Page - 281 - in Österreich-Ungarns imperiale Herausforderungen - Nationalismen und Rivalitäten im Habsburgerreich um 1900

© 2020, V&R unipress GmbH, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783847110606 – ISBN E-Lib: 9783737010603 statuewasalreadyfinishedduringthewinterbutbadweathermadeitsunveiling impossible under good conditions. The festivities took an exceptional di- mensionandarose great agitation in the townwhere ayearbefore theMillen- niumcelebrationshadalreadyattractedmanyvisitors. The affluenceof guests wassoconsiderable that themunicipalityhadtoask the inhabitants toprovide lodgingforthem.17ThevisitofFrancisJosephlastedforthewholedayandended withagalaperformanceatthetheatreforwhichArchduchessIsabellaandCount G8zaZichywerethepatrons: thesystematicallianceofAustrianandHungarian personalities during the ceremonies was of course remarkable. The theatre performancewasanevocationofMariaTheresia’scoronationinPozsonyaswell asher latervisit totheDiet toaskfor thesupportof therepresentatives: thetext waswrittenbyCountZichyandrecitationwastobeperformedamongothersby thestaractressoftheHungariannationaltheatre,MariJ#szai.18Theinauguration was to be a great moment associating local pride with dynastic loyalty. The PressburgerZeitungdevoteda twenty-page special issue to the event.Uponhis arrival Francis Josephwas welcomed at Archduke Friedrich’s palace and at- tendedopen-airmassonthespotof thecelebration; theHungariananthemwas played (there is nomention of the imperial anthem); mayor Gustav Dröxler deliveredaspeech inviting theking tounveil themonument.19 Thespecialeditionissuedonthenextdayrelatestheimpressionsof theking. Asusual Francis Joseph refrained fromanycritic but in this casehe couldnot hidehispreferenceforthemodelingofthehorse!Thekingwasecstaticaboutthe atmosphereof thecity:“Ialwayscomewithpleasureinthis townthat issodear tomyheart.”Hewasaccompaniedby theheir to the throneFrancisFerdinand andhisbrotherOtto aswell asbyothermembersof the royal family: the con- siderable presenceof thedynastywas exceptional and resented as suchby the town.20FromtheHungariansidethelocal landedaristocracywasrepresentedby PrinceMikljsP#lffyandCountZichy.FrancisJosephcomplimentedthesculptor on his ability to model the horse and was also eulogistic on the Hungarian magnatestandingonthesideofMariaTheresia,buthedidnotutterasingleword abouthisancestor.21FromtherethekingproceededtotheFranciscanChurchto commemorate the600thanniversaryof its foundation. In theafternoonhegave audiencesamongwhichtothemunicipalcouncilandthereligiouscommunities beforeattendingthegalaeveningatthetheatreandgoingbacktoVienna.Onthe 17 PressburgerZeitung124(05.05.1897), S. 2. 18 PressburgerZeitung130(11.05.1897), S. 2. 19 PressburgerZeitung135(16.05.1897,Sonntagmorgen,Sonderausgabe), S. 6. 20 DerEnthüllungstag, in:PressburgerZeitung136(17.05.1897,Abendausgabe), S. 2. 21 Themonumentwasdestroyedas a symbolofHabsburg rule by theCzechoslovakarmyas soonas it tookpossessionof the town.MoritzCs#ky,DasGedächtnisderStädte.Kulturelle Verflechtungen–WienunddieurbanenMilieus inZentraleuropa,Wien2010,p. 308. ImperialChallenges inAustro-HungarianMulticulturalCities 281