2 March – A complex father-and-son relationship

In the mid-19th century, the beginning of March must have seemed an ominous time — at least for some members of the imperial family. On 1 and 2 March, in 1792 and 1835 respectively, two emperors — father and son, Leopold II and Francis II — passed away.

It would be hard to find two more different personalities. Leopold, the second surviving son of Maria Theresa, was naturally gifted and inquisitive, as well as well-educated in the spirit of the Enlightenment. As Grand Duke of Tuscany, he established a constitutional monarchy and pursued a progressive, pacifist reform policy. Upon ascending to the imperial throne in 1790, Leopold continued the liberal reforms of his elder brother, Joseph II. Admittedly, his response to the outbreak of the French Revolution was somewhat indecisive. However, one can only imagine the potential developments had he not died in 1792 after only two years of rule.

Francis II, quite the opposite of his father, was not blessed with particular talents or an innovative character. His strict upbringing led him to become a dependent and overly formal personality. Although strongly influenced by his uncle Joseph II, he proved too rigid to continue his reforms. Narrow-minded and lacking competence, he struggled to meet the challenges of his time. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist. For the remainder of his life, Francis ruled as Emperor of Austria, passing away after 43 years on the throne.