the last emperor of mexico by edward shawcross

This book tells the story of this unique path that led a second son of an illustrious lineage from the golden-spoon-in-mouth youth as an Austrian archduke living in the splendid palaces of his family to the subservient role as rather powerless Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia (of his brother’s grace) to Emperor of Mexico who only ever ruled over and controlled bits and patches of that huge country.

I also got all the confirmation I needed concerning the upstart French Emperor Napoleon III’s reckless scheming, his cunning manipulations, and his subsequent betrayal (I admit, I’ve never been a huge fan of the whole Bonaparte clan, historically speaking). I learned a whole lot more about Maximilian’s ambitions, the boredom that had seeped into his and his wife Charlotte of Belgium’s up-to-then eventless lives, their genuine political naiveté-and dare I say ineptitude?-, their hapless dreams and aspirations, their later illusions and delusions. That’s why I requested this book, and I can say it turned out the interesting and satisfying read I was hoping for. I just remember thinking “Who in their right minds would want to leave this heavenly place?” the last time I visited the cosy coastal Miramare Castle he had himself built near Trieste, Italy (for those who love travelling: both Trieste and the Castle are truly worth a visit).

Yet I had never looked closely at the latter’s life and luckless career as short-lived Emperor of Mexico. This book has been provided by the editor via NetGalley for the purpose of a review.Īs an Austrian and more importantly an Austrian who has worked as a guide in the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna during my university years, I already knew my share about the Habsburgs, including Emperor Francis Joseph I (1830-1916) and his brother, archduke Maximilian.

The last emperor of mexico by edward shawcross