West European Studies

The author of the book
    As the book bears the name of its author, the book Twilight of the Habsburgs The Life of Emperor Francis Joseph was written by Alan Warwick Palmer. Author of several other history books including The Decline and Fall of the Ottoman Empire, Palmer is a prolific writer of European history for the general readers.

    A retired school master, Alan Palmer has also written biographies of great individuals like Bismarck, Kaiser William II, Kemal Ataturk and of course that of emperor Francis Joseph of Austria. According to Palmer himself as he wrote in one of his book, his military and diplomatic histories are concerned with the Balkans and Eastern Europe (Palmer 1996, p. 10) but he also cited that he was also interested in the interested in US Affairs. His most recent work was the Dictionary of the British Empire and Commonwealth. Palmer has been a fellow of Royal Society of Literature since 1990.

What is the situation being described
The situation being described by the author was the turns of events that took place in Eastern Europe before, during, and after the birth of Emperor Francis Joseph. Among the complicated scenarios that the author discussed were the inter marriages of the Hapsburg, the political maneuverings to the throne, and the fears that gripped the most part of Europe not only the wealthy families, but particularly the Habsburg because of the great epidemic that struck the region.

The situation that the author discussed before the birth of Emperor Francis Joseph was climate of inter marriages with the Habsburg families that had significant impact not only on political aspect but also on the quality of the offspring that were produced by these intermarriages. Because such marriages were within close family relationships, Palmer noted that sons and daughters that were born relatives couple barely survived the infancy stage affecting future succession. Palmer wrote, For although fifty-two Habsburg archdukes and archduchesses had been born in the past hundred years, the future succession remained in doubt (p. 3). Palmer cited the disastrous genetic consequences of such marriages as the reason for such doubts. Thus, when Francis Joseph was about to be born, everyone was very anxious and gripped with fear that the child may not be without physical deformities.

The most notable situation however was the emergence of  a killer disease known as cholera that brought so much  fear even among the wealthy people an the house of the  Habsburg. Palmer asserted that the killer that swept throughout the Eastern Europe particularly into Russia killing even some of the prominent members some of the Royal families. Based on Palmers description, the extent of cholera was very alarming that the imperial family gathered at the Schonbrunn palace, cordoned off from the evil-evil-smelling River Wien in an effort to protect the life of the future Emperor.

    Palmer also took note of the economic situation prior to his ascension to the throne and after he has ascended the throne in which he mentioned that there were two phases of migrations of peasantry into towns and cities in search of economic fortune. According to Palmer, the situation in 1880s in the Austria-Hungary relations were a situation in which prosperity and social discontent played a created serious impact in the economic development that lead to popular resentment and prejudice that threatened the parliamentary politics. Generally however, the situation described in the book were more on the issues and events concerning within the Hapsburg family. 

What specific things are they offering as specific evidence
While the first two situations described earlier concerns on the events before and immediately during the birth of Francis Joseph which cultivated the ground for his succession to the throne, the question above is hereby treated as asking the specific things offered as specific evidence of Francis Josephs almost sixty-eight years reign as sovereign emperor of Austria.

    One of the specific things offered as evidence of the influence of his nearly seventy years of sovereign rule was the architectural style of official buildings on the imperial capital. According to Palmer, Francis Joseph left on the imperial capital and indirectly on provincial centre which looked to Vienna for inspiration (p. 229), as he was consulted over the setting of official buildings on the Ring. Palmer emphasized that the elegant spaciousness of inner Vienna owes much to him.

What is the authors, argument, thesis or main idea
    The argument raised by the author in this book was that Emperor Francis Joseph was the greatest ruler in the history of Eastern Europe despite that he ascended to the throne through the initiatives and efforts of military officers. The thesis of his book has to do with this argument emphasizing on his long years of sovereign rule. The thesis of the book seemed to be that, the Emperors great foresight and his overwhelming sense of dynastic responsibility has made him a cautious reformer that enabled him to exercise sovereign rule in Austria and much of Eastern Europe for the next 70 years.