Mistresses and illegetimate children of Emperor Franz Josef

[Sanochka]

Steven (at right) with his family.  My grandmother is the young girl at center.  Hanidowa, circa 1901.

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Honestly... they -the man and the kids- don't look like Habsburgs to me.... :-?

[britt.25]

Honestly... they -the man and the kids- don't look like Habsburgs to me.... :-?

I also think that they are not Habsburg, because they don't have any of the typical features. The look is not everything, but proof is missing, I think. There are many stories like that, only a genetic proof (DNA) can reveal the reality! But often this a long way. I know this from another case. But I can understand that this family has many open questions. This is difficult.

[Carolath Habsburg]

I ve read many cases, not only in the Habsburg of women cheated by men who said they re from "certain" royal houses. Maybe this is the case?

[Sanochka]

No.  She worked for him in some capacity and so was very much aware of who he was.  I do have the name of the town written down somewhere, but it is a transliteration and I have not been able to locate it on any map.  It's frustrating because it might be a key to solving this tantalizing mystery. 

[FLDiane]

I have the same family story. We were told that my great, great grandmother had two children by Franz Joseph (the children look exactly like him - a girl and then a boy) and then fled to the U.S. in 1896 with her children and a butler from the palace.

She later married the butler (his name was Albert Kitto). My Great, Great Grandmother's name was Franciska Konopaska. It is shocking to see so many families who posted to this forum with the same story. I am starting to believe we will never find out the whole story. Anyone have any suggestions how to find out more information?

[FLDiane]

I have the same family story. We were told that my great, great grandmother had two children by Franz Joseph (the children look exactly like him - a girl and then a boy) and then fled to the U.S. in 1896 with her children and a butler from the palace.

She later married the butler (his name was Albert Kitto). My Great, Great Grandmother's name was Franciska Konopaska. It is shocking to see so many families who posted to this forum with the same story. I am starting to believe we will never find out the whole story. Anyone have any suggestions how to find out more information?

Sorry - I misspelled my Great, Great Grandmother's name. Her name was Franciska Knopaska.

[FLDiane]

I now beleive the spelling of the Valet who married my great-great grandmother, Franciska Knopaska, after she had two children by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1895-1896 is Alese Kita.

Does anyone know how I can search for Valets at Schonbrunn palace in 1895?