Leiden University Student Repository

Bakhuis, Niels Jasper (2018)

Franz Joseph utilised? Why the concept of Kaisertreue in the Austro-Hungarian Empire should be reinterpreted from an anational and national perspective based on two Kaiserreisen to Galicia in 1880 and 1894

Master thesis | History (MA)

Ever since Oscar Jászi’s thesis on opposing centripetal versus centrifugal forces within the Austro-Hungarian empire, historians have perceived developments within the Dual Monarchy through a dichotomous lens without questioning this assumed mutual exclusivity. This has led to singular interpretations of imperial loyalty, Kaisertreue, as a purely centripetal, read imperial, force. While new studies have shown that the opposition between nationalism and imperial identity is much more complex and that in some cases they could be compatible and even mutually supportive, this has not led to a new interpretation of Kaisertreue. Through an analysis of the promotion of Kaisertreue during two imperial visits to Galicia in 1880 and 1894, this thesis argues that the ruling Polish conservatives nationalised dynastic loyalty in order to support their nationalist visions and policies for Galicia, while at the same time the Habsburg Court continued to promote an anational Kaisertreue based on the...Show moreEver since Oscar Jászi’s thesis on opposing centripetal versus centrifugal forces within the Austro-Hungarian empire, historians have perceived developments within the Dual Monarchy through a dichotomous lens without questioning this assumed mutual exclusivity. This has led to singular interpretations of imperial loyalty, Kaisertreue, as a purely centripetal, read imperial, force. While new studies have shown that the opposition between nationalism and imperial identity is much more complex and that in some cases they could be compatible and even mutually supportive, this has not led to a new interpretation of Kaisertreue. Through an analysis of the promotion of Kaisertreue during two imperial visits to Galicia in 1880 and 1894, this thesis argues that the ruling Polish conservatives nationalised dynastic loyalty in order to support their nationalist visions and policies for Galicia, while at the same time the Habsburg Court continued to promote an anational Kaisertreue based on the equality of all nations, languages, and cultures. This reinterpretation helps historians to better understand the complexities of imperial-nationalist dynamics and therefore offer better explanations of developments within Austria-Hungary.Show less

Austria-Hungary

Franz Joseph

Kaisertreue

Galicia

National Identity

Supranational Identity

Kaiserreisen

Author

Bakhuis, Niels Jasper

Note

The image on the cover is of emperor Franz Joseph I. of Austria-Hungary (1830 (r. 1848) -1916) as he was presented on the front page of: Die Neue Zeit Nr. 197 (28-08-1880), 1. It was used with permission from the Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, see: HHStA Neuere Zeremonialakten (NZA) Karton 367.

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Political Culture and National Identities

Supervisors

Baár, Monika

ECTS Credits

30

Language

en