Vernon Parish Democrat., 1919-08-02

seHESsJ house of Habsburg had
WAS its beginning in Switzer-
essig land. When the great war
began it was the Austro-Hungarian
empire. Now the head Of the house
Of Hapsburg is back in Switzerland
--an exile.
In these days of the League of Ma
tions, with the fate Of the world hang
ing in the balance, probably the fu-
ture Of the house of Habsburg is Of
small moment politically. But his
torieally it is a most fascinating ques-
tiOn. 81
For the history of Austria is unique
in history in that it is the history of
a family and not the history Of
state; it is the history Of a dynastic
and not Of national power
It is unique also for many other
things. Territoria1ly the name Aus
tria was attached from about 1000 to
1906 to an inconsiderable archduchy
Oh the Danube. Dynastically- it be-
came connected in the thirteenth CEN
tury with the house of Habsburg. then
insignificant and its history since is
simply the history of that house. There
is no Austrian nation, strictly speak
ing. There is no Austrian lan-
guage Historically there never was
an sernperor Of Austria
In the zone of perpetual conflict in.
Europe e9were born the two states which
IN turn were to dominate Germany.
Austria and Prussia. Austria" is
simply the Latin form of "Oestereich-
the "Eastern Mark" Of the German
kingdom, established by Charlemagne
on the Danube as it's defense against
the Magyar invader. Fad ~
The Importance of the house Of
Hansburg and Of Austria- begins
with Rudolph Of Habsburg- Emperor
Rudolph I OF the Holy Roman empire.
To 60 back a few generations: Gun
tram the Rich was a count OF Alsace
VINO flourlshed IN the tenth century.
Warmer. q grandson Of Guhrani, be-
came bishop Of Strassburg, and on an.
emfnence above Windisch, on the
banks OF the Aar, in the Swiss canton
OF Aargan, built. Schioss Habsburg
(Habichtsburg athe castle of vul-
tafes9). This castle Is still standing;
the picture shows it toobe m unpre-
tentious affair." Werner ], nephew Of
the builder was the first count Of
IIahsh@Tg. Albert III, son of Werner
II, Inherited extensive estates in Up-
nor Alsace and acquired several
SEEKS districts about Zurich and Luz
eafn. The house OF Habsburg began
rs grow at once. Hod 81
Rudolph III, son of Albert ~, was
elected emperor of the Holy Roman
empire in 1873 and thus figures in
history MS Rudolph /, Holy Roman enl-
peFer. The Holy Roman empire, ,git
has been said, was neither holy,
Rouan, nor an empire. It's original
basis was sort of a loose union of the
crowns fof Germany. and Italy Who
ever was accepted as king by Ger
many was regarded as the potential
emperor and assumed the imperial IT.
tie WIlWp crowned by the pope at
Reno. BY the sixteenth century it
was an ahachronism; yet it persisted
4. least III f0.nt and title-until the
ri'neepBsh century. si9Cm 9di
nRNdalFaffI WITS seiected emperor be-
cause his possessions were small and
itaWas supposed he would he m apia7
Bile figure-head He fooled the elect
ars by, rcviving and increasing the
a3wers of the imperial office. More
over lie used the powers for the ag-
Embellishments OF the house of Habs-
burg Ottocar. king of Bohemla re-
fused to acknowledge him and was de-
feated ana slain Rudolph theredpon
appropriated for HIS sons part Of
tie dominions which the Bohemian
king had acquired Including Austria
(then a duchy) The house of Habs-
burg thus became the house Of Aus
tria. and It's history from this time on
IS the history Of Austria.
BY marriage, by diplomacy, and by
pressure the house Of Habsburg
plucked cone by one the cornnets of
Tyf0I and Carlnthia t16S6) Franehe-
comfe. Flanders and the Low Conn-
tries l1477) the crowns OF Spain, Ma
pies. Sicily ana Sardinia (1516l Bo-
henia. Including Atoravia, and Hun
gary 1520) These many crowns
were never welded into one, but were
carefully distinguished as emblems Of
separate soEerelgnties5 unitedr n ne