I don't know a lot about Rudolph so I apologize if these questions are basic or naive.
The history of Rudolph is fascinating since it relates to so much else and I believe a terrible injustice was done to him. There's a lot of information in this thread and part 1 -- I read most every book I could find when posting my conclusions/summaries in these 2 threads.
1. Most of the material I've read claims he was something of a womanizer, but all come up short after naming the Vetseras and Caspar. What's the deal?
There is not a lot of evidence Rudolph was a real womanizer. It's even unsure if or how involved he was with the younger Vetsera. There's a couple good sources that said the mother Vetsera showed him the way when he was a boy of 12 or 13. Then the existence of Caspar as his girlfriend is certain. Several good reports told of a warm and close marriage in the early years between Rudolph and Stephanie. All the rest is speculation. As described above in detail, I'm convinced Bismarck had Rudolph killed, and since he didn't want a martyr, he made sure he destroyed Rudolph's reputation first. One of the better books that was mostly ignored was one written by his private secretary some time after the incident at Mayerling.
2. Related to the first question, but again several books claim he fathered several illegitimate children. Are any of them known?
There's a book called "He did not die at Mayerling" which was written by someone who claimed to be a son of Rudolph. I didn't find it all that credible. Another claim was a son by some Russian princess and after Rudolph's death, FJ apparently hired some notable civil war general to track down this son. This could have been the result of strong suggestions misleading FJ. For some reason, nothing ever came of it although the woman and her son were found at least I think from what I vaguely remember. I seem to remember another one mentioned in Part 1 of this thread.
3. What's the deal with the ring? Fact, rumor, romantic fantasy, what?
Are you referring to the bronze ring Rudolph supposedly gave MV? One of the strangest things I noted about all reports of them is that he just met her a few months before falling madly in love and ending it all in bloody glory. Rudolph had always known MV. Her Baltazzi uncles were connected with the FJ and Sisi -- I think taking care of their horses or something, but they were a fixed part of Rudolph's childhood, as was MV and her mother. Some claim it was the Prince of Wales who introduced them, but it wasn't. The POW did draw Rudolph's attention to MV, and in so doing, wrote in his diary that Rudolph's attitude was dismissive with some disdain. For some reason, probably other than romance, MV had a tight hold over Rudolph. She might have been one of Bismarck's unwitting pawns..........but how is a wild guess.
So FlashlightReader, any opinions yet?
