Zita were sent into exile under the protection of King George V of the United Kingdom. This was because new leaders in Vienna, Austria, after World War I, were worried for their safety. They were first protected by Sir Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame, 10th Baronet, then by John Orlando Summerhayes in Ekartsau. Summerhayes had experience helping people after the war and helped care for the royal family. Later, Edward Lisle Strutt, another British Army officer, took over as their protector. Charles became very close to Strutt.

On 19 November 1921, Charles and Zita reached their final place of exile, the remote and guarded island of Madeira in Portugal.

The family first stayed in Funchal at Villa Vittoria, near Reid's Hotel, and later moved to a simpler home in Quinta do Monte.

Charles stayed in Madeira for the rest of his life. On 9 March 1922, he caught a cold that turned into a serious lung infection. After two heart issues, he passed away on 1 April from difficulty breathing. He was with his wife, who was expecting their eighth child, and their nine-year-old son, former Crown Prince Otto. He was 34 years old. His body remains on the island in a chapel in the Portuguese Church of Our Lady of the Mount, while his heart and his wife's heart rest in Muri Abbey, Switzerland.

Legacy

Historians have had different opinions about Charles and his time as ruler. After World War I, people in Austria saw him as a brave hero. But when Nazi Germany took over, they thought of him as a bad guy. For many years after 1945, not many people talked about him, but interest has started to grow again.

Some believe Charles was not strong enough to handle the big problems he faced. Others think he was a good and brave man who tried to end the war that was hurting his empire. A famous French writer named Anatole France said that Charles really wanted peace and was ignored by others. A German leader named Paul von Hindenburg wrote that Charles tried to bring different groups together, but it did not work because many were already against his empire.

Beatification

Leaders in the Catholic Church praised Charles for always putting his faith first when making decisions, especially his efforts to make peace during the war after 1917.

Efforts to officially recognize Charles as a holy person began in Vienna in 1949. In 2004, Pope John Paul II declared Charles "Blessed" during a ceremony in St. Peter's Square. The Pope praised Charles for trying to follow God's will and seeking peace during World War I. He also chose October 21, Charles's wedding day in 1911, as a special day to honor him. Some people disagreed because of false claims that Charles allowed harmful weapons in the war, but he actually forbade their use.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

Further information: Grand title of the emperor of Austria

Charles held many important titles during his life:

• From 1887 to 1914, he was known as Archduke Charles of Austria.
• From 1914 to 1916, he was called The Archduke of Austria-Este.
• From 1916 to 1919, he was known as The Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary and Croatia.

Honours

Charles received many honors and awards from different countries and groups, including:

• From Austria-Hungary: Knight of the Golden Fleece, Grand Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa, and more.
• From the Tuscan Grand Ducal Family: Grand Cross of St. Joseph.
• From the Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion.
• From the United Kingdom: Honorary Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
• From the Kingdom of Prussia: Knight of the Black Eagle and the Pour le Mérite.
• From the Kingdom of Bavaria: Knight of St. Hubert.
• From the Kingdom of Saxony: Knight of the Rue Crown.
• From Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold.
• From Mecklenburg: Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown.
• From the Kingdom of Bulgaria: Knight of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Order of Bravery.

Postage stamp

On 30 December 1916, Hungary released a postage stamp with Charles's picture. The stamp was part of a special group of stamps celebrating his coronation.

Children

Charles and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma had eight children together.

Ancestry

Charles I of Austria was born on August 17, 1887, and he was the son of Archduke Otto of Austria and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony. He became the heir to the throne after his uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, passed away in 1914.