It is hard to imagine that the dispute between Vienna and Belgrade which had simmered since the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 28th June, finally led to the conflagration that it did. Little did Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary and King Peter of Serbia realise what was to come. And, to be perfectly fair to both, it was their ministers and their military commanders that pursued the path of war. The venerable old Emperor of Austria who had suffered so much (the execution of his brother in Mexico, the suicide of his only son, the assassination of his wife and then of his nephew and heir) signed away the peace, not without his doubts. The alliance system brought virtually all of Europe into the struggle. Ultimately, Franz Joseph signed away his dynasty and the Habsburgs would cease to rule after seven hundred years. The great dynasty had held sway over Europe since the Middle Ages and so powerful was it that it claimed the vowels of the alphabet as it motto A.E.I.O.U Alles Erdreich ist Österreich untertan in German or Austriae est imperare orbi universio in Latin. Austria is destined to rule the world. Not by 1918.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 09:32:34 +0000
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