HIRH the Archduke Otto was indeed brought to his grave as Emperor – if not in name. There were a few things in Vienna on Saturday that gave away that the Empire had not returned for real, but in the whole picture they were details.
Announcements that public transport stations were closed avoided the “dangerous” word von and titles – as did the Austrian TV reporters, with one or a few exceptions, as they dared say that he in Germany was called Otto von Habsburg. A man they call President was in attendance. The archbishop made reservations before the Kaiserhymne. Flags were not flown at half staff – not even in the morning the same day, at least not as I could see. These were amongst the details.
It was a beautiful day. There was what the Viennese call Kaiserwetter – weather fit for an Emperor.
After the doors closed at the Capuchin Church and the formal public ceremony was over, guns were fired. We sang the Kaiserhymne once more. Yours truly sang In Verbannung – the verse to Otto. Someone proclaimed that the Emperor is dead. It was crowded.
On my way to a memorial meet that evening I passed an anti-monarchist demonstration. It is a good sign when anti-monarchists feel the need to do a rally in what declares itself to be a republic.
We could see all the Imperial glory. Austria has a lot of nostalgia for the monarchy. It does not necessarily translate into support for restoration, but it is an important first step.
In the following we can see the singing of the Kaiserhymne in St. Stephen's Cathedral. It was also sung outdoors on St. Stephen's Square, in which yours truly took proudly part. And then the knocking ceremony.
Elsewhere:
- Tea at Trianon
- Royal World
- The Royal Forums
- Le Fleur de Lys too
- No Republic!
- Trond Norén Isaksen (also here, here, and here)
- Mises Economics Blog
- The LRC Blog (also here and here (yours truly))
- The Irish Times
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3 comments:
Thank you, Sir, for your eye witness report. I could not attend the funeral in Vienna, but I was fortunate that I could watch the whole five and a half hour ceremony on television - even in Australia.
You quite rightly remarked ORF's ridiculous banning of the "dangerous" word von. All the more adequate was the Papel telegramme to the family, addressed to the Head of the Imerial House (Erzhaus) and His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Karl of Austria. I saw the shivers of anger in republican faces. Wonderful. And I took note of the stonefaced politicials when the Volkshymne was sung.
A splendid tribute. Very well done!
My pleasure, gentlemen! That is if we can talk about pleasure on such an occasion.
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