Twenty years ago, the last reigning Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary was beatified by St Pope John Paul II in Rome.
The legacy of Emperor Karl von Habsburg (1887 – 1922) is complex and the source of contention and disagreement. While his attempts to preserve the Austro-Hungarian Empire following the outbreak of the First World War, after the assassination of his uncle Franz Ferdinand, failed and led to acrimony in his home country, his commitment to peace and his devotion to his duties as emperor are widely recognised. His beatification reflects his reputation and character as a pious and selfless leader.
