The Habsburg Way: 7 Rules for Turbulent Times

by Eduard Habsburg

Few families in history are as renowned as the Habsburgs, one of the principal sovereign dynasties of Europe from the thirteenth to the twentieth century. These enthralling pages provide glimpses into the lives of their esteemed members. The lessons that their lives teach will help guide your family in faith and will help you live in peaceful prosperity and grow in holiness. Their maxims could also provide a roadmap for healing the world we live in. You will read about the Imperial House of Habsburg’s saints and heroes, sinners, assassinations, and affairs, and the impact that freemasonry, Jansenism, and the Enlightenment had on them and on all of Europe. With warmth and candor, Eduard Habsburg ― a member of the family and archduke of Austria ― shares insights about the Seven Principles (maxims) at the root of Habsburg thought, action, politics, and family life, along
You will learn the key role the Habsburgs played in the epic battles of Lepanto and Vienna and be inspired by exemplary Habsburgs such as Bl. Emperor Karl and Rudolf I, the first Habsburg ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, who helped a priest bring Viaticum to a dying man. This astounding Habsburg history tells of the devout reign of Maria Theresia Habsburg-Lothringen, mother of sixteen children, who saved the family lands and organized pilgrimages and countrywide vigils in honor of Our Lady and the Blessed Sacrament. It describes how Emperor Charles V safeguarded the Faith and how Venerable Magdalena, archduchess, and later Ferdinand II, heroically countered the Reformation. You will marvel at how Leopold I led his people to the pinnacle of Catholic piety and almost became a priest. You will discover fascinating Habsburg family lore and the manner in which their marriages were arranged (even in utero! ). And you will find out how they promoted subsidiarity and protected people from politicians ― and the extraordinary relevance that has for us today. Surely our world today be a better place if all of us, our societies and politicians, would study these Seven Rules for Turbulent Times and follow . . . The Habsburg Way.

Genres: History, Politics, Catholic, Self Help, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Audiobook

176 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2023

About the author

Eduard Karl Joseph Michael Marcus Antonius Koloman Volkhold Maria Habsburg-Lothringen also known as Archduke Eduard of Austria is Hungary's current ambassador to the Holy See.

He is a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, the former ruling family of Austria-Hungary.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to meet Archduke Eduard Habsburg at the book reading in the Hungarian Embassy in London. His piety, wit, humility and grace shone through him, as it did in these pages.


The Habsburg way will stick with you forever, and remind you of how to act in troubled times, and how to be grateful in happy ones. It will guide you through all phases of your life, and is relevant to all people, not just royals or dignitaries. I hope to keep my copy very safe and with my throughout my life, and read it often to refresh my mind on what is truly important.

I cannot recommend this book enough, and I hope that many copies will reach the furthest corners of the world, inspiring people to adopt the virtues of the wonderful, powerful and holy Habsburg family.

Eduard Habsburg has demonstrated some of the values he has written about, especially knowing oneself. He knows his ancestry and the history of where he came from, and he uses it to do good in this world. I’m sure that his predecessors would be extremely joyful and proud that the Habsburg legacy lives on and inspires people to this day.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here are some of the pieces you may have been missing. Monarchy (with fruitful multiplication) is the order of the cosmos.


roadside daffodils
neatly tailored like a huge
family of princes . . .

[Amanda Lauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of history and all-things royal, I thoroughly enjoyed The Habsburg Way: 7 Rules for Turbulent Times. Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria and Hungary's Ambassador to the Holy See, has a clever way of writing that makes learning of his storied family's history so interesting yet quite entertaining. He has no issuing poking a bit of fun at his ancestors (everything from the fabled Habsburg jaw to the inbreeding between cousins in centuries long past). Talk about name dropping, the archduke has a myriad of historical figures in his family tree from Holy Roman Emperors, Frederick III and Rudolph I to name a couple, to Queen Marie Antoinette, to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination is said to have sparked the start of WWI. All that aside, the book itself offers an in-depth presentation on seven rules that the Habsburg family has lived by essentially since their first historical mention from the year 950. These rules are simple enough and still guide the family all these years later: Get Married, Be Catholic, Believe in the Empire, Stand for Law and Justice, Know Who You Are, Be Brave in Battle, Die Well. If every family had a set of standards like that that they lived by, what a different world we'd be living in. As for myself, it's an honor to be friends with Archduke Eduard Habsburg, who is a shining example of leadership with grace, not only as the head of his family, but in his public role as well.

[Justine Olawsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely charmed, entertained, enlightened, and edified by this slim volume of seven life rules to "be more Habsburg."

I'll never forget my thrilled astonishment to come across Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria's Twitter account (@EduardHabsburg) a couple years ago. Having grown up in an America that still taught the history of Western Christendom, it tickled me to no end to have access to the doings and musings of a scion of this illustrious political dynasty. And, wouldn't you know it? The Archduke could not be a more pleasant personality to encounter on social media. He posts to express his great love for his Catholic faith, his family (immediate and dynastic), his country, books, art, etc. — and always in a tone of gentleness, respect, and good humor. If being "more Habsburg" means being more like this archduke, count me in.

And do count yourself in, too, by reading this book. I love how it reads like a chummy family memoir over 1000 years in the making. E.H. is quite at home recounting the glorious (and not-so-glorious) antics and exploits, dispositions and deliberations of his exceptional and numerous ancestors, and he does so in a way that makes you feel like you are hanging out with him in front of the fire in an old Austrian castle room hung in tapestries and sipping something warm and wonderful while his many children run in and out. This work was an obvious labor of love.

What kept me from digging into this book immediately (I pre-ordered it from Sophia Institute Press months ago and have had it since April) was the idea that the narrative would be shaped by a listing of rules. You have to be in a certain mood to receive life lessons, no matter how good they are for your character formation. I would say, though, that the Habsburg rules, such as they are, were shaped by the narrative. That makes all the difference - and like an accompanying spoonful of sugar, you do not even realize the medicine is going down because you are enjoying its journey far too much. There is indeed wisdom here - and peace and goodness and truth - all wrapped up in a darn fun read!

So, if you want to be more Habsburg (and you should!), then get married, have tons of children, be Catholic to the max, practice subsidiarity with a proper understanding of spheres of authority, stand for law and justice and the rights and concerns of those providentially placed under your authority, know who you are, be brave in every battle, and prepare your soul for a good death. Excellent maxims under which to abide - and if you want to know why, read the book.

[Rachael Shipard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great lighthearted overview for the Habsburg novice

[Jeremiah Lorrig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love it! But..

I got this book because I heard the author interviewed on a podcast and it was legit probably the best podcast episode I ever listened to. So I immediately got the book. The author is extremely personable in an interview (he is an ambassador for Hungry). In the interview each story had life and feeling. In the book it seemed too focused on facts and figures and the heart was lost.

It was refreshingly real and the advice is simple to understand (if sometimes difficult to relate to if you are not a royal—oh. Did I forget to mention that the author is a Hapsburg? Yeah. Those royals that were emperors, Saints, Archdukes, and princesses…). So, advice like “Believe in the Empire and in subsidiarity” doesn’t seem practical to a 21st century American, but once he explains it, it actually becomes quite practical and speaks to the importance of local governments.

As a Christian who is not a part of the Roman Catholic tradition, I had to convert in my mind his Catholic references to the wider faith, and that was actually fun too. And it was refreshingly pushing an agenda that is his own. He didn’t write the book for any subgroups that I could identify. He just studies his family history and found some wisdom that he wanted to share.

As you can probably see, I really loved this guy.

If you want a treat, listen to the podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

As he says the family is not actually trying to restart the Holy Roman Empire (or are they?), but they are here to serve if ever called on. And until then, they are on Twitter. 😜

[Silver Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 REASONS TO READ 7 RULES FOR TURBULENT TIMES (THE HABSBURG WAY)

“Knowing who you are gives you sovereignty over yourself. It will give you the confidence not to be swayed by fleeting fads, but to follow the truth—about yourself and about God. The alternative is the empty aimlessness that torments so many and characterizes so much of modern life.”

— Archduke Eduard Habsburg, THE HABSBURG WAY: SEVEN RULES FOR TURBULENT TIMES

More often than not, I read fiction. Yet I recently found myself perusing the pages of a noteworthy book from a remarkable individual. As the quote above attests, it contains truths needed in today’s world—or, truly, in any time. THE HABSBURG WAY: SEVEN RULES FOR TURBULENT TIMES is a compelling, important, and, at times, poignant book that I highly recommend to readers from all walks of life. Yet I also want to emphasize that it is not only important, but delightful. If this does not strike you as your typical read, I nevertheless challenge you to consider it for a variety of reasons, including those which follow.

1. THE AUTHOR HIMSELF
There are many history books out there, including several that center on the Habsburgs. Yet you would be hard-pressed to find such a book told from the extraordinary viewpoint of THE HABSBURG WAY’s author. Archduke Eduard is a member of this renowned historical family who not only has learned its values and “ways” from a young age—in fact, he is one of only fifteen Habsburgs today who is a member of the legendary Order of the Golden Fleece—but has met some of the famous figures who appear in this book. His background adds depth and color to the story, both in terms of the accounts themselves and simply the knowledge that you are hearing from a narrator who lived, and lives, this path. For example, you will find here a first-hand account of visits to Empress Zita, the wife of the last Habsburg emperor*. She told the young Habsburgs stories of her life in a way that strikes me as both beautiful and timeless. (Was I just listening to a certain new release by a certain artist?) I felt that I grew to understand and admire this great lady through the eyes of one of her descendants. Our time spent with Empress Zita is complete with a fun little anecdotal bit, which brings me to my next point:

The unique perspective of the author contains facets that may be shaped by his roots, but that also are individually focused. To put it simply, his own sense of humor and engaging style are filled with personality, including delightful sidenotes. He is honest, but also doesn’t claim to be unbiased because this is a loving tribute to his family. Yet this admittance, ironically, somehow makes it less biased, an open and honest subjectivity leading to more objectivity. He likewise offers upfront opinions, whether negative or positive in his view. All of this, especially his deep and abiding love for his family, is rather refreshing in today’s culture. The author also would admit—and I say this in the best way possible—to being a nerd, which means that you just might find a Star Wars reference in the text, adding even more color to it. If you have watched any of Archduke Eduard’s videos, you may even “hear” the book in his voice. Exuberance—that is, authentic enthusiasm— for the subject is clear and makes the reader more excited.

*Empress Zita also has the title “Servant of God,” which means that the cause for sainthood has been opened. Her husband, Emperor Karl, is beatified in the Church, which is the step directly before canonization or recognition of sainthood. (Order: 1. Servant of God, 2. Venerable, 3. Blessed, 4. Saint)

2. COUNTERCULTURAL IN MODERN SOCIETY
As expressed by the opening quote, there is unfortunately an emptiness often found in modern society. An embrace of artificial lights instead of Light. A pursuit of happiness without true Joy. Each rule in this book is unique. Yet woven throughout each may be found a thematic trend: a focus on Light.

There is an emphasis on honor and justice, the importance of family, growing in your faith, treating others fairly—regardless of whether they are your subjects or employees—and, as a result, not only improving the lives of others, but finding inner strength because of it. There are also seemingly simple moments that bring the greatest meaning. One of my favorite stories involved Rudolf I, the first Habsburg ruler during the time of the Holy Roman Empire, and how he gave a priest his horse to cross the river with the Blessed Sacrament. His words at the time, and the entire scene, demonstrated so much humility and beauty. While it is unclear as to whether this particular story really happened or is a legend with religious elements—similar to the tale of “La Befana” for those of us who are Italian—its significance remains and is seen throughout those considered “fact.”

Deep truths pervade the book that transcend common reality by seeking something Greater.

In a jaded world of politics—politics not only in the literal meaning of the word, but how it might shape personal lives—this is truly inspiring.

3. INSTILL A LOVE OF HISTORY
So many grow up learning to hate history. Perhaps this is because they dismiss it as a dry list of dates and facts, far removed from their own lives and far from “real.” As a storyteller and avid reader of fiction, I personally have been drawn to history because I choose to view it as a story.

THE HABSBURG WAY: SEVEN RULES FOR TURBULENT TIMES is the perfect antidote to such an educational crisis, for it allows you to travel back in time and “meet” a fascinating array of “characters” and circumstances. I highly recommend that schools consider this resource and allow an important historical family to come to life. Archduke Eduard Habsburg’s style and use of vivid and fascinating details in his storytelling allows it as such; indeed, history made “real.” Readers will encounter figures such as Blessed Karl and Zita, Venerable Magdalena, and countless others, inspiring in the way they chose a path of holiness and heroic virtue—or frustrating in the decisions that they made, reminding us how not to act. Sometimes a mixture of both. For example, they may, as I did, find themselves drawn to those such as the seemingly flawed yet deeply human figure of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (“Sisi”). They may wish to learn more about her or another individual, similar to how you might wish to seek the sequel to a favorite novel—a true goal of any educator for his or her students.

They may even find favorite “characters” that inspire gushing of the ALL CAPS variety.

I know I did. And so, I will leave the formal review for a moment to allow the reader to better understand such a revelation:

I don't think it is possible to love Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy any more than I do. They are iconic. Epic. Romantic. Perfect. Adorable. At the risk of being labeled insane (which would be accurate), I just wanted to give them a hug and write heart eye emojis whenever they appeared in the text!

First, we have Maximilian holding out and being The Last Knight. Then I learned that he was a WRITER, known for works with a delightful mixture of classic chivalry and endearing humor. That just made me love him even more. Of course, there is also the portrait room at Tratzberg Castle that you will have to read about, dedicated to his love of genealogy. It sounds incredibly immersive, stunning, and powerful. Did I mention EPIC?

AND. THEIR. LOVE STORY. The ROMANCE of the letters, the LEGENDARY way they met—his rescue, the quest-like journey to get to her, the love at first sight, all of it—instantly drew me in like a storybook. They had such a profound connection and truly seemed to understand each other on a deep level, even in a literary sense! There is more I wish to say, but that would be a more overt spoiler—history or not.

Yet I didn’t just gush; I also cried. At a history book.

There was the moving depiction of Marie Antoinette’s deep faith as she went to the guillotine—and what she saw shortly before, which you will have to read the book to find out. On the very next page was depicted Blessed Karl’s death—who, as mentioned previously, is inspiring—so I decided I might as well keep crying.

4. PERFECT CONTENT BALANCE
While there is much information presented, it almost does not feel like nonfiction due to that wonderful storytelling and engaging style.

As mentioned before, the author’s enthusiasm for the subject practically leaps off the page. He maintains a remarkably perfect balance between too much information and just enough to engage with readers who want more knowledge and provide evidence for his thematic purpose through support for the Habsburg “rules.” The rules build on each other to form a coherent whole, the “big picture” essentials that therefore invite one to ponder life’s greater meaning. Important dates are covered without being “dry”; in fact, you may find yourself eager to soak up that knowledge!

The text is also exceptionally well-organized, which may allow it to serve as an excellent resource from which to look up quick information post-reading. Likewise, while one of the rules is broken into two sections, they are generally chapters of approximately the same length—unlike my seven reasons. As a result, readers will know around what to expect if they want to fit in ‘one rule before bedtime.’

5. DEVELOP APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR THE MONARCHY
Before anyone immediately skips this number, let me preface my comments by saying that, similar to how you can appreciate the emphasis on family regardless of whether you come from a family of sixteen children, you may develop an appreciation for the monarchy without being a monarchist. For, the context of the Habsburg rules should be considered to promote greater understanding. You could argue that the rules may be separated from this context, but that would be to remove a flowering blossom from a stem or branches from a tree and attempt to explain from where they came while simultaneously denying that reality. To explain their relevance without a true foundation. Indeed, would the author himself be exactly as he is today without that foundation of his family? Can we learn from his experience, and that of his ancestors?

When watching a certain recent coronation this year, I was struck by how it differed from our own system, of how something seemed to be missing in the latter—even though my support and pride in our republic remains. There was a deep and timeless solemnity there rooted in the commitment of a ruler to God, the King of Kings, that is sorely lacking in much of our society. I reflected at the time that there was much that we could learn from it.

And yet to delve into this book is to go further, to read how monarchs were profoundly impacted by their faith. It was therefore of even greater significance to me as a Catholic. Interestingly enough, a coronation connection to this book stood out to me especially:

“When Rudolf and his many successors were crowned, the coronation rite to become Holy Roman Emperor was deeply imbued with sacred religious symbols. Before they were crowned, they received Communion . . . and swore on a relic of earth containing the blood of St. Stephen, the protomartyr. The vestment they received was like a bishop’s vestment. More than one Habsburg ruler avowed that the moment of installation as emperor deeply impressed them for life. It was not simply a cynical political affair, but a religious event, sincerely celebrated.”

As seen above, it was “deeply impressed” on many of the Habsburg rulers to take their rule seriously. The relationship between the ruler and ruled was seen as a long-term relationship, not temporary. Those monarchs who succeeded in my book (and that of Archduke Eduard) ultimately viewed their rule in light of how they would be held accountable to God. Not all of the rulers were perfect, but the ideal was quite beautiful. Archduke Habsburg also explores the concept of subsidiarity in a way that those unfamiliar with political theory will be able to understand—and how rulers were “ruled” by such concepts to protect their subjects. Humility is likewise emphasized in death through the “knocking ritual,” in which the Habsburg royalty is only allowed entrance to the crypt after a series of questions that ultimately lead to the defining of the individual not by his worldly titles, but that of a mortal man before God.

And so, to learn about the Habsburg monarchy is to learn the greater context for how famous figures in history grappled with difficult circumstances through adherence to their faith. The inner nobility emanating from such could then be at the center of who they were.

Indeed, an appreciation of such may be relevant far beyond the scope of one single political system. Archduke Eduard Habsburg states it well toward the end of the book:

“Are we waiting for the monarchy to return? No. (Or are we?) But perhaps service is what we have in our genes, what we can do best, given the right circumstances . . .

. . . as you’ve seen through this book, forms may change but our values are still lived in today’s society, and they will surely apply to lives lived one hundred years from now as well.”

6. GROW IN UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELF
Some of my favorite quotes from saints echo this thought that pervades the text. St. Catherine of Siena famously said, “If you are who you should be, you will set the world ablaze.” Saint John Paul II expressed similar sentiments in the beautiful simplicity of, “Become who you are.”

Most of us won’t wage battle as knights, most of us aren’t kings and queens (*insert obligatory comment here about how “Gina” means “Queenly” and has been ruling as a benevolent monarch since birth*), yet we do face “dragons,” as alluded to by other writers such as G.K. Chesterton, not to mention Vintage Taylor Swift in her newly rereleased song “Long Live.” Through this book, we are given the tools to not only find a way to deal with the “battles” that appear in our lives, but to grow as individuals as we do.

Inspirational role models in the Habsburg family will challenge you to be heroic amidst suffering, fear, and turmoil, to be the best version of yourself. We are presented with stories and people who faced difficulties different from our own—but, in the end, not wholly so.

And so, you, dear reader, may learn how to face these challenges without losing who you are. In fact, perhaps you will “become who you are” more fully as you carry your cross, recall your past, immerse yourself in the present, and ultimately delve into introspection.

7. DUBBIE THE DOUBLE-HEADED EAGLE WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU.
And I love Little Dubbie—as should you!

[Charles Haywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mirrors for princes, books of advice aimed at those who rule, have fallen out of style in our modern, supposedly democratic age. Books of advice for commoners, however, are ubiquitous, though most of them are stupid, because wisdom comes from experience, not rumination, and most authors offer only the latter. Eduard Habsburg, scion of the most famous family in European history, here rescues both genres, offering advice based on his family’s long history which is useful for both rulers and the average person. And his pithy recommendations also stir thought on matters more generally related to modern aristocrats, including the despicable modern trend toward eschewing intergenerational family wealth and power.

The core of this book is the claim, hard to deny, that the Habsburg family has been a very successful family for a very long time, and that much of this success is due to certain “central principles and beliefs,” which can be communicated to others using historical examples. On a technical note, I will call simply call the author Eduard. I despise informality, and normally exclusively refer to an author by his full name and then his last name, but here that would be confusing. To be clear, however, his proper form of address, which he does not use himself, is or should be “Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria.”

But this isn’t a book of nostalgia, or an argument why the Habsburgs should be restored to the throne, though Eduard doesn’t reject that idea. It wouldn’t likely be him wearing the crown; he’s not really in line for the throne, were such a throne to ever exist again. He is a descendant of one of the four sons of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II—Archduke Joseph, who was sent as Palatine, a semi-symbolic high administrative office, to Hungary in the 1790s. Eduard counts the sons of Leopold as, for sorting purposes, having arranged the family into four branches. The eldest surviving son of Leopold II, Francis II, became the first Emperor of Austria, after Napoleon terminated the Holy Roman Empire—thus making Leopold also the last Holy Roman Emperor. His descendants include all the modern Emperors and, following World War I, what we can call kings-in-waiting. Descendants of the other brothers are not directly in the line of dynastic descent, but all count as the same family.

I have a personal, if idiosyncratic, interest in the Habsburgs, and in who would be king. My maternal grandfather, ráczalmási Molnár Gyula (1902–1999), held a title of minor Hungarian nobility (indicated by the extra name, praedicatum in Latin, before his family name, and fairly common in Hungary). The title was granted in 1686 by Leopold I, King of Hungary (and Holy Roman Emperor) for the service of two Molnár brothers, Nicholas and Stephen, in the wars against the Turks. (Below is a picture of the crest.)


But the praedicatum died with my grandfather, for he had only daughters, and he was the last of the male line. Before he died, he executed a document asking, in some future dispensation, that the title pass by descent to me and to my male children, were I to have any. I am not sure what to do with this, or how it would be executed or applied, but if there is ever a Habsburg monarch again, this request lies waiting for my descendants to effectuate. It would be irregular relative to historical practice, to be sure—but if the virtues of our past are ever restored, this will be the least of the irregular acts associated with that result.

Beyond my personal “connection,” the entire Habsburg family, although Swiss in origin and largely Austrian in practice, is inextricably linked with Hungary. This tie is even more important today, because Hungary has become the last European bastion of traditional Europe, and is still friendly to the Habsburgs. No surprise, therefore, that Viktor Orbán wrote the Foreword to this book. He’s not calling for the restoration of the monarchy (though who knows what he really thinks about the matter), but he is respectful of the intertwined history of Hungary and the Habsburgs. He acknowledges the conflicts they had, ending in the Compromise of 1870 (which established the Dual Monarchy and the preeminence of Hungary among the multi-national Habsburg empire). And he notes “the perpetual goal of the Hungarians and the Habsburgs alike was always the same: how to remain ourselves through the centuries and how to make Central Europe a strong, independent player in world politics.” “We affirm that mankind can best find happiness in the family. We believe that Christianity will preserve our identity. And we maintain that integrating Europe—in opposition to its peoples’ will—is preposterous. . . . We are on the same side again, and we are going into battle together again, as we did eight hundred years ago.”

As Eduard narrates, he can trace his ancestry to before the year 1000; the family name came from the name of a castle built around 1000 in the Swiss canton of Aargau (although the Habsburgs lost their Swiss holdings to the Swiss Confederacy quite a long time ago). This castle was built by Radbot, son of Guntram the Rich; Eduard proudly notes that you can still visit his grave, and that of his wife, today, at a Benedictine monastery nearby. Or, rather, at a museum nearby, which used to be a Benedictine monastery. Eduard does not mention this sad and indicative latter fact, which illustrates both a feature and a defect of this book—a relentlessly positive outlook. You will not find here apocalyptic musings about the future of Europe, or attacks on the invading savages whom the rulers of Europe have allowed to swamp the continent, who will no doubt, unless stopped by force and cast back to the cesspools from which they emerged, soon enough destroy the graves of Radbot and his wife. The same fate awaits the famous Kapuzinergruft, the burial crypt in Vienna of many Habsburgs (in the Capuchin Church), which I saw when I was seven and more than once since. I will probably never see it again, unfortunately. Unless something very dramatic happens, and the Europeans take the necessary actions both to expel invaders and to remake their societies, in a hundred years few in Europe will remember the Habsburgs at all.

But back to the story. In the thirteenth century, Rudolf von Habsburg, godson of the Emperor Frederick II, was chosen as a compromise candidate to fill a twenty-five-year vacancy in the throne of the Holy Roman Emperor. He strengthened the Empire, and also, as Eduard notes, began the Habsburgs’ long relationship with Hungary, because the Hungarian king helped Rudolf in his battles. The Habsburgs had ups and downs, but in the fifteenth century began to regularly be elected as Holy Roman Emperor, in part because they had already begun their long habit of marrying well and generating many children. The family led the Age of Exploration and dominated much of Europe through the early modern period.

Their twilight age began with the French Revolution and its aftermath, and the position of their empire degenerated further with the unfortunate revolutions of 1848. The second-to-last Emperor, Franz Joseph, reigned from 1848 to 1916. He did the best he could, but the tides of the world overwhelmed the Empire, and when he died, his grand-nephew Charles ruled. (He became emperor even though the assassinated heir presumptive Ferdinand, Franz Joseph’s nephew, had a son; his marriage was morganatic, to a woman not of adequately noble blood, and so their children were excluded from the line of succession.) But only until 1918, when Charles was deposed after the Habsburgs lost the war (though he never abdicated, nor renounced the family’s claim to the throne). Eduard is a great admirer of Charles, the “Blessed Emperor Karl” (he has been beatified by the Roman Catholic Church). And Charles died in 1922, after two abortive attempts to regain the Hungarian throne, and so ended the temporal power of the Habsburgs.

Not all of it, though, perhaps. For the remainder of the twentieth century, the man who would have been Emperor after Charles played an important, if not central, role in European politics. Charles’s son Otto, who died in 2011, was known as a (conservative) advocate of European integration, without renouncing (in practice) his claim to the thrones of Austria and Hungary, if such ever were to exist again. True, that project was wholly pernicious in retrospect, but that was not so obvious seventy years ago. Otto’s son Karl, however, seems mostly useless, and Karl’s own eldest son is a twenty-seven-year-old racecar driver (who looks a bit like Barron Trump), and has no apparent involvement in politics. I would not hope for much in the future from the dynastic branch of the Habsburgs.

This leaves Eduard with the role of the most prominent Habsburg alive today. He is a Hungarian citizen (though his “Hungarian” branch remained largely Austrian, while continuing as Palatines of Hungary into the twentieth century, and he grew up outside Hungary), and serves as Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See and to the Order of Malta. What ambitions he has beyond that, if any, are not clear. No doubt he is, as all of us are, waiting to see how matters play out in Europe. After all, as the subtitle of his book makes clear, he offers rules “for turbulent times.” He is young enough to be relevant if he is called, and much stranger things have happened than such a family returning to power, even monarchical power.

But that is the future, and Eduard’s rules are for the present. Each rule is part hortatory, part history, and part reflection on how the Habsburgs have exemplified, or failed to exemplify, the rule. His first rule is “Get Married (and Have Lots of Children).” Eduard himself has been married for nearly thirty years and has six children (five girls and one boy). From the second paragraph we see that Eduard is not afraid to state the unfashionable truth, when he correctly rejects as “absurd” the idea that marriage can be anything but a man and a woman. Marriage is essential for showing children how men and women should live, to give them security, to show what it is to have a stake in a society. (His advice, I am pleased to say, largely echoes my own marriage advice, so he must be right.) For a successful marriage, Eduard recommends “shared faith, a mutual understanding of the sacredness and indissolubility of marriage, a common belief in the importance of family and the openness to children, similar societal background and perspective on social responsibilities—and, ideally, a similar sense of humor and interests.”

We are shown this in part through the lens of Emperor Maximilian, the “Last Knight,” who ruled from 1486 to 1519, and began the real expansion of the Habsburg domains through marriage, including acquiring the Hungarian crown and creating the Spanish and Austrian Habsburg lines. (He also began the unfortunate tendency of the Habsburgs to marry close relatives, although Eduard points out the famous Habsburg jaw, now dormant, is not actually the product of this tendency.) As to faith, he recommends here, and vigorously throughout the book, Roman Catholicism, a faith he views as stable, as well as true. But he does not shy away from criticism of his family, especially of Franz Joseph’s marriage to Elizabeth, from the German House of Wittelsbach. She was inadequately religious and not sufficiently devoted to her husband or to her duties, and while the Hungarians loved her, and she the Hungarians, that was not enough. Eduard blames, in part, on her the troubles of Franz Joseph’s only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, who at the age of thirty committed suicide after murdering (by pact) his seventeen-year-old lover. Being a Habsburg has often not meant happiness. Still, Eduard points to the marriage of Emperor Charles and Zita, princess of Bourbon-Parma, as the ideal Habsburg marriage, and so it was, until Charles died at the age of only thirty-four, though Zita lived until 1989. Most of all, they explicitly worked to “help each other to Heaven.” Here is an evocative picture of their wedding in 1911, a different, and better, time, where none of them knew the horrors that awaited.


Rule 2, really tied in many ways to Rule 1, is “Be Catholic! (and Practice Your Faith).” Not for Eduard a bogus ecumenism. He notes that until the modern era, it was taken for granted that a monarch had the extremely weighty responsibility of answering to God for the souls of his people, including by harsh treatment of erroneous Christians, and by ensuring that they were not excessively exposed to pagan beliefs. We moderns have not only abandoned this important conception of the ruler’s role, but also absorbed many other false ideas, such as that public displays of faith, especially of government leaders, must be limited, when the exact opposite is the truth. Through this prism, he examines Charles V and the so-called Reformation, and Charles’s son, Ferdinand I, who harmed his people and his domains by weakening his advocacy of the faith. This trend was made worse by Ferdinand’s son Maximilian I, and then by his son, Rudolf II, who was dissolute and so open-minded that his brains fell out. As one of his brothers wrote, “He strives all the time to eliminate God completely, so that he may, in the future, serve a different master.”

Yet the Habsburgs then became crucial to the Counter-Reformation, and are therefore Catholic to this day—even though they faced ongoing internal challenges, such as Joseph II, badly tainted by the so-called Enlightenment, and who forcibly dissolved many monasteries and convents. To be fair, he was less of a mini-Henry VIII, and more an adherent to Jansenism, a Catholic heresy analogous to Calvinism, and opposed to popular piety and the Jesuits. Jansenism survived into the modern era; my mother tells me that her mother, raised in Debrecen early in the twentieth century and educated by nuns at the Svetits school, still extant, was tainted by Jansenism at that school, although I very much doubt it is even meaningfully Catholic today. During and after the nineteenth century, no longer did quite a few Habsburgs not in line to succeed become priests (one of Eduard’s brothers is, to his satisfaction, “the first Habsburg in nearly two hundred years” to do so). The last Emperor, Charles, perhaps presaged a return to hardcore religiosity (which is one reason he has been beatified)—but Eduard does not comment on the religious commitment of the larger family today, which would be an interesting exploration.

I will not go through the remainder of the rules in detail; this is a short book, and well worth reading in its entirety. But I will say the rules are quite Foundationalist. Rule 3 is “Believe in the Empire (and in Subsidiarity).” Subsidiarity is one of the pillars of Foundationalism, and Eduard offers an excellent discussion of it, both in theory and as applied. We today, of course, live in whatever is the opposite of subsidiarity, what Auron MacIntyre calls the Total State. Rule 4 is “Stand for Justice (and Your Subjects).” Again, this recognizes, though more implicitly than explicitly, that democracy is a very stupid system, and what is a desirable system is where the central authority rules competently and in the interests, if not precisely of subjects, but of the people as whole—not as reflected in their votes, but as determined by a competent ruling class. It is only because of the endless propaganda birthed in the Enlightenment that we believe that past monarchs ruled exclusively for their own benefit, in an extractive and tyrannical manner, when usually the exact opposite was the case.

Rule 5 is “Know Who You Are (and Live Accordingly),” by which Eduard does not mean you should follow the rules found in Eat, Pray, Love, but that you should know who you are in the line of your people, the communion of the dead, the living, and the unborn, and act with that in mind. Rule 6 is “Be Brave in Battle (or Have a Great General).” Eduard focuses on history, and declines to apply this to the future, but it is easy enough to see the need for bravery in conflict—one need only look at recent events in England, where Britons have risen up against a government that has, against the wishes of the vast majority of the people, imposed masses of aliens, rapists, and murderers on them. Those men are brave, and they also need a great general. Whether one will emerge from the mist, we will see. And Rule 7, completing the circle, is “Die Well (and have a Memorable Funeral).” I joke that I want to have as my grave monument a fifty-foot obelisk with a giant strobe light, visible from space, on top, and letters an inch wide carved eighteen inches deep in granite, so that ten thousand years from now, they will ask “Who was this great man?” But my children correctly point out it’d probably be broken up for road aggregate in a few decades.

Finally, let’s turn to the more general topic of aristocratic families. I do not come from any kind of aristocracy (Hungarian minor nobility is not aristocracy), but I am most definitely nouveau riche, and could therefore possibly form an aristocratic family. The fashion, however, is for the wealthy to proudly declaim that they are leaving their children nothing (although, sadly, I am nowhere near as rich as Bill Gates or even Mick Jagger, but the same “promise” has been made by many more minor celebrities recently). Coupled with this, sometimes explicitly but mostly implicitly, is the claim that children should be generally on their own—free to do what they want, when young and when adult, without any kind of strictures or demands placed on them by their family. This isn’t surprising; it’s just standard Left doctrine of emancipation and egalitarianism. But it is destructive, to both children and parents, to their larger family, and to society.

How to form a family for the long term is an important topic, and it is currently being excellently addressed by . . . . [Review completes as first comment.]

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Habsburgs: What do they know? Do they know things? Let’s find out!

This was an enjoyable way to get to know some members of the Imperial Habsburg family that ruled parts of Europe for hundreds of years, written by one of their descendants, who is a diplomat. He uses anecdotes to explain things about his family which could benefit us to learn, even if they’re not in power anymore. I learned a little bit of history along the way. I hope the next edition has an index, because I sometimes lost track of all the people, especially if they had the same name as others. Skip “Spare “and read this!

[Gilbert Acuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth!

The Habsburg way and the 7 rules are truly wise words. I would recommend this book to literally everyone I know. As a lover of history it was fascinating to look behind the veil of the history pages and see the Habsburg family up close as if they had invited me to dinner. I have always been a monarchist at heart and now I would like to think that if I follow the Habsburg Way we could all be Habsburgs in our own way and our families could be similarly blessed.

[Sarah Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long loved the Habsburgs so my interest was always there. But reading a book by a currently living , faithful member of the family was amazing. His insight into the true strengths and weaknesses of the family and the beautiful power of their Catholic faith was unbelievable. I highly suggest this book!

[Madonna Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just completed reading this wonderful little book. The 7 Rules apply to everyone. I am a monarchist any way, but I truly enjoy reading about this family in particular. What a great family. If I could, I would vote the family back into their roles as Kings and Queens. What exemplary individuals. What a great family!

[Nicole Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy read for living

Loved the simplistic look at life.
The 7 rules are a great anchor to have in life.
Love the history mixed in.

[Janna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eduard Lothringen wrote a book in the name of the Habsburgs, a dynasty that died out in the 18th century. He also calls himself a Habsburg and believes he has the right to speak for Rudolf I, Maximilian I, Charles V, or Maria Theresa.
The problem is that his writings have no connection whatsoever to the real Habsburgs. The guy simply wants to cash in on his false affiliation with a great dynasty and, at the same time, promote himself.
He claims that the Habsburgs lived by these rules:
1. Know who you are
2. Marry and have many children
3. Be a Catholic
4. Die with dignity
5. Defend law and justice
6. Be brave in battle
7. Believe in the empire and subsidiarity

Some of this may apply to the Habsburgs, but if the Habsburgs had actually lived by these rules, they would never have become what they are.
These rules are not bad, but for the plebs, for the common man—the good kind of common man who pays his taxes honestly, does not break the law, and goes to war when the state is in danger.
As for the representatives of the House of Austria (that's what the Habsburgs called themselves, and they went down in Spanish history as Austrias), the best of them were not considered commoners. Among the best, I consider: Rudolf I, Archduke Rudolf IV, Emperor Frederick III, Maximilian I, Charles V, Philip II, and Ferdinand II.
What distinguished them?
1. Strength and fortitude. Rudolf I elevated his family to the rank of duke (and this is what makes the Habsburgs unique), Frederick III and his son Maximilian I lived a very difficult life and laid the foundations for the future ascendancy of the Habsburgs, Charles V challenged France, and Philip II and Ferdinand II were leaders of the Counter-Reformation, challenging the entire Protestant world.
2. Devotion to their faith. Unlike most kings and dukes, they did not betray their faith or seize the riches of the Catholic Church. And this devotion was completely unappreciated by the Vatican.
3. Ambition. Philip II's motto, "The whole world is not enough," and King Charles V's motto, "Beyond the limits," speak for themselves.
The Habsburgs didn't see themselves as random dukes, and when Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg stripped them of their title of Elector, Duke Rudolf IV of Austria didn't shrug it off (like most German dukes who also didn't become Electors), but concocted a document, the Privilegium, in which he elevated Austria among all the lands of the "Empire" and created a new title: Archduke. In other words: "All are dukes, but we are Archdukes. We are not all, we are higher."
4. The ability to impose one's will, or what Nietzsche called the "will to power." A striking example: Ferdinand II didn't cave in to the Protestants like his predecessors, but forced his vassals to convert to his faith.
You won't find any of this in Edward "Habsburg"'s book . His book is like an old woman's grumbling to her grandchildren: utterly toothless.
Much, much more could be written about the Habsburgs. But Eduard chose to write not about them, but about his own rules of life—that is, about himself. The mentality of aristocrats, lords, and patricians is alien to him.
However, what can you expect from a man who is still captivated by Tolkien's fairy tales or Star Wars?

[Vladislav Velizanin · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s a very strange book, “a love letter to the family”, as the author puts it. Eduard Habsburg is quite open about being neither a historian nor striving to critically analyze what he knows and experiences as a member of the Habsburg dynasty.
Throughout the book, monarchy and aristocracy is portrayed as the most peaceful, harmonious, and surest way to prosperity for everyone. Any embarrassing details, such as persecution of Protestants, Jews and heretics is either not mentioned at all, or glossed over, or justified with Catholic devotion.
In the narrative, Habsburg strikes a clumsy balance between encouraging religious right-wing nationalism and praising the supranational empire, between absolutism and subsidiarity, somehow almost concluding that absolute monarchy is also the most democratic form of rule, because it is not corrupted by godless, profiteering politicians.
How can you honestly criticize globalism and at the same time advocate for imperial ruling family that is by far the most globalist political project in history? So much so that the author casually drops phrases like “parts of the United States originally belonged to the Habsburgs”.
No, just no… there is no self-reflection in this and there is also not any trace of humility, as the book speaks in a very condescending tone to the poor peasant subject reading it. Needless to say, with a foreword by Victor Orban, whose policies are lavishly and uncritically praised by the author, this book cannot be taken seriously.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Habsburgs are known as one of the greatest Royal Houses in the world history. hailing from a small castle in Swiss, in its apex The Habsburg controlled an empire that expands from Andes to Carpathian Mountain ranges. The Habsburg family is also known for their Catholic piousness (or zealousness, depends on who you asked), the unfortunate tendency of incestuous marriage, and probably due to that, the famous Habsburg jaw, which means their jaws are large and jutting uncomfortably.

However, in this book, the author, himself a true blue Habsburg royal family member, points out 7 rules that made the Habsburg great and how it could be applied to us, the non-Habsburgs. The 7 rules are:

1. Get married (and have lots of kids);
2. Be Catholic;
3. Believe in Empire and the principle of Subsidiary;
4. Stand for Law and Justice;
5. Know who you are;
6. Be brave in Battle; and
7. Die Well.

Throughout the book, we are served to an intimate perspective on the Habsburgs. I fancy the fact that the author could relate to these great names in the book. While most of the rules itself are inapplicable to me (for I am a Muslim), and dying is not on my list yet, reading this book feels like a nice stroll, although I questioned Austria-Hungary military prowess, which in the World War I was so pathetic, the book is mostly enjoyable and I sometimes chuckled at the self-aware humors and tongue-in-cheek references.

[Gaucho36 · Rating 1 out of 5]

First let me say I was raised in a Catholic house and I am a history buff. You would think this book was made for me.

I stopped after 80 pages only after overcoming my desire to stop after 30 pages.

As a history book…. It is everything you don’t want to see… this person was born, and then that person was born, and then that person got married and this person was born etc etc

But what really drove my reaction… the author is 500% Catholic centric about everything. There is no balance or reflection or sense that maybe non catholic people could be ok. He repeatedly plugs Catholic dating services as a great idea. He endorses women playing a subjugated role in a marriage and even says that a marriage without love or romance can still be great if both people are devout Catholics.

I’m an avid reader and user of Amazon and Goodreads ratings… the ratings I see here astound me. There are so few ratings it must be still friends and family… so to my fellow real readers out there… if you are on the fence, don’t do it!!

[Peter Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Habsburg Way is a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to history of the Habsburg and creates a bridge between history and the self-help genre by giving seven rules to live by (and that the better Habsburgs did live by). It is written especially for Catholics insofar as it assumes the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith and focuses on how to live a good and integrated Catholic life, both in one's personal life and in regards to the wider culture. I think the book may perhaps best be understood as Eduard Habsburg's gift of giving rules of life he strives to live by, that he wants his children and family to live by, and what he would encourage anyone of good will to live by. The book may not speak to everyone, especially those who are not convinced of the goodness and truth of the Catholic faith, but to those who want to develop their faith and live it more intentionally I think there is a great deal to gain and learn from.

[Deb Lancaster · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was intrigued. And then I was bored. It's undeniably fascinating to have an insight into a family FROM the family. How many times does that happen? Imagine reading a book by a Tudor. However, this quickly descended into a hectoring diatribe against anyone who isn't married with 100 kids and Catholic. Very Catholic.

That is the only way to live.

That is the only way that everyone should live.

The descriptions of some of the examples of Habsburg happy marriages had me howling (look closer at Philip the Handsome and tell me how happy and Godly that marriage was).

Habsburg has a surface level charm and I really wanted to like him, but by half way through I was done. He hates same sex marriage. He hates people who don't have loads of kids. He hates people who aren't married. He says some really heinous things gussied up in his Archduke charm. I don't like him. I didn't like this.

[Parker Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book by the Archduke of Austria, Eduard Habsburg. It is an interesting, humorous, sobering, and reflective tale of one's family that has had major impact on world history. Learning about the Habsburg is more than just inbreeding and the infamous 'Habsburg jaw'. It's about learning how faith and family ultimately help rule. This book also gave me provocative thoughts about whether or not the governmental system of a monarchy is outdated as the Archduke poses questions regarding how well-protected are we by the politicians we elect who don't have as much skin in the game as a monarch of old. This is not to say that monarchs are perfect; rather, it's to give us an understanding that monarchs provide a system of government of and by the people as well. It was an interesting thought that stayed with me long after I finished the book.

[Charles Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting introduction to the Habsburg family, and well written. However, there's also a fair bit of whitewashing of the author's imperial ancestors. I noticed that, despite their centuries of power, the same Habsburg names (for example, Maximilian I and Maria Theresia) recur throughout the book, making me wonder how well all the unmentioned Habsburgs measure up against the author's seven rules.

The author's emphasis on having to be a devout Catholic didn't fit very easily with my own lack of religious belief, but I could largely ignore that. (Although I was surprised to learn that he still believes in Hell and Purgatory!) However, his support for Viktor Orban's regime in Hungary was too much to swallow. Politicians "that stand for law, justice, and their citizens" are one thing, but support for freedom and democracy should also be pre-conditions.

[Polona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knjiga, ki predstavi habsburško družinsko zgodovino z zanimivimi dejstvi, večkrat pospremljenimi z zabavnimi anekdotami. Ker je avtor član rodbine, je njegov pogled v večini naklonjen dejanjem svojih prednikov, a vselej je prisotna tudi kritična nota. V predgovoru k slovenski izdaji opredeli tudi pomembno vlogo slovenskega ozemlja za monarhijo, v zaključku pa nam poda uvid v sodobnost in v to, kaj se z nadvojvodami dogaja v času po padcu monarhije.

Navdihujoče in eno najboljših letošnjih branj.

Iz knjige: "Jaz pa želim pokazati, kako je moja družina kljub svojim napakam uspevala skoraj tisočletje, in pojasniti, zakaj ljubim svojo rodbino, ki me spodbuja."

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delightful read, a historical journey through the adventures and misadventures of one of Europe's most influential families. The author does not take himself too seriously and is willing to admit plenty of flaws in his forbearers, which lends itself to a certain charm.

The rules are very practical to people of all walks of life, not just rulers of nations.

His explanation of subsidiarity was particularly enlightening and prescient for our modern times.

This book is worth a read for history buffs, monarchy maniacs, and quirky Catholics.

[Paithan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it! A mixture of family history and life lessons. I thought it a wonderful breath of fresh air in our modern times, as the writer does not shy away from infusing his catholic faith into the text, and calling for others to think of their death and final judgement.

The style is very simple and straightfoward. But I didn’t mind. The author, with his histories, is not trying to be academic. He is telling you stories, like someone would over coffee or beer.

[Kaycee Monnens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equally charming and profound. These are timeless truths from a product of one of the world’s premier royal families: the Habsburgs. A few of his famous relatives include Maximilian, Marie Antoinette, and Blessed Karl of Austria, to name a few. They can even trace their lineage back to Noah, so they have a few things figured out.

1. Get Married
2. Be Catholic
3. Believe in the Empire
4. Stand for Law and Justice
5. Know Who You Are
6. Be Brave in Battle
7. Die Well

[Tammy Schilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting first hand account of what it's like to be a Habsburg. Lots of good info on how they view themselves and their history and how their faith has influenced them. The "rules" part is very lightly treated and not going to offer a lot of usable information. But if you read it as a piece of history, it's great and not a POV you're going to get often.

[Lyndon Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read and great principles to live by - the author, even as a Habsburg does not advocate for a full-blown return to imperial rule but explains the essence of the principles by which his family lived and continues to live. Sometimes the author's anecdotes are a bit obvious and not that insightful, hence the 4 star rating.

[Hunter Balczo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The copy I borrowed listed the book category as European History/Self-Help.

As a European History book, it’s okay and I think it is a good starting point for someone interested in the Habsburg dynasty.

As a self-help book, I think another Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, wrote a more effective self-help book also using the number seven.

[Doran Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good I didn't want it to end. His Excellency Eduard Habsburg distills seven lessons from his family's thousand year rule of a good part of Europe and imparts them in an easy to read, enjoyable, and inspirational way. Forget Jordan Peterson--read this instead. Will make you nostalgic for a different time, when morality was actually a real consideration in political affairs.

[Richard Walden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful book on how to live by the scion of a dynasty that has produced many devout rulers and individual of great piety. Anyone who desires to live a productive, spiritual life will find examples and inspiration here. That said, it will resonate with Christians and Roman Catholics is particular, though that should not discourage anyone who reads this review.