Archduke Otto (1912-2011) and his family

[Greenowl]

In honour of such a fantastic Birthday (and such a wonderful person) I think I should quote the old imperial anthem "God protect..."

Gott erhalte, Gott beschütze
Unsern Kaiser, unser Land!
Mächtig durch des Glaubens Stütze
Führt er uns mit weiser Hand!
Laßt uns seiner Väter Krone
Schirmen wider jeden Feind:
Innig bleibt mit Habsburgs Throne
Österreichs Geschick vereint.

    In Verbannung, fern den Landen
    Weilst Du, Hoffnung Österreichs.
    Otto, treu in festen Banden
    Steh’n zu Dir wir felsengleich.
    Dir, mein Kaiser, sei beschieden
    Alter Ruhm und neues Glück!
    Bring den Völkern endlich Frieden,
    Kehr zur Heimat bald zurück

[britt.25]

Thank you so much for reminding. I almost forgot about his birthday!!! (Did not think about it...so much studying and other trouble) It's today and Otto is 95 now. Wonderful. I wish him all the best, and that he has still some very active and good years before him. Will he become 100? I hope!!!  It's surely interesting, how the family will celebrate it. Are there any recent infos? Maybe we will read about that during the next time.
I admire it that Otto has now become sooo old and he has done so much in his life. Simply a wonderful man, people like him are so rare!

[CFH_Mexico]

I was informed that Otto spent his 95th birthday with his family at his home in Poecking. He got a cold and could hardly speak. He has a full agenda where he is asked to make political and historical speeches and he accepts gladly! 5 Years ago he said Life starts at 90!! He is an amazing man with many friends throughout the world.

[britt.25]

Hello Maxiliano,

This is a bit strange, because in the press it was said that they firstly do celebrations in Vienna, where he meets Fischer in the Hofburg, and a mess celebrated in the Stephansdom (also the pope congratulated him), all this already a day before his birthday. But it was stated that on October 20 th he would go to Sarajevo, to celebrate there, to show his loyalty and connection to that country. So, did he not celebrate in Sarajewo? I thought so. Or did he change any plans because of his illness?
I hope that he will be better soon!!!
All the interviews in the press were more than interesting. If anybody is interested I can post something here and translate it.

[Princess Susan]

That would be great to read it!

[Greenowl]

Yes Britt,  it would be wonderful if your could post some of those articles here.

Thanks in advance,
GREENOWL

[britt.25]

As those interviews are sometimes a bit longer, I need at first some time to translate it. Or don't we need a translation? I fear not all people know german here...What do you think?

[Greenowl]

I have no problem reading the interviews in the original German, but as you say, not everybody can understand that language. Maybe I could help you translate some parts of them?

Cheers
GREENOWL

[Lucien]

If Austria would still be an Empire,Otto would not only be it's 95 year old Emperor,but also Emperor of Austria,Apostolic King of Hungary,King of Bohemia(de jure)
for 85 years!He would beat Ramses II as longest Reigning Monarch,ever.

The Imperial family was received at the Hofburg,Vienna by Austria's president to honour Otto's birthday.

Archduke Otto with his son and Heir Karl and grandson Ferdinand Zvonimir
http://www.isifa.com/photo/preview/15841007.jpg

[britt.25]

Thank you very much for the nice picture, Lucien. It's interesting to see three Habsburg generations next to each other. It's incredibile how little Ferdinand has grown up. I always remember little child pictures! He is such a beautiful boy, and will once be chief of the family

[Learning]

Archduke Karl as Otto's eldest son will become head of the House of Habsburg. Indeed, I think Otto has already confirmed this and Karl is effectively a regent. There is a short Wikipedia article on him in both English and German. Does anyone know what he does now? Does he work? Are the Habsburgs comfortable enough that he does not have to work? Does he live in a villa near Salzburg or just an ordinary house? Does he have any interest in the family and in keeping the Habsburg aspirations (such as they are!) alive? Thanks.

[Princess of Cupertino]

Also I wonder if his marriage was "equal" since I remember she was a countess ... and they seem to be seperated now?

[britt.25]

Yes, they live separated. Even when I think there are people, who have more knowlegde on the life of Karl, I know that some think, he is not the best person for a job as future chief of the family. There are even certain family members thinking that. We already discussed about that on the thread on Otto and Regina. Please do also have a look there.
For now Otto already gave him a lot of tasks, and wrote a letter to the family concerning naming Karl as future chief, that was last year, but I don't think Otto would be man, to whome it would be allright giving all tasks etc to his son and then doing nothing. Never.
Please have a look at the other thread as well. I posted a translation on that family letter there.

If anybody has more infos on the current life, please post!

[dmitri]

None of it really matters. It is purely a private family matter. Once Dr. Otto von Habsburg sadly passes away as surely he must, the status of the Habsburgs will alter considerably. He after all was born before the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and has a personal connection with it. His sons have none apart from their father and the name he bequeathed to them. It willl be a sad day indeed when Dr. Otto von Habsburg dies.

[britt.25]

Yes, somewhere you are right. But I think this problem we will always have: Times are changing and even a royal house like the Habsburgs must find a way between the historicial connected background, the tradition and modernism, which I also think so, is not too easy. Surely Otto was the last one, who himself lived at the time, when the reign of the Habsburgs was still alive, and all his descendants cannot share this. But that's like it is. There will always be the historical background, but times are new.
I hope the house will find a way to deal with this change, but sometimes even in royal families, changes are necessary and cannot be thought away, when times are moving. I really hope, Archduke will make the best out of it also by finding that way in between.