Marie Valerie to be named as Austrian heir

Marie Valerie and Franz Salvator

February 23, 1896 

 By Special Cable to the New York Journal and other papers. "The oft-repeated rumors of a contemplated change" to the Austro-Hungarian crown "have assumed a different form." 

 Some of these rumors have been based on the "remarkably frequent exchanges of telegrams" between the German Emperor Wilhelm II and Franz Joseph of Austria. The two men are expected to meet tomorrow in Cape Martin on the French Riviera, "and an authentic report has reached here," regarding the succession. It is understood that the succession to the Austrian throne "will be definitely announced."

 Archduchess Marie Valerie, the second daughter of Franz Joseph, who is married to Archduke Franz Salvator, is said to be the person who will succeed her father, instead of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who is reported to be "dying of consumption" in Cairo. 

Wilhelm II apparently favors the succession of Marie Valerie. 

 It is "well known that Franz Ferdinand and the other Archdukes have always shown bitter opposition to the Driebund." French president Faure will meet with both emperors on Friday at Cape Martin. It is not yet known what France's attitude will be toward the change in the succession." Franz Joseph's only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, died in 1889. 

 His only child is Archduchess Elisabeth Marie, who is 14 years old. Franz Joseph's elder daughter, Archduchess Gisela, married in 1873 to Prince Leopold of Bavaria. Archduchess Marie Valerie was born in 1868. She married her second cousin, Archduke Franz Salvator in 1890. 

 At the time of the marriage, Valerie renounced her right to the throne. Archduchess Marie Valerie and Archduke Franz Salvator have four children, Elisabeth Franziska, Franz Karl Salvator, Hubert Salvator and Hedwig.