21 August – An educator trapped inside the prince

Rudolf, the son of Emperor Francis Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), was born on 21 August 1858. His unusual name, recalling the 13th-century Habsburg emperor Rudolf I, was chosen to emphasise continuity with the dynasty’s past. Francis Joseph granted his only son the title of Crown Prince to distinguish him from the other archdukes.

The storms of Rudolf’s short life have been widely discussed and thoroughly researched: his unhappy childhood, fragile health, distant relationship with his mother and wife, and political disagreements with his conservative father, who kept him away from state affairs. It is little wonder that this highly intelligent, talented and sensitive young man eventually broke under the weight of cumulative disappointments, ending his life in the tragic suicide at Mayerling in 1889, at the age of 31.

However, I would rather highlight a brighter aspect of the Crown Prince’s life. In the mid-1880s, he proposed the publication of a popular encyclopaedia of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, presented in words and pictures and intended for a broad audience. It was to be based on the most advanced scientific research and artistic achievements of the time, serving both to educate and to inspire. This time, the Crown Prince received the Emperor’s approval and support for his idea. Between 1886 and 1902, the encyclopaedia appeared weekly in small, paper-covered instalments to make it affordable for ordinary people. Each region of the Empire was described in every aspect of its society, history and geography, and richly illustrated.

Admittedly, the project’s hidden aim—to foster a sense of patriotic identity among citizens—was never fully realised, owing to the ethnic and linguistic diversity for which the written word proved insufficient. Nevertheless, Rudolf’s encyclopaedia was one of the first scientific publications aimed at a mass audience, and deserves to be remembered as a testament to his liberal and progressive spirit.