I am surprised myself not to have introduced Princess Trautson earlier, despite her being one of the central figures of the narrative since its very first page. It is high time to correct that unfortunate omission. Karolina Magdalena, Freiin Hager von Altensteig, was born in 1701, and was therefore fifty-six years old at the time […]
Despite the somewhat sensational opening, one should not expect great scandals. Throughout the centuries, the Habsburgs showed themselves to be relatively decent and restrained in matters of romance and morality — quite the opposite of the kings of France. The rather institutionalised practice of having a maîtresse-en-titre at Versailles was unknown in Vienna and, in […]
First, let me take a deep breath. When I first read about the alleged affair between Emperor Charles VI and Eleonora, Princess Schwarzenberg, I had a momentous gut feeling that it was a rather ignorant attempt to lend more credibility to Prince Schwarzenberg’s death. Still, however foolish, it was part of the mystery, so I […]
What would a serious investigation be without a bit of outdoor research? True, Archduchess Marianne is not about to examine a genuine crime scene; nevertheless, her urgent need for a certain kind of information requires her to leave behind her usual salons and boudoirs. As a result of a witty and elegant conspiracy carried out […]
The official commission established to investigate Prince Schwarzenberg’s death recorded his last words. Admittedly, these were not taken directly from the Prince’s mouth but were related by several eyewitnesses present at his deathbed, such as Doctor Hautzinger and the valet Viktor Jaus. All the statements they provided coincide and complement one another, and correspond with […]
The original park surrounding Hetzendorf Palace was commissioned by its previous owners, the Liechtenstein family, in the 1710s and designed by Antonio Beduzzi. When the palace became imperial property, the park and gardens were renewed and expanded, featuring regular walking paths, carefully trimmed hedges, flowerbeds, and lawns arranged in strict geometrical forms. Fountains, sculptures, bosquets, […]
After Prince Schwarzenberg’s death at Brandeis Castle, his body was transported to Prague, where a post-mortem examination was carried out. During it, the bullet was removed, and, according to custom, the heart and viscera were placed in separate urns. The body was then embalmed. A week later, the Prince’s coffin arrived in Vienna and was […]
Every now and then, a mysterious side figure slips into the narrative – Käsebier. Even the name, meaning Cheesebeer, sounds peculiar enough. Yet he was a real historical person – Christian Andreas Käsebier (c. 1710 – after 1757), the son of a tailor who rose to notoriety as a thief, burglar, and leader of a […]
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