Ferdinand I

Life

‘Even we could have managed that’ – was supposed to have been Ferdinand I’s comment after the momentous defeat suffered by his successor Franz Joseph at the Battle of Königgrätz in 1866. Even at the best of times, Ferdinand could not have been expected to do great deeds: during his reign the epileptic monarch stood in the shadow of his state chancellor Prince Metternich. In 1848, under pressure from the events of the revolution, he was forced to abdicate in favour of his nephew Franz Joseph.

Achievements

Ferdinand I compensated for his political inactivity by putting his energies into promoting academic research. He initiated the foundation of the Academy of Sciences and also gave his financial backing to the establishment of the Academy at Pest. He also supported important initiatives in the development of the railway system and in the financial sector.

He was also successful financially. After his abdication he administered the assets he had inherited with consummate skill, considerably increasing their yields and value. After his death in 1875 this fortune was inherited by his nephew Franz Joseph, who thus became a wealthy man.

Image

The image of the ‘good-hearted Emperor Ferdinand’ endures to this day. This is partly due to the weakness of his leadership, all the more evident beside the dazzling figure of his state chancellor Prince Metternich. On the other hand he had a strong philanthropic bent, using the large sums he had received as honorary gifts on the occasion of his coronation as King of Hungary in 1830 and King of Bohemia in 1835 for charitable purposes and public investments in the two kingdoms.

Numerous sayings – most of them undocumented – have been attributed to Ferdinand, emphasizing his naivety or imbecility. The most famous of these is the question ‘Yes, but are they allowed to?’ when told of the rebellious masses gathering outside the Hofburg during the March revolution.