New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-29
In Background During First Years Of Mar
ried Life Owing to Remuneration of
Wifes Right to Share in
Royal EIonors.
VISITED THE UNITED STATES IN 1898
Bohemian Countess Sophie Chotek Who Became Arch
dukes Morganatic Wife, Made Duchess of Hohen-
berg-Emperor Francis Joseph, However Never
Absolved Nephew from Oath.

Because Of the great age and i'm
paired health Of has uncle, Emperor
Francis Joseph, the Archduke Francis
ferdinand commanded more interest
than perhaps any other member OF
European royalty. lie was not very
widely known, however, and IN this
oountry is remembered chiefly because
of his romance with the Countess
Sophie Chotek, 20 marry whom he re-
rounced any right to have her ac-
claimed Empress on his ascension to
the throne, as well as the rights OF
any child he might have through ms
union with her TO succession.
From that oath of recession ne had
never been absolved by the aged En-
peror, who, however, had raised ms WIZ
10 the rank Of duchess, coupled WIN
the title serene, and after many years
IN exile from the court she hao
Gently been received there and her
nosjtion as the wife Of the heir appar-
emf placed as coming after the arch-
duchesses, That, eventually, some way
might be found of relieving francis
Ferdinand from his oath had long peer,
considered among the possibilities eno
the ouondam governess become I'm
press of Austria-Hungary' assuming
that the empire will survive the oeath
Of the old Emperor.
Archduke an Enigma.
Aside from this he was very mucn
az an enigma, even in Austria anu
Hungary themselves. In fact, IL Is an
ficult to recall any prince "no
como so near TO the throne IN mature
menhood about whose personality;
cbaracter. political views, tastes ana
e,.en environment so little was known.
BEFORE going any further 1t may pe
we'll 70 explain how II was possloie
e. nrince of the rank Of Francis
Eordirand to surround his existence
uitb such an amount Of mystery
was not that he was secretlVe OF -
he had pursued the metnous u t
late King Louis. Of Bavaria whose ny
ror of publicity was so greaV 'Ha'
wos wont TO establish his ABODE IN the
r,ost inaccessible mountain businesses
- never TO drive abroad save IN the
middle of the night.
IL vas because in Austria a great
culf EXISTS between the relgnlng mouse
end the remainder Of mankind. NoI
that the Hapsburgs are arrogant
the contrary, they are most klhuiy anu
unaffected, even with the lower classes
They are, however, somewhat CIy"I-
Man in their relations TO the arisloc
racv and to the bourgeolsle; anu ~
&c little of that close and intimate
fr;endship which unites the patriciate
20 tbe members of the reigning houses
IN other monarchies. The Austrian
oHIoe are faithful. devoted and loyal
u noD'S1 of the Hapsburgs, but al
rravs remain in the role of servants
His Serious Illness.
rLo, +oo the serious illness which
orertoook Francis Ferdinand shortly
after the tragic death OF Grown frlnce
pndolf COMPELLED him to lead qulet
81 retired life for several years. IL
,ros a maladv of such gravity that II
wss regarded for a time as eliminating
him from all consideration IN ,connec-
ton with the succession to the throne
Contrary to general expectation, ne re-
covered, and his convalescence was
sjgnalized by romance in when Couh-
tess Sophie Chotek, daughter OF ior-
mer Austrian Minister FlenlpoIeI!t.aIy
al Dresden and onetime lady IN waiting
20 Archduchess Frederick, was the her
oine. ,,-. or
making the countess his wife. There
was onlv one means Of doing this
namely. By a morganatic alliance-and
all sorts OF obstacles were placed IN
+be wav thereof, mainly of dynastlc,
political and also of more personal
character. The dynastic and polItlcal
objections to the match were due 10 thS
fact that he was destined to succeed
the present Emperor on the throne OF
Austria and of Hungary. The PERSONA
opposition came largely from his rela-
tives. especially from Archduchess
Frederick. who, after his refusal 70
wed Archduchess Maria Dorothea, now
Duchess of Orleans. had counted upon
bis marrying one of her daughters, and
was terribly disappointed to find that
they had been cut out, so to speak, by
her lady in waiting.
Emperor Consents to Match.
Emperor Francis Joseph, however,
ultimately gave his consent TO the
match upon the archduke registering
solemn oath on the Gospels and IN
writing in the presence of the princes
of his house and Of the dignitaries Of
the realm whereby he pledged himself
that on becoming Emperor he would
never take advantage thereof to raise
hts morganatic wife to share his
throne. or would seek to endow any son
born Of the union with rights. to the
crown. Moreover, he renowned IN the
name Of his unborn children MI pre-
tensions 20 imperial rank and % the
sccptre.
THE difficulties which ne had en-
countered in marrying the countess,
-be anomalous position assigned 20 her
as his morganatic wife, whereby she
WIS deprived of any share in his
bono-s as a member Of the reigning
family. and the affrcnts to which she
was subjected by certain Of his rela-
tives. as well as by SOME OF the great
nobility. who resented the idea that
mere Bohemian Countess Chotek
should become the wife of their ~
ture Emperor, all contributed 70 keep
the archduke in the background during
he frst few years of his welded eX-
istence.
Moreover, ne was exceedingly domes-
tic in his tastes, and had been in the
habit of devoting all the time that he
could spare from his representative
and Official duties TO his wife and little
ones.
Champion of the Church.
or late, however. the countess, who
lad heen created Princess of Hohen-
hcrg by the Emperor, had taken her
place at court among the members OF
tie reigning family--below ali the
archduchesses-an likewise became
hanks largely TO the support OF the
Church. whose cause she champloned,
an extremely influential factor IN
N;onnoss Nfe But il was doubtful