Ferdinand I of Austria

Biography

Early life

Ferdinand was the eldest son of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. Possibly as a result of his parents' genetic closeness (they were double first cousins), Ferdinand had hydrocephalus, neurological problems including epilepsy, and a speech impediment. He was educated by Baron Josef Kalasanz von Erberg, and his wife Countess Josephine von Attems.

Reign

Although Ferdinand has been depicted as feeble-minded and incapable of ruling, he kept a coherent and legible diary and has even been said to have had a sharp wit. However, suffering as many as twenty seizures per day severely restricted his ability to rule with any effectiveness. Though he was not declared incapacitated, a Regent's Council (Archduke Louis, Count Kolowrat, and Prince Metternich) steered the government.

When Ferdinand married Princess Maria Anna of Savoy, the court physician considered it unlikely that he would be able to consummate the marriage. When he tried to consummate the marriage, he had five seizures. He is also remembered for his command to his cook: when told he could not have apricot dumplings (Marillenknödel) because apricots were out of season, he said "I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings!" (!).

1848 Revolution

As the revolutionaries of 1848 were marching on the palace, he is supposed to have asked Metternich for an explanation. When Metternich answered that they were starting a revolution, Ferdinand is supposed to have said "But are they allowed to do that?" (Viennese German: Ja, dürfen's denn des?). He was convinced by Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg to abdicate in favour of his nephew, Franz Joseph (the next in line was Ferdinand's younger brother Franz Karl, but he was persuaded by his wife Sophie to renounce his succession rights in favour of his son), who would occupy the Austrian throne for the next 68 years.

Ferdinand recorded the events in his diary:

The affair ended with the new Emperor kneeling before his old Emperor and Lord, that is to say, me, and asking for a blessing, which I gave him, laying both hands on his head and making the sign of the Holy Cross ... then I embraced him and kissed our new master, and then we went to our room. Afterwards I and my dear wife heard Holy Mass ... After that I and my dear wife packed our bags.

In retirement (1848–1875)

Ferdinand was the last King of Bohemia to be crowned as such. Due to his sympathy with Bohemia (where he spent the rest of his life in Prague Castle) he was given the Czech nickname "Ferdinand V, the Good" (Ferdinand Dobrotivý). In Austria, Ferdinand was similarly nicknamed "Ferdinand der Gütige" (Ferdinand the Benign), but also ridiculed as "Gütinand der Fertige" (Goodinand the Finished).

Ferdinand was also the last ruler to be crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in his capacity as King of Lombardy-Venetia.

He is interred in tomb number 62 in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.

Honours

• Austrian Empire:
  • Knight of the Golden Fleece, 1793
  • Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, 1830
  • Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Leopold
  • Knight of the Iron Crown, 1st Class
• France:
  • Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg French Empire: Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honour
  • Pavillon royal de France.svg Kingdom of France: Knight of the Holy Spirit, 1816
• Kingdom of Bavaria: Knight of St. Hubert, 1824
• Duchy of Parma: Senator Grand Cross of the Constantinian Order of St. George, with Collar, 1826
• Grand Duchy of Hesse: Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, 11 April 1830
• Hesse Electorate of Hesse: Grand Cross of the Golden Lion, 26 December 1830
• Baden:
  • Grand Cross of the House Order of Fidelity, 1830
  • Grand Cross of the Zähringer Lion, 1830
• Kingdom of Saxony: Knight of the Rue Crown, 1830
• Two Sicilies:
  • Knight of St. Januarius, 1830
  • Grand Cross of St. Ferdinand and Merit
• Württemberg: Knight of the Golden Eagle, 1830
• Kingdom of Sardinia: Knight of the Annunciation, 12 January 1831
• Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg Kingdom of Prussia: Knight of the Black Eagle, 24 January 1831
• Denmark: Knight of the Elephant, 1 February 1831
• Empire of Brazil: Grand Cross of the Southern Cross
• Flag of Portugal (1750).svg Kingdom of Portugal:
  • Grand Cross of the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword
• Russian Empire: Knight of St. Andrew, 28 February 1835
• Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Grand Cross of the White Falcon, 2 April 1835
• Sweden Sweden-Norway: Knight of the Seraphim, 14 April 1835
• Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Saxe-Altenburg Saxe-Meiningen Ernestine duchies: Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, May 1835
• Flag of Anhalt Duchies.png Ascanian duchies: Grand Cross of Albert the Bear, 18 March 1837
• Kingdom of Hanover:
  • Knight of St. George, 1847
  • Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order, 1847
• Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, 23 April 1849
• Tuscany Grand Duchy of Tuscany: Grand Cross of St. Joseph

Ancestry

Ferdinand's parents were double first cousins as they shared all four grandparents (Francis' paternal grandparents were his wife's maternal grandparents and vice versa). Therefore, Ferdinand only had four great-grandparents, being descended from each of them twice. Further back in his ancestry there is more pedigree collapse due to the close intermarriage between the Houses of Austria and Spain and other Catholic monarchies.

References

References

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