Ferdinand

Emperor Ferdinand

Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia (April 19, 1793 – June 29, 1875) succeeded his father (Franz II Holy Roman Emperor/Franz I of Austria) as emperor and king (as Ferdinand V) in 1835. He chose to abdicate, after a series of revolts in 1848. He was also King of Lombardy-Venetia.

Born Ferdinand Karl Leopold Joseph Franz Marchlin, he was feeble-minded and epileptic, but was nevertheless placed on the throne by Metternich in order to preserve the throne's legitimacy against all challenges. Though he was not declared incapacitated, a regent's council, including other Habsburgs and Metternich, steered the government. His marriage to Princess Maria Anna of Sardinia (1803-1884) was probably never consummated, nor is he believed to have had any other liaisons. He is famous for his one coherent command: when his cook told him he could not have apricot dumplings because they were out of season, he said “I'm the Emperor, and I want dumplings!” (German: Ich bin der Kaiser und will Knödel.) ^[1]

With the breakout of revolution in Vienna in 1848, Metternich fled the country. As the revolutionaries were marching on the palace, he is supposed to have asked Metternich for an explanation. When Metternich answered that they were making a revolution, Ferdinand is supposed to have said “But are they allowed to do that?” (Viennese German: Ja, dürfen's denn des?) He was convinced by Felix zu Schwarzenberg to abdicate in favour of his nephew, Franz Joseph, who would occupy the Austrian throne for the next sixty-eight years.

Austrian Royalty House of Habsburg-Lorraine Francis I (Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor) Children include    Archduchess Marie Louise    Ferdinand I    Archduchess Maria Leopoldina    Archduchess Clementina    Archduke Franz Karl Grandchildren include    Franz Joseph I    Archduke Maximilian    Archduke Karl Ludwig    Archduke Ludwig Viktor Great-grandchildren include    Archduke Franz Ferdinand    Archduke Otto Franz Ferdinand I Franz Joseph I Children    Archduchess Sophie    Archduchess Gisela    Crown Prince Rudolf    Archduchess Marie Valerie Grandchildren include    Archduchess Elisabeth Marie Charles I Children include    Crown Prince Otto    Archduke Robert    Archduke Felix    Archduke Karl Ludwig    Archduke Rudolf Grandchildren include    Archduchess Andrea    Archduchess Monika    Archduchess Michaela    Archduchess Gabriela    Archduchess Walburga    Archduke Karl    Archduke Georg    Archduke Lorenz

Ferdinand was the last King of Bohemia to be crowned as such. Due to his sympathy with Bohemia (where he spent the rest of his life in Prague Castle) he was given the Czech nickname “Ferdinand V, the Good” (Ferdinand Dobrotivý). In Austria, Ferdinand was similarly nicknamed “Ferdinand der Gütige” (Ferdinand the Benign), but also ridiculed as "Gütinand der Fertige" (Goodinand the Finished).

He is buried in tomb number 62 in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.

Ancestors

References

1. ^ According to A.J.P. Taylor, he was in fact asking for noodles - "But it is an unacceptable pun in English for a noodle to ask for noodles" - The Habsburg Monarchy 1809–1918

External links

Monarchical Styles of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria
Reference style	His Imperial Majesty
Spoken style	Your Imperial Majesty
Alternative style	Sire

• "Biography of Emperor Ferdinand"

German Confederations 1806-1871
Confederation of the Rhine 1806-1813	Protector: Napoleon I of France (1806-1813) Prince primate: Karl Theodor von Dalberg (1806-1813) • Eugène de Beauharnais (1813)
German Confederation 1815-1866	Presidents: Francis I of Austria (1815-1835) • Ferdinand I of Austria (1835-1848) • Francis Joseph I of Austria (1849-1866) Imperial regent: Archduke Johann of Austria (1848-1849)
North German Confederation 1867-1871	President: William I of Prussia (1867-1871)
List of German monarchs – History of Germany – House of Habsburg-Lorraine – House of Hohenzollern

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