September 1, 1899
The Marquise de Fontenoy reports that there is "no truth whatsoever in the announcement of the betrothal" of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Grand Duchess Helen of Russia. The Grand Duchess "recently jilted the now crazy Max of Baden." The Marquise writes that the ones who wrote the story about the engagement "are evidently unaware of the existence of a clause in the of constitution of Austro-Hungary and in the laws of the Austrian succession" that the heir to the throne must marry a princess who was born a Roman Catholic.
There is only one marriage between an Austrian archduke and a Russian grand duchess. This marriage was allowed because the archduke was way down in the line of succession.
Franz Ferdinand, however, is restricted in his choice of a bride. She was must be a royal or imperial princess who was born and reared in the Roman Catholic faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment