No. 54

 

Who was Franz Ferdinand?

 Part 1

 

 

The jolly group reached the entrance to Knopischt and saw stone replicas of local fauna lining the sidewalls.
Sophie and her children stood waiting for the visitors to approach.
Franz Ferdinand hugged his wife and kissed her passionately. He lifted each child in turn and kissed it on its cheeks.
The blond haired Dutchess wore a white silk gown that gave her shapely body a smooth look. Several rows of pearls hung from her neck. A large ring with an amethyst surrounded by small diamonds sparkled brightly as she moved her left hand.
Wilhelm joyfully kissed Sophie’s hand, saying how happy he was to return to a family that holds a special place in his heart.
She replied that since his last visit with Emperor Franz Joseph, there had been a hiatus in their lives.

 

“Well,” said her guest, “we will soon fill that gap with good camaraderie and love!”

“God bless you, Wilhelm.”

“Oh, on second thought,” joked the Kaiser, “I look forward to sampling your special fruit strudels!”

Duchess Sophie, with overt ardor, shamelessly kissed the Kaiser on his cheek.

Wilhelm laughed, “Do that one more time, my dear, and I will kidnap you and take you back to Berlin!”

Everyone, save Franz Ferdinand, laughed at the guest’s remark

The eldest child Princess Sophie, who resembled her mother, approached the famous man and curtsied before him.
She wore a fine white India Lawn dress with a pretty yoke.
It had three rows of fine embroidery insertions alternating with plaits. Ruffling stood out on her Eton vest.
On the top of her hair was a blue ribbon tied into a large bow.

 

Her brothers, Maxmilian and Ernst stood at her side. They were clad in identical sailor suits made of pink cotton chambray trimmed on a large collar and shield with white duck.
Each had a monogram in the center of the shield. They wore dark blue stockings and patent leather shoes.


While the Princess remained calm, her brothers nervously shuffled their shoes from one side to the other. A nudge from their sister soon stopped their activity.

 

Young Sophie held a sheet of a written paper. Without a word from her parents, she began to read a greeting, which she had written.

 

Her brothers proudly stood by as she spoke, for they helped her edit its composition.


 

Lieber Kaiser, der bis jetz gerest ist, um unsere family zu besuchen, grüssen wir Sie als Onkel und geliebte Person. Ihr Anwesenheit bildet unseren bescheiden aufenhaltsort einen schöneren und glücklicheren Platz. Bleiben Sie bitte mit uns für viele tage und lassen Sie uns in ihrem Edelmut sich aalen!

 

 

Sophie curtsied decorously.

Although Wilhelm noted that the greeting contained several grammatical errors, he silently forgave the child’s schoolgirl laxity.
He shook her hand and complimented her on such a thoughtful endeavor.

“Thank you, dear young lady. Of course, I will enjoy my stay at Knopischt Schloss. The scenery is exquisite and I will be sharing several days with people I have long loved!”

Franz Ferdinand patted his daughter on her head. Whereupon, the little girl looked lovingly into her father’s eyes that expressed undisguised appreciation.

Once inside the main part of the palace, the visitors noted the rich collection of art and artisan objects from the region’s earliest times that adorned every niche and corner of the rooms.
One room in particular held antiques that the Archduke gathered from Catholic churches far and wide.

As was expected, the walls held hunting trophies that proved the Archduke’s nearly maniacal interest in stalking prey.


 

Wilhelm, Eric and Herbie joined Franz Ferdinand and Sophie on the patio.

With everyone comfortably seated, Franz Ferdinand reached over to a nearby table and tinkled a glass bell.
Two servants immediately appeared, one carrying a silver tray on which stood several tall, silver capped beer steins. The other servant filled them with warm lager.

 

Sophie said, “It is so warm out here that I believe I want a cool drink.”

One servant turned to the door and snapped his fingers. A maid magically entered carrying a crystal glass of iced tea for her lady.

 

“Danke!”

Lifting his stein, Ferdie said, “This beer is made in a Prague brewery that was established in the sixteenth century. Drink up gentlemen. I believe you will enjoy it.”

Herbie gently sniffed the contents. He carefully agitated the ale to enjoy its bouquet.

Next, he sipped the liquid but resisted swallowing it immediately.
He let it wander around his entire palate. He allowed his taste buds to guide his judgment. He breathed out during
the process of tasting.


“Lieber Erzherzog,” he exclaimed, licking his lips. “It is
absolutely the best ale I ever tasted. As my sainted mother used to say, ‘If one cannot detect any sweetness, salty flavors, and bitterness in one’s ale, then one’s day has reached perfection!’”

Franz Ferdinand showed no emotion to Schornstein’s antics, but simply nodded his head as one inured to ass kissing.

 

Wilhelm sipped his ale quietly without comment. He lit a cigarette and blew a smoke ring but not in the direction of the Archduke. Instead, he aimed it at Schornstein who

 unconsciously had defamed München beer!


“When in Rome …” said Eric.

Herbie ignored his friend’s reprimands and asked Franz Ferdinand if he would explain how he came to purchase Knopischt?

“Oh, I did not purchase the property,” replied Ferdie, setting his stein down. “It was deeded to me twenty years ago by the Duke Ferdinand d’Estes because of his great love for my mother and father. Preceding today’s palace was a fourteenth century castle built by the lords of Beneschau. In the beginning of the seventeenth century, it exhibited a Late Gothic appearance. Next, it had a Late Renaissance look. Beginning with the eighteenth century, the fad was for Baroque architecture and so the place went to that style. Lo and behold, I decided to make a few subtle changes, one of which was cover the entire outside walls with brilliant white stucco. The palace really gleams in the sunlight!”

 

Herbie nodded in agreement. “I look forward to walking about these grounds. I especially wish to see your famous rose gardens!”

 

The Archduke twisted his lips suggesting that he couldn’t care less what Herbie thought.

 

After several moments of friendly chatting, Herbie boldly asked Franz Ferdinand if he would share his thoughts about his marriage to Duchess Sophie.


“Emperor Wilhelm has often told me about your love for your family and your hopes for success when you become Kaiser of Austria-Hungary!”


 

“Ow!” said Herbie as he felt Eric kick him on the shin.

Wilhelm straightened himself up as though he saw trouble staring him in the face!

The Archduke saw the concerned look on Wilhelm’s face. Then he reached across to his wife and patted her hand.
She nodded to him to let him know that it was all right to
discuss the matter.

“It is a story of love at first sight. It was at a ball given by the Statthalter, the representative of the Crown in Prague. Countess Sophie was the lady-in-waiting for the Archduchess of Pressburg.
We began seeing each other as often as possible and soon we

eventually expressed our feelings of love for each other. For me, it was the greatest event
of my life! My beloved Sophie has made me realize how much love we have for each other so that in everything we do it is as two peas in a pod! Isn’t that correct, my dear?”

Sophie nodded in agreement and folded her hands as though in prayer.

Ferdie sipped his beer and continued his discussion although with an expression of despair.


 

“Emperor Franz Josef was outraged that I wanted to marry a person of what he considered low peerage. Actually, the Countess was of the very ancient Bohemian family Chotkowa and Wogin. They were royalty when the Hapsburgs were living in dirt huts and bow hunting wild boar in the primeval forests!”


 

Wiping suds from his mouth, the Archduke struggled to gain control of his rising anger.


“The Emperor and I argued bitterly over the matter. We were both adamant. I would marry my dearest love. He would not hear of it. While we negotiated, poor Sophie

resided in a convent to await the final decision. From that day on, I have despised Franz Josef!”

Sophia reached over and laid her hand atop that of her husband. “No, no, dearest Ferdie! You do not hate your uncle. We all know that everything he does is for what he
considers ‘the good of Austria-Hungary’.”

“You are too kind, Sophie,” replied Ferdie. “You are indeed an angel!”

“Finally, the Emperor told me that I could enter a morganatic marriage without endangering my right to succession. However, Sophie and our unborn children were not Imperial family. I threatened to leave Vienna unless Sophie held high royal rank. She is now the Duchess of Hohenberg and may be called ‘her highness!’”


 

Silence pervaded the room as the Archduke stood up and kissed his wife’s cheek and patted her shoulder.


 

“Today, Sophie remains a beautiful intelligent and pious woman. We have three beautiful children. They remind me of the roses that grow in our gardens. Everyday, I thank the Lord for blessing me with such good fortune!”

The three guests stood up and bowed to the two lovers.

“May God bless your family,” exclaimed the Kaiser, “with good fortune for many more years.”


 

“Thank you, dear cousin,” said Ferdie, his face brightening for the first time since his guest had arrived.
Bending close to Sophie, he stammered, “As emperor. I will see to it that our situation changes for the betterment of our family!”