The imperial family in front of the portrait of Franz II (I), lithograph

Forget & remember

The traditional view of Habsburg history as the history of a dynasty is based on the story of specific events and personalities. Everything else tended to be regarded as not worth being remembered and was consigned to oblivion. For long periods of Habsburg history there was a dominant culture of guided memory which affirmed the dynasty’s claim to power and ignored its weaknesses. How should these traditional historical images be dealt with nowadays and what are the new questions that should be asked?