What remains today of the Habsburg monarchy, which ended in 1918?

“Long live the Emperor!” – an empire crumbles, but the memory remains. When World War I ended in November 1918, the slow death of one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties began. Although the Habsburg Empire fell apart, borders were redrawn, and the Republic was proclaimed in Austria, the monarchy continues to live on in the hearts of those who felt a connection to it. A central location for addressing these questions is the “Imperial City” of Bad Ischl in the Salzkammergut. It is not only the center of the k.u.k. myth and romanticized glorification but also serves as a reminder of fatal decisions; it was here that Franz Joseph I. chose to take up arms, thus initiating World War I.

How did the history of the k.u.k. dual state and the developments after 1918, which essentially continue to this day, unfold? How do we view the Habsburg legacy? What is its relevance, not only for Austria but for all of Europe?

The presumed dead Habsburgs come to new life in text and image. Austrian historian Hannes Leidinger, an expert in this field of research, engages with these questions among others. This exploration, enriched by contributions from prominent scholars and complemented by expressive illustrations from Lenz Mosbacher, delves into the search for clues, deciphering individual pieces of evidence that prove: The monarchy is history, but its power resonates – to this day. The publication serves as a portal, an entry into the world of the Habsburgs long after the dawn of the Republic. At the same time, it acts as a traveling exhibition, extending the exhibition “k(ritisch) und k(ontrovers)” taking place in Bad Ischl, the former “Imperial City” of the k.u.k. dual state, in 2024.