He soon managed to establish a relationship of trust with the timid child, and until Rudolf completed his education in 1877 he was to remain the most influential figure in the life of the prince, who was highly intelligent and thirsty for knowledge. His new tutor, Count Joseph Latour von Thurmburg, held thoroughly liberal views. At this moment of crisis Elisabeth displayed her strength of will, presenting her husband with an ultimatum in 1865: either she was to have absolute authority over the upbringing of her children or she would leave the court for ever.įranz Joseph gave in to the demands of his wife, leading to a complete reversal of the crown prince’s educational programme. On her return to the court at Vienna Elisabeth found that the educational methods her son had undergone had turned him into a mental and physical wreck. She herself experienced extreme difficulty in asserting her personal needs against the rules of the Viennese court. The prince’s isolation in his early childhood was made worse by the difficulties he had in establishing a relationship with his mother, since Elisabeth was mostly absent from court during the first few years of his life. His educational methods bordered on the sadistic: in order to toughen up the highly-strung little boy, who in his father’s eyes was overly sensitive, Rudolf was subjected to hours of rigorous military drilling in all weathers, or woken by pistol shots in the middle of the night, driving the child to the verge of mental and physical breakdown. The boy’s upbringing and education was accordingly entrusted to a high-ranking officer, Major-General Count Leopold Gondrecourt. The very next day after his birth the infant was appointed commander of an infantry regiment by his proud father, and at the age of two Rudolf wore his first military uniform. Rudolf was drilled by his father in the soldierly virtues of discipline, obedience and endurance, an approach that was at odds with the child’s delicate constitution and sensitive disposition. Born on 21 August 1858 in Laxenburg Palace south of Vienna, Rudolf was the third child and longed-for son and heir of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
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