1919: Emigration of the Imperial Family

Following the written renunciation of Charles I. of every participation in German-Austrian state affairs, on November 12, 1918 the imperial family evacuated its residence at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna and moved to Eckartsau Castle in the Lower Austrian Marchfeld. For the newly formed Republic, the presence of the former monarchs on their national territory was uncomfortable from the beginning, as there were concerns about the security situation and fears regarding monarchist activities in the country. Against this backdrop, the government, composed of Christian-Socialists and Social-Democrats, presented Charles in March 1919 with the option of renouncing all former privileges for himself and his family, to be interned or to go into exile abroad. Not least due to pressure from the British government, which feared a destabilisation of domestic Austrian politics, the imperial family finally decided to go into exile in Switzerland.

Because Charles was granted a befitting exit, the departure took place on March 23, 1919 from the Kopfstetten-Eckartsau train station with the former royal train. In Feldkirch, the last stop on Austrian territory, Charles declared his renunciation of November 11, 1918 null and void. The family then resumed its trip to Switzerland, where it took up residence at the Castle Wartegg in the canton of St. Gallen.