Perhaps, like Emperor Franz Josef I himself, you find this statue a bit lonely? It stands in the Burggarten. This garden is near the Hofburg Palace. It’s easy to miss amid Vienna’s many grand monuments. Yet, the Franz Josef I. Statue tells a compelling story.
The Franz Josef I. Statue commemorates a long-ruling emperor. Franz Josef I ruled the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy from 1848 to 1916. That is almost 68 years. His empire included Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. It also encompassed Slovakia and parts of Poland. Sections of Italy and Croatia too. Given this vast realm, he was known by many names. These included Franz Josef, Franz Joseph, Francis Joseph and Ferenc Jozsef.
Interestingly, this is Vienna’s only statue of Franz Josef I. Despite his image being all over souvenirs. The Franz Josef I. Statue wasn’t always here. It was completed in 1904 during Franz Josef’s lifetime. Originally, it stood in a park in Wiener Neustadt. This is a town near Vienna. Only in 1957 did it move to Burggarten. This was long after the emperor’s death.
The path to creating the Franz Josef I. Statue wasn’t smooth either. Plans for a monument stalled after the monarchy’s fall. Sculptors received an official order in 1937. But Nazi annexation disrupted these plans. Finally, on August 18, 1957 the statue was unveiled. This date marked the Emperor’s birthday. This happened thanks to a private initiative. Before that, the statue had been rusting in a warehouse. Josef Tuch created the bronze casting. He based it on a stone original by Johannes Benko from 1904.
Take a closer look at the Franz Josef I. Statue. Notice how he appears sad and lonely? This reflects his life. His beloved Sisi traveled often. She was escaping court duties. Even his pose has meaning. The emperor’s back faces the street. Some say this shows his detachment from ordinary people’s lives. Despite waking early to address monarchy affairs, he remained distant.
Franz Josef was a dedicated ruler. He worked about 16 hours a day. He usually wore a uniform. The Franz Josef I. Statue shows him in one. He knew each helmet and cap for every uniform. He preferred simple things. He slept on an iron bed. He disliked new technology. Cars, telephones and even flush toilets were not his favorites.
However, he always remained respectful. Even to his servants. He never commanded. He always asked politely even for a glass of water and he always thanked.
The Burggarten itself was once the emperor’s private garden. It opened to the public three years after his death. It provides a fitting location for the Franz Josef I. Statue. A place where we can reflect on his long reign. A reign filled with both glory and personal tragedy. So, next time you are in Burggarten, take a moment to appreciate this statue. It is a reminder of a significant figure in Austrian history.