The Hungary Heart

98 at his death: Archduke Otto of Austria. In fantasy politics, he's the most powerful might-have-been: he would have had the longest reign of any monarch in history had his empire not disintegrated after WW I, and probably been the Holy Roman Emperor if that Empire hadn't been abolished in 1806. Full Name: Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Karl Max Heinrich Sixtus Xavier Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius. His heart is Hungarian.As a medievalist, I know too much about European royalty to be overly sentimental about it.  But I think that there's a time and place to tip our hats to the passing of time.  Otto von Habsburg, the last heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who, having been dispossessed when his empire broke up after World War One, worked hard for a united Europe, died on July 4... perhaps an auspicious (or ironic) day to die.  

The river flows on, but I wish him well on his journey. 

His heart, in accordance with Imperial habit, has been buried separately, in Hungary.

I know.  People have the weirdest ideas, but the symbolism is lovely and ancient if you think about it.

His opposition to both Nazism and Communism might well have been motivated by his belief in the legitimacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire... he certainly was no friend to Nationalism.  But there is a case to be made (and I will not be the one to make it) that the affected nations were more happily situated under Habsburg protection.

Nevertheless: stand down, Watchman.