Hapsburg Royalty. Born the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth; he married sixteen year old Princess Stephanie of Belgium in 1881. The couple had one daughter, Archduchess Elisabeth, born in 1883. In 1888, Rudolf met 17-year-old Baroness Marie von Vetsera who then became his mistress. In January 1889, he and Marie were staying at his hunting lodge Mayerling with a very few chosen guests. The couple was discovered dead in their room under mysterious circumstances. The body of the Crown Prince was removed to Vienna. Marie's presence was a scandal that official circles did their best to suppress. The accepted story was that Rudolf shot his mistress and then himself. Details are lacking, however, due to the secrecy involved. Evidence suggests the body of Marie did not show any trace of a bullet wound, but rather blunt trauma to the head. It was alleged that Rudolf's body, too, showed signs of violence. Lacerations supposed to be on his hands could have have been used as evidence for defensive wounds and given weight to an alternate theory that Rudolf and Marie had been assassinated. It also was alleged that the revolver used to kill Rudolf was not one owned by the Crown Prince, and that all six bullets were fired, unusual for a suicide. The last Austrian Empress, Zita, who died in 1989, once said she believed Rudolf had been the victim of an international political conspiracy and was murdered. The question is unresolved.
Hapsburg Royalty. Born the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth; he married sixteen year old Princess Stephanie of Belgium in 1881. The couple had one daughter, Archduchess Elisabeth, born in 1883. In 1888, Rudolf met 17-year-old Baroness Marie von Vetsera who then became his mistress. In January 1889, he and Marie were staying at his hunting lodge Mayerling with a very few chosen guests. The couple was discovered dead in their room under mysterious circumstances. The body of the Crown Prince was removed to Vienna. Marie's presence was a scandal that official circles did their best to suppress. The accepted story was that Rudolf shot his mistress and then himself. Details are lacking, however, due to the secrecy involved. Evidence suggests the body of Marie did not show any trace of a bullet wound, but rather blunt trauma to the head. It was alleged that Rudolf's body, too, showed signs of violence. Lacerations supposed to be on his hands could have have been used as evidence for defensive wounds and given weight to an alternate theory that Rudolf and Marie had been assassinated. It also was alleged that the revolver used to kill Rudolf was not one owned by the Crown Prince, and that all six bullets were fired, unusual for a suicide. The last Austrian Empress, Zita, who died in 1989, once said she believed Rudolf had been the victim of an international political conspiracy and was murdered. The question is unresolved.
Bio by: Iola
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