Archduke Eduard of Austria, full name Eduard Karl Joseph Michael Marcus Koloman Volkhold Maria Habsburg-Lothringen, is a Renaissance man with many talents. The New York Times recently reported that he had spent time as “zombie movie screenwriter, novelist and cartoon producer.”
Archduke Eduard serves as the Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See. His latest book, The Habsburg Way: Seven Rules for Turbulent Times, couldn’t come at a more opportune moment in history. The Habsburgs’ heritage goes back at least 1,000 years. The rules encompass major life choices and events, such as “Be Catholic,” getting married, knowing who you are and what you stand for.
Our interview with the Italy-based archduke was conducted by Zoom.
Archduke Eduard’s faith figures strongly into every aspect of his, and his family’s, life. Throughout my many visits to Europe, I noticed deconsecrated churches being converted into hotels. I asked the archduke if he thought that could be turned around.
“Absolutely, Tamar! I think it can be turned around one step at a time, one family at a time, one Catholic at a time.” He pointed out that you can work within your own house and family to introduce faith.
“The family is ‘the house church,’” he said, reciting a saying in his part of the world. He feels that there is too much reliance on the parish priest for reinvigoration, rather than the family.
The archduke recalls that his father has a saying: “The education of a child is absolutely finished after three years,” explaining that the child will watch the parents and see what you do, not what you say.
I noted that Austrian culture was quite affected when it was invaded by the Ottoman Empire: Mozart wrote a “Turkish” violin concerto and the Turkish café scene took hold. I wondered if Austrians would stand up for its culture now.
Archduke Eduard noted that Hungary stands up for its culture, Austria is a bit more cautious, that it’s always a balancing act between being accommodating and maintaining the culture.
The archduke says that sometimes he runs into people who cry when they see him, longing for the old days.
I asked him if that has to do with following the end of the empire — during the world wars — the area was filled with hatred and strife, the origin of the word “balkanization.”
Archduke Eduard referred to Churchill’s Rising Storm, where the British Prime Minister laments the end of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
Bringing us back to modern times, I asserted that the EU doesn’t seem to respect all the cultures within it. As an example, they don’t want to accept Hungary’s more traditional social viewpoint.
Hungary vocally protested the EU’s attempt to outlaw kosher slaughter and circumcision. Historians believe that Jews have been in the country since before 100 AD, before the Huns and Magyars.
The archduke responded, “I think that the EU could profit from taking a long look at how the Habsburgs did it for several hundred years ... EU is a great project, but every project can be improved.”
I told him that I have a vintage cookbook of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. All the countries claim to have invented apple strudel, so I wanted to know who he sides with.
“Tamar, I have no idea!” he laughed. “My guess would be Austria or perhaps Bohemia, somewhere between Prague and Vienna. But I don’t want to encourage a culture war on this!”
He pointed out that countries like Czechia, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia, Hungary and Poland share a common culture, with similar foods, buildings and senses of humor.
I wondered if Hungarians still mourn the loss of their valuable wine-growing land, the Burgenland, to Austria. Archduke Eduard clarified that the Burgenland itself seceded in 1921, whereas other lands were lost in post-war treaties.
He has not forgotten the ethnic Hungarians in those lands: “We are very close to the Hungarians who live across the border. We work with them.”
Archduke Eduard speaks German, Italian, French and English fluently, “and of course Hungarian,” with working knowledge of Latin and Spanish.
Tamar Alexia Fleishman was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's youngest female solo violinist. A world-traveler, Fleishman provides readers with international flavor and culture. She's debated Bill Maher, Greta Van Susteren and Dr. Phil. Fleishman practices law in Maryland with a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and a B.A. in Political Science from Goucher College. Read Tamar Alexia Fleishman's Reports — More Here.
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