![]() Both Berchtold and Tisza had hoped that the visit would allow the Kaiser to be brought around to be decisively in favor of war or peace, respectively. The last-second cancellation of Kaiser Wilhelm’s visit had immediate consequences for delicate Austro-German diplomacy. German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg informed the Emperor that he had “been obliged to request His Majesty the Kaiser to abandon his trip to Vienna” as successful assassinations “are well known to have a suggestive effect on criminal elements”–hardly a vote of confidence on Austrian competency from the Germans. Unofficially, though, the trip was cancelled due to security concerns. However, on July 2, Wilhelm bowed out, officially due to an attack of lumbago. More intriguingly, it has been suggested by Austrian officials that Foreign Minister Berchtold arranged for the lack of dignitaries so that a convocation of European royalty could not be present to act as a moderating influence on the Emperor while Berchtold was agitating for war with Serbia.Īs we saw on July 1, there was to be one exception-Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, a close personal friend of Franz Ferdinand’s who had last seen him only a couple of weeks previously. Officially, this was to spare the 83-year old Franz Josef from the fatigue at such a trying time, but it may have simply been a further expression of the Emperor’s displeasure. More importantly for European politics, no foreign dignitaries were in attendance. He was the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria, who was Emperor Franz Joseph’s younger brother. Their children (who were not included in the succession), were forbidden from attending the ceremony in Vienna. Tomb of Empress Zita (1892-1989) in front of memorial plaque to Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este (1863 - 1914) Kaisergruft, Vienna. Franz Ferdinand was born in Graz, Austria, on the 18th December 1863. This was reflected throughout the ceremony Sophie’s coffin was relatively unadorned and was placed a full 20 inches below Franz Ferdinand’s, reflecting her lower status (it’s unclear whether this is consistent with the picture above, which may have been taken before the ceremony proper began). Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este By Paul Miller sterreich-Este, Franz Ferdinand von (Archduke Franz Ferdinand Austria-Este) Heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Nephew of Emperor Franz Joseph Born 18 December 1863 in Graz, Austria (Austrian Empire) Died 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Austro-Hungarian. ![]() The Emperor Franz Josef himself did not attend, having never forgiven his nephew his morganatic marriage to Sophie Chotek. It was a relatively low-key affair for a man whose death would plunge Europe into war within four weeks. On July 3, the funeral of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife was held in Vienna. Funeral of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Chotek ![]()
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