Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen(29 September 1823 – 29 July 1889) was an Austrian noble and civil servant who served as theGovernor of Liechtensteinfrom 1861 to 1884. Hausen was born into an Austrian noble family ofFranconianorigins, which was amalgamated under the title 'von Hausen' byFrancis IIin 1797.[1]
Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of Liechtenstein | |
| In office April 1861 – 23 September 1884 | |
| Monarch | Johann II |
| Preceded by | Michael Menzinger |
| Succeeded by | Carl von In der Maur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1823 Salzburg,Austrian Empire |
| Died | 29 July 1889 (aged 65) Lindau,German Empire |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Agathe Schiller (m.1850) |
| Children | 1 |
Career
editAustrian civil service
editFrom 1845 Hausen worked as an intern in the government oflower Austria.From 1850 to 1854 he was the district administrator ofPoysdorf,thenKorneuburgfrom 1854 to 1855. He became head of the district office inValtice.During this time, he played a role in managing the response to acholera pandemicin the district. As a result, he was awarded honorary citizenship in Valtice in 1861.[1]
Governor of Liechtenstein
editEarly on in the reign ofJohann IIhe found resurgent calls for a new Liechtenstein constitution, and the constitutional council was reformed, which had previously been disbanded in 1852 following therevolution of 1848 in Liechtenstein.[2]In April 1861, Hausen was appointed by Johann II as the Governor of Liechtenstein, succeedingMichael Menzinger.[3]In this position, he acted as a mediator between the constitutional council and Johann II, and he also managed to maintain public trust in the government.[1]At first, he created his own draft constitution but then relented and convinced Johann II to sign the draft proposed by the constitutional council, primarily produced byKarl Schädler.[1][2]The draft was reviewed by an unknown German legal expert and formed the basis of the1862 Constitution of Liechtenstein,which was ratified on 26 September.[4][5]It was heavily inspired by the constitution ofVorarlbergand largely addressed the demands of the revolutionaries in Liechtenstein.[2][5]
Under the new constitution, the position of Governor was formalized, and theLandtag of Liechtensteinwas formed for the first time.[4]During his time as Governor, together with nowPresident of the Landtag of LiechtensteinKarl Schädler, they wrote several administrative laws including, but not limited to laws regarding school legislation, tax reforms, agricultural reforms and trade union regulations.[1][2]Under his initiative, theNational Bank of Liechtensteinwas founded in 1861, and a law was passed establishing autonomy for themunicipalities of Liechtensteinin 1864.[1]
In addition, during Hausen's time as Governor, the Landtag came into political conflict with Johann II, primarily regarding foreign policy. For example, during theSecond Schleswig Warin 1864, Johann II supported the cause of both Austria and Prussia, whereas the Landtag had protest voted against the use of military force against Denmark. However, no action was taken.[6]Most notably in theAustro-Prussian Warof 1866 Johann II placed the Liechtenstein military at the disposal of Austria.[7]However, the Landtag had not been consulted regarding the deployment, and the war was unpopular among the population; as such, it faced resistance from the Landtag.[8][9]As a result, he promised a loan to the country and refused to have his men fight against other Germans.[8]It was this, in combination to the rising costs of maintaining it, that led to the Liechtenstein military being disbanded in 1868 and the country declaring its permanent neutrality.[10][11]
Hausen was awarded honorary citizenship in Liechtenstein on 8 July 1869 by Johann II by recommendation of the Landtag. He was made a Liechtensteinbaronin 1884. Starting from the 1870s, he developed a heart condition which impeded him from his duties and eventually led to his resignation as Governor on 23 September 1884.[1]He was succeeded byCarl von In der Maur.[3]
Personal life
editHausen married Wilhelmine Beinhauer (9 March 1831 – 25 November 1918), the daughter of an Imperial and Royal Lower Austrian governor family, on 11 April 1850; they had one daughter together.[1]She later married prominent architectIgnaz Bankó.[12]
Following his resignation as Governor, Hausen moved toInnsbruck.He died on 29 July 1889 inLindau,aged 65 years old.[1]
References
edit- ^abcdefghiBiedermann, Klaus (31 December 2011)."Haus von Hausen, Karl Freiherr".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved10 April2024.
- ^abcdRheinberger, Rudolf (31 December 2011)."Schädler, Karl (1804–1872)".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved24 December2023.
- ^ab"Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021"(PDF).www.regierung.li.Archived(PDF)from the original on 16 February 2024.Retrieved15 February2024.
- ^abWille, Herbert (31 December 2011)."Verfassung".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved24 December2023.
- ^abBeattie, David (2004-09-04).Liechtenstein: A Modern History.Bloomsbury Academic.ISBN978-1-85043-459-7.
- ^Rheinberger, Rudolf (1991).Liechtensteiner Ärzte des 19. Jahrhunderts.Vol. 89. Vaduz:Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein.p. 74.
- ^Ospelt, Joseph (1924)."Der 1866er Feldzug fürstlich leichtensteinischen Bundeskontingentes".Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein.24.Retrieved20 December2023.
- ^abQuaderer, Rupert(31 December 2011)."Preussisch-Österreichischer Krieg".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved22 February2024.
- ^Rheinberger, Rudolf (1991).Liechtensteiner Ärzte des 19. Jahrhunderts.Vol. 89. Vaduz:Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein.p. 75.
- ^Frommelt, Fabian; Rupert, Quaderer (31 December 2011)."Militär".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved23 February2024.
- ^Marxer, Roland (31 December 2011)."Neutralität".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved28 September2023.
- ^Frick, Florian (31 December 2011)."Bankó, Ignaz".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved10 April2024.
Further reading
edit- Albert Schädler(1906).Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen(in German). Vol. 6. Vaduz:Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein.
- Peter Geiger(1970).Geschichte des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1848 bis 1866(in German). Vol. 70. Vaduz:Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins für das Fürstentum Liechtenstein.