Looming King

The Habichtsburg ("Hawk's Castle") stood anciently upon a bluff near the confluence of the Rhine and Aar. From it the later Royal and Imperial House of Habsburg took its name almost 1,000 years ago. Once Holy Roman Emperors, at various later periods Emperors of Austria, Kings of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Spain and finally Emperors of Austria-Hungary, this potent family reached its apogee during the 68-year reign of the Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary (born 1830, ascended 1848, died 1916). Last week the Hungarian press blazed with rumors that a kinsman of the "Grand Old Emperor" may soon rule as King of Hungary and later become King of Rumania as well. Thus the Dual Empire of the Habsburgs, destroyed by the Allies, would be partially resuscitated as a Dual Kingdom.

Archduke Albrecht. The newspaper Magyarsag at Bucharest pointed out exhaustively last week the degree of probability of the following possibilities: 1) Since Hungary is a "kingless-kingdom," the Hungarian Regent, Admiral Nicholas Horthy, might be directed by Parliament to transfer the Crown to the Archduke Albrecht of Habsburg who has a large Monarchist following. 2) This supposititious "King Albrecht of Hungary" might contract a marriage with Princess Ileana of Rumania. 3) Since the Hohenzollern dynasty which now rules over Rumania was elected to that eminence only 60 years ago, it is conceivable that the Rumanian Parliament might transfer the Rumanian Crown from the present Rumanian heir, five-year-old Prince Michel, to the vigorous and able proposed "King Albrecht," supposititious husband of Princess Ileana of Rumania. Thus might be created a Dual Kingdom.

Facts. Such a dream becomes less fantastic when it is recalled that Hungary is fairly seething with monarchist sentiment. There is little doubt that Hungarians want a Habsburg king. The question is, which Habsburg?

The so-called "legitimate" heir is of course fourteen-year-old Prince Otto, son of the late Karl I, last ruling Habsburg Emperor (reigned 1916-1918). But "Little Otto" is not favored by many Hungarian nobles, both because of his youth and because the Allies might not stomach the restoration of the very prince whose father they overthrew. From this and other technical causes/- many Hungarians have turned to the shrewd youthful Archduke Albrecht of Habsburg, 29, as their candidate for the Throne. The Archduke is only a third cousin once removed* of the late Emperor Karl I, and therefore has no "rights of succession," but he and his clever mother, the Archduchess Isabella, have adroitly built up the "Free Electoral Party" of Hungary to a feverish pitch of resolution in his support.

New House of Peers. Added significance was given to the Albrechtist rumors last week when the Regent of Hungary, Admiral Nicholas Horthy, dissolved the Hungarian Parliament immediately after it had passed a bill recreating the Hungarian House of Peers. When the new House of Peers assembles, the four Archdukes, Friedrich, Albrecht (his son), Josef and Franz (his son) will find themselves at its head in semi-royal state. The Archdukes, as the ranking peers of Hungary, will head a House composed of nobles; of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish prelates; of high dignitaries of state and rich bourgeoisie.

The Lower House will probably be re-elected in time to convene both houses in January, and the veteran Premier of Hungary, Count Stephen Bethlen, whose cabinet has stood rock-founded since 1922, is expected to force a decision as to the future King of Hungary early next year.

A final indication of the mounting interest of Hungarians in the Monarchy was seen last week when the death mask of the Emperor Franz Josef, previously hawked without success among the numerous Austrian archdukes, was purchased for $2,000 by the Hungarian Archduke Friedrich. He, "Vater Friedrich" ("Papa Friedrich") is a genial bewhiskered man, the image of the Emperor whose death mask he purchased, would make "a good old-fashioned King" were he not too old to begin.

*Pictured with the German Empress Augusta Victoria in 1909 as she congratulated him on the 61st anniversary of his ascension to the thrones of Austria-Hungary. He died in 1916, never knew defeat. Her death at Doom (1921) was hastened by the fear that the Allies would "Hang The Kaiser!" her consort.

/-The Hungarian Parliament passed a decree (1921) affirming its right to elect anyone king, and denying the exclusive right of Otto to the succession. --The complicated Habsburg relationships are best disentangled with relation to the Emperor Leopold II (1747-1792). Franz Josef was his great grandson. Karl was his great-great-great-grandson. And Albrecht is his great-great-grandson. All these through slightly different lines.