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No ruler in modern times reigned as long in full sovereignty as Francis Joseph, emperor of Austria and king of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, and Slavonia. He was a central figure in Europe from 1848 until 1916, playing a crucial role during the era when Italy and Germany became united nation-states. His decisions significantly influenced both the Crimean War and the onset of World War I. An autocrat who believed in the Habsburg mission to unify eleven distinct nationalities, he was also a family man with simple tastes, revered in Austria like Queen Victoria in her empire. Francis Joseph faced numerous personal tragedies: his brother Maximilian was executed, his son Rudolf committed suicide, his empress-queen Elizabeth was murdered, and his nephew Francis Ferdinand was assassinated. Alan Palmer's biography offers a fresh perspective, challenging the view of Francis Joseph as a lonely, humorless bureaucrat. Through extensive research, including the emperor's letters and his mother's diaries, Palmer presents a more nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Francis Joseph as both an imperial leader and a family man. He also explores Elizabeth's recently revealed verse journal and Crown Prince Rudolf's writings, shedding light on the emotional turmoil of the Habsburg dynasty amid significant societal changes. Finally, Palmer reflects on the enduring legacy of Francis Joseph in contemporary republican Austria.
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