World War I was a truly pivotal conflict in the history of the institution of monarchy versus the republic. Before the war, Switzerland, France and Portugal were the only major republics on the continent. Afterwards, the ancient and seeminly invulnerable monarchies in Austria, Turkey, Russia and throughout Germany were destroyed by socialist revolutions. Of all of these, probably no other monarch was as able or energetic at regaining their stolen thrones than the Hapsburg Kaiser-Kiraly Karl I of Austria-Hungary.
The nephew of the pious and conservative Kaiser Franz Josef I, Karl inherited his uncle's throne upon his death in November of 1916 while the Dual Monarchy was embroiled in the First World War. Already things were going badly for the Austro-Hungarians and it was only the support of their German allies that kept the nation from collapse at the hands of Russia in the east and Italy in the west. Due to the hardships and privations of wartime Austria, Karl I decided to cancel the expense of a ceremony there but instead had a complete coronation in Budapest. He carried out all the Magyar traditions, showing his loyalty to the Hungarian half of his empire, which often felt neglected by Austria.
Karl I came to the throne with youthful vigor. He was determined to break the German influence over his armies and take a more direct role in the war effort as he had previously served on the Italian front where Austria enjoyed considerable success. However, the fact was Austria-Hungary could not survive without German support and many of his own generals were unhappy with having an involved monarch in Vienna. Finally, Karl I resolved to pull his nation out of the war which seemed unwinable. He sent peace overtures to the Allies which angered Germany. They knew nothing but unconditional surrender would be accepted and feared that Karl's actions were revealing their weakness. As for the Allies, they demanded the mutilation of the Hapsburg Empire before any peace would be considered and so the Kaiser saw no alternative but to fight on.
On November 3, 1918 Austria was forced to sign an unconditional surrender to Italy after the nation had already begun to break up. The victorious allies carved Austria up among a number of countries, leaving the Austrians powerless and humiliated for the first time in their long history as a major power. In 1919 the new Austrian Republic exiled all members of the House of Hapsburg-Lorraine who would not swear allegiance to the new country. Karl I went with his family to Switzerland but still possessed his title as King of Hungary and went there to begin rebuilding his nation. A new monarchist government under a 'regent' had taken power from the leftist regime and the new leader, Admiral Horthy, claimed to be holding power only until the King could come home. However, when Karl I did manage to slip into Hungary he was rebuffed by the powerful admiral. Many people urged the Kaiser-Kiraly to take command of the loyal regiments in the Hungarian army and march on Budapest. However, the idea of shedding the blood of his own people was too much for the Christan prince and he returned to exile, confident that the righteousness of his cause would see him to victory in the end.
Once back in exile, the Swiss government asked the Hapsburgs to leave, fearful that their neutrality was in danger. The Kaiser-Kiraly evacuated by air, flown by two Hungarian pilots still loyal to their Kiraly (king) with the intention of seeing him restored to the Magyar throne with the help of the many loyal troops there, and urged on considerably by the king's wife, the stout-hearted Kaiserin Zita who was convinced of the need for tradition and religious authority in the ravaged remains of the Hapsburg Empire. This attempted restoration ended badly as well, due mostly to the fact that the Hungarian loyalists were not well-suited for overthrowing a government. Karl I and his family eventually settled in Madeira where the honorable and pious monarch finally fell victim to pneumonia. It was not long before the Catholic Church began the process of beatification for Karl I and in 1991 his resting place was host to a Papal visit. As of this writing Kaiser-Kiraly Karl I has been declared a "venerable person" by the Pope and is well on his way down the path to full sainthood. |
