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In similar vein, he banned the bombing of open cities, churches, and museums. Long before Berlin could see it, Karl foresaw defeat for the Central Powers, for his own empire, and for Kaiser William's Germany. He attempted to stop the press from forever trumpeting about victory, because he knew the war was lost as soon as America declared war on Germany, and because his people knew the situation was desperate as they were getting poorer and hungrier. For this admirable objectivity, Karl and Zita were labeled perfidious "royal renegades. An autocratic ruler (one whose authority is uncontrolled) is not so wise and good as he should be, because his mistakes will not be corrected in time and the people will suffer. But Karl is considered to be the first Habsburg ruler who was not autocratic. In certain areas, especially in matters of public authority, wisdom often carries with it the quality of goodness, so that they are commingled. For example, in April 1917, the Emperor Karl learned of a plan of the German High Command to use revolution as a weapon by sending Lenin and other Bolsheviks into Russia so that Russia would be turned upside-down by revolution and thus knocked out of the war. Karl strongly opposed this dismal and short-sighted plan and refused to allow the train carrying Lenin's entourage to cross the Austrian frontier. (What an infamous train-load! The Russian people needed it like they needed a shipment of bubonic plague germs.) Rebuffed, the German government sent the train through Sweden instead. Years later, the Empress Zita said her husband had refused to act in a way that would be "unfair and irresponsible" to the Russian people. Surely, here is wisdom and goodness blinded into a courageous stand against powerful Berlin.

His efforts to end World War I most clearly demonstrate his commitment to Catholic principles. No war is justified that does not have a reasonable prospect of success. And, therefore, a morally responsible ruler cannot countenance the useless shedding of blood. In his own words, let us hear the pious emperor justify his peace efforts: "Since my accession to the throne I have unceasingly tried to spare my nations the horror of the war, for the outbreak of which I bear no responsibility." But, apparently, the same mysterious forces who were responsible for the starting of the war, had in view an appointed destiny for the Catholic dynasty. As a result, all the emperor's efforts were invariably frustrated, and his motives predictably misinterpreted.

Listen to historian Warren Carroll comment on Karl's February 1917 peace initiatives: they were "by far the most genuine and unselfish peace offer by the head of government of a belligerent state in the whole course of the war." Here is the famous French writer Anatole France speaking: "The Emperor Karl has offered to make peace; here is the only decent man who has appeared in the course of this war - they didn't listen to him. . . he sincerely wants peace, so everyone detests him. . .

On November 11, 1918, Karl was obliged to renounce the Austrian throne; however, he never abdicated, only relinquished power. After Austria rejected him, he planned to reign as king of Hungary, whose anointed and crowned sovereign he was. Then the new Hungarian parliament asked Karl for his renunciation of the sceptre of St. Stephan. Again, the young Habsburg monarch refused to abdicate. As Zita put it, "One cannot forfeit one's ancestral rights!" Hence, Karl announced, "I am voluntarily abandoning power." After a few years of exile, he made two restoration attempts in 1921, trying to regain the throne of Hungary. Both failed, but the two bids for control of what was rightfully his reveal his moral goodness shining forth under conditions of great pressure and danger..

HIS LATE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL MAJESTY, KARL I EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA AND (KARL IV) KING OF HUNGARY BEATIFIED (cont'd)

The spiritual programme that the Emperor Charles followed can be summarized in the words that he spoke to his wife, the Empress Zita, on the day of his death: “I want you to understand my position: I continually strive to discern the will of God in all things as clearly as possible and fulfil it in the most perfect way possible.”

The eminent and encouraging example that the Emperor Charles gave as husband and as father of a family, in the demanding circumstances of his task and in the situation of the abandonment of exile, will be a help to many of those who want to follow Christ in their lives.

The Emperor endured even the suffering of death as a duty imposed by his position. He thought: “I must suffer, so that my peoples may once again be united”.

After a century of dispersion and suffering the peoples of Central Europe have found a new form of coexistence and collaboration. The new Blessed will help them from Heaven along the path towards an ever more fruitful communion even in spiritual life.

May he spur us all to accept and fulfil our responsibility before God and men with the confidence that comes from faith. In this way the soul of Europe will ever more find its strength originating from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Cardinal Dr. Christoph Schőnborn, Archbishop of Vienna.

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"No ruler has experienced a fate so ill as that which befell the Emperor Karl. He accepted his fate with dignity, and the way he bore himself in a crucial test did him honour as man and Habsburg. . . he was thoroughly good, brave, and honest and a true Austrian" Kurt Schuschnigg, My Austria

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A BACKGROUND Edward O'Brien Jr. writes

Can a man live well in a palace, as Marcus Aurelius wondered? Can a man live a wise and saintly life, though tempted by high birth, prestige, power, and a great wealth? The life of Karl, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, demonstrates that such a life is possible. And though wisdom and holiness are related, since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we can, for the purpose of analysis, consider these two qualities separately in the life of Emperor Karl.

Was Karl, of the House of Habsburg, wise? In 1916 Archduke Karl, after a strict Catholic, aristocratic, and military upbringing, inherited the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a realm of eleven major races and fifty million people. He was still only twenty-nine; -- handsome, popular, a charming prince married to a lovely young woman, Zita of the royal house of Bourbon-Parma - when he became the direct successor to the Holy Roman Emperors of past ages. World War I was raging, and the Dual Monarchy of Austria and Hungary was weakened by "time and fate." How did Karl handle himself?

His biographers tell us that he was intelligent, consistent, and also progressive by the conservative standards of his time and dynasty. This young Habsburg not only was convinced of the aristocracy's mission to rule, but also accepted its duty to serve. With his imperial vision, he feared the egotism and arrogance of nationalism, and so he distrusted and watched carefully his German allies, while in certain respects he could admire his Western enemies of the Entente - France and England. Then, too, Karl worried over the trials of political agitators by Austrian military courts, considering the sentences too severe. He ordered a review of all recent trials and commuted four death sentences to prison terms. Another humanitarian measure was the granting of an amnesty in 1917, from which over 2,500 prisoners benefited. Do not these actions show a wise concern for justice?

FURTHER PAGES:

THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO REGAIN THE HUNGARIAN THRONE

THE SECOND ATTEMPT

CONCLUSION

HIS LATE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL MAJESTY, KARL I EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA AND (KARL IV) KING OF HUNGARY BEATIFIED

On Sunday October 3^rd 2004, in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, the Holy Father John Paul II solemnly proclaimed Blessed the Servant of God Emperor and King Charles of Austria. We are happy for this Beatification and we thank God for it.

The process for the beatification of the Emperor Charles began in the Archdiocese of Vienna: in fact Charles of Austria spent a good part of his life here. The process reached a happy conclusion in Rome, after a close examination of all the historical facts. Charles sought peace, helped the poor, and with determination cultivated a spiritual life. Faith guided his life since youth, above all during the World War and during his exile on the island of Madeira , where he met a holy death. The Emperor Charles considered the title conferred upon him a task entrusted to him by God. This in no way signified a legitimisation of an arbitrary exercise of authority, but rather the unconditional obligation to follow Christ, the only true King, and to imitate His example even in his high position. For that reason Charles never made any important decisions without praying.

CONTINUES IN COLUMN 3

Click on the small pictures below for maps of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

The Gramophone recording heard on this page is "Kaiserlied" The Austro-Hungarian National Anthem sung by baritone with orchestra. (Recorded circa 1916).

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