18. Feb 1853
In 1853, while walking on the glacis in Vienna, the Emperor survived an attempted assassination by the Hungarian journeyman tailor János Libényi. The quick actions of Imperial Adjutant Count Maximilian O’Donell and a passing citizen, Josef Ettenreich, saved the Emperor’s life. The motive for the attack has never been discovered. The Votivkirche in Vienna was built as an act of thanksgiving for the Emperor’s survival.
The Habsburg dynasty: Here you can read potted biographies, examine portraits from seven centuries and dip into the historical contexts of past epochs.
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The map shows the territorial development of the Habsburg Monarchy as it evolved into a sprawling, geographically fragmented empire.
Monarchical rule was legitimized by descent. The classic form of representing these relationships is the genealogical table or family tree.
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All the members of the Habsburg dynasty. Read biographical notes and explore the historical context.
