Thursday, December 13, 2012

Archduke Karl Stephan to be Polish regent

December 13, 1916

Archduke Karl Stephan of Austria has been "selected to be Regent of Poland, with the prospect of election as King later," reports the New York Times in a dispatch from Warsaw via London.

The Polish State Council, expected to convene before Christmas, is likely to give assent to this proposal.

At present, the Archduke "commands the Austrian navy," has been selected by Vienna and Berlin "for the new kingdom to be carved out of the Russian Poland.

His expected appointment has been discussed in the press since mid-August.   Should Karl Stephan be named King, a coronation would take place at Warsaw Cathedral.

The archduke owns a large estate in Poland.  His daughter, Archduchess Renate, is married to Prince Jerome Radziwill, a member of one of Poland's princely families.

Archduke Karl Stephan is 56 years old.  He is a brother of Queen Dowager Maria Cristina of Spain, mother of King Alfonso XIII.

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