Karl was, in fact, a sworn enemy to every form of violence, legal or otherwise; he considered it un-Christian. Once when he was talking in a relaxed mood with Count Tamas von Erdody, a childhood friend, and a member of his military staff, the latter playfully boasted about how perfectly he could imitate the Imperial signature. Karl laughed good-humoredly, but then his face suddenly turned grave and with more than his usual earnestness he begged Erdody never to use his unorthodox talent to sign a death warrant in the Emperor’s name. On another occasion, in connection with the secret mission of
Karl was, in fact, a sworn enemy to every form of violence, legal or otherwise; he considered it un-Christian. Once when he was talking in a relaxed mood with Count Tamas von Erdody, a childhood friend, and a member of his military staff, the latter playfully boasted about how perfectly he could imitate the Imperial signature. Karl laughed good-humoredly, but then his face suddenly turned grave and with more than his usual earnestness he begged Erdody never to use his unorthodox talent to sign a death warrant in the Emperor’s name. On another occasion, in connection with the secret mission of the Bourbon-Parma princes, Erdody reported having been obliged to knock a spy downstairs. “Oh, I hope the poor fellow did not break his neck,” the Emperor exclaimed Late one night in February 1918, while Karl was traveling to Budapest, a telegram reached the Imperial train begging clemency for four mutineers who were to be shot in the morning. The head of Karl’s military cabinet did not see fit to disturb his master’s sleep for such trivialities and the execution took place as scheduled. When the Emperor woke up and learned about the telegram he was furious at his aide. “You should have called me,” he said sternly. “I am a man like any other.” All too frequently, Karl’s efforts to inject Christian idealism into politics failed for lack of resolution. He was easily discouraged, and also far too easily swayed by his entourage, though he was neither as weak as the Czar nor as unstable as...
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