Friday, September 9, 2011

Funeral rites for two Habsburgs

September 9, 1931

At almost "the same hour, two members of the once-mighty House of Habsburg were buried," reports the New York Times.

Archduke Leopold Salvator was buried in Vienna, and Archduchess Isabella was laid to rest in Budapest.

Leopold Salvator's funeral was attended by his widow, Archduchess Blanca; their three sons, Archdukes Anton, Leopold, and Franz Joseph; two daughters, and Archduke Anton's new bride,  Princess Ileana of Roumania.  Members of the former court and the imperial armed forces also attended.

The funeral services were held at St. Stephen's Cathedral, officiated by Cardinal Piffl.  After the ceremony,  the remains of the late archduke were taken to the Capuchin crypt, "where it will lie with Habsburg kings and emperors."


Archduchess Isabella's coffin was placed in the crypt of the Coronation Church in Budapest.  Her widower, Archduke Friedrich, and her son, Archduke Albrecht, led the list of family mourners at the funeral.  Prince Elias of Bourbon-Parma and Count Josef Hunyadi, leader of the Hungarian legitimists, represented former Empress Zita.

Prince Oskar of Prussia represented his father, the former Kaiser Wilhelm II.   Former King Alfonso XIII of Spain and Admiral Horthy were also present, as were all the members of the Habsburg family who live in Hungary.  Former court officials and members of the Hungarian aristocracy also attended the late Archduchess' funeral.

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