Ludwig Viktor, Erzherzog von Österreich

PRINCE (AUSTRIAN EMPIRE)
BORN 15 May 1842, Wien - DIED 18 Jan 1919, Salzburg: Schloss Klessheim
BIRTH NAME Ludwig Viktor Joseph Anton von Österreich
GRAVE LOCATION Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg: Friedhof Siezenheim, Dorfstrasse (large cross at the eastern wall)

Ludwig Viktor of Austria was the youngest son of Archduke Franz Karl and Sophie of Bavaria. Emperor Franz Joseph was his brother. He started a military career like he was supposed to, but he was more interested interested in collecting art. Heinrich von Ferstel designed a city palace from him on the Schwarzenbergplatz in Vienna. where he organised evenings for homosexuals. At the same time he conducted a long term affair with the dancer Claudine Couqui. His homosexual life was a public secret and he liked to dress as a women, but still his relations with his family were good.

His mother tried to arrange a marriage for him with Sophia Charlotte of Bavaria, but this came to nothing. He also declined to marry Isabel of Brazil. After a public incident at a bathhouse, Franz Joseph decided to ban him from Vienna to Schloss Klessheim near Salzburg. In Salzburg he was known for his philanthropism and as a patron of the arts. In 1896 Franz Joseph appointed him to oversee the austrian Red Cross. During the last years of his life he was mentally confused. He died in 1919 at Schloss Klessheim and according to his own wishes he was buried at the cemetery of Siezenheim.

Family
• Mother: Sophie von Bayern
• Brother: Franz Joseph von Habsburg, Emperor of Austria
• Brother: Maximilian of Austria, emperor of Mexico

Related persons
• was pupil of Clairmont, Charles Gaulis

Events
21/2/1904Archduchess Maria Valeria leaves a performance of Hauptmann's "Rose Bernd". In Vienna the first performance was on 11 February 1904 at the Burgtheater. Archduchess Marie Valeria attended the performance of 21 February. She left the performance ostentatiously and ensured that it was canceled the next day. But it was performed in april in Merano where it was attended by Archduke Ludwig Viktor. 

Images

The grave of Ludwig Viktor, archduke of Austria at the cemetery of Siezenheim near Salzburg.
Picture by Androom (01 Sep 2014)

 

Sources
• Elgklou, Lars, Koninklijke minnaars en minnaressen, Echtscheidingen, bastaardkinderen, bigamie, verhoudingen, Standaard, Antwerpen, 1985
Reformer, Republikaner und Rebellen, Das andere Haus Habsburg-Lotharingen, Piper, München, 1995
Ludwig Viktor von Österreich - Wikipedia
Rose Bernd - Wikipedia


Ludwig Wilhelm, Herzog in Bayern

Published: 07 May 2021
Last update: 03 Apr 2022