Schwarzenberg

Wessenberg's chancellorship had been discredited by the October 6 revolt and its suppression by Windischgraetz. After a de-facto governorship by Windischgraetz-and through his influence-, his young (41 at that time) brother-in- law, General Prinz Felix zu Schwarzenberg, was appointed to the Ministry. Noted for his scorn of the Hungarian cause and the Hungarian nobility in particular, it soon became clear that his differences with Hungary will need to be settled by force. His aim was to make Austria dominant in both East and West : in Hungary and within the German federation.

Francis Joseph

Windischgraetz, not satisfied with installing Schwarzenberg in the top Ministry, moved to replace King-Emperor Ferdinand V with his young nephew, Francis Joseph. The reason given for the abdication was to escape responsibility from the laws and agreements Ferdinand V committed to. While Ferdinand's weakness was well known, many of his subjects thought kindly of him.

In his acceptance speech, Francis Joseph called on the "rebellious and misled" people of Hungary and Transylvania to "rejoin" the empire and to accept Windischgraetz supreme commander. The change was accomplished by snubbing lawmakers in both Austria and Hungary, precipitating sharp controversy in the Hungarian diet. A newly formed "Peace Party", led by Bertalan Szemere, opposed Kossuth (who termed the shift on the throne "illegal") and supported the new monarch. Kossuth mobilized opposition and penned a parliamentary proclamation pointing out the move having violated the Pragmatic Sanction*, thus labeling Francis Joseph usurper. Kossuth attempted to obtain mediation, calling on the USA's chargè d'affaires William H. Stiles to attempt conciliation with Schwarzenberg and Windischgraetz. The move failed, but on Dec. 7 the Hungarian parliament rejects Francis Joseph's claim to the throne and continues to recognize Ferdinand V.

Back to Milestones of 1848-49

*Based on Spanish law, the Pragmatic Sanction was designed to preserve a single line of royal succession based on primogeniture, thus discouraging parts of the empire from seceding by establishing sibling rulers. It recognized female succession to help preserve "the line".