The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court

Between 1707 and 1740, the Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke Charles VI of Austria (1685–1740), maintained a near-continuous diary, recording his personal reflections on more than thirty years of rule. This article analyses these insights into Charles’s daily life within the wider context of the Habsburg...

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Main Author: Stefan Seitschek
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Winchester University Press 2021-12-01
Series:Royal Studies Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rsj.winchester.ac.uk/articles/295
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author Stefan Seitschek
author_facet Stefan Seitschek
author_sort Stefan Seitschek
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description Between 1707 and 1740, the Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke Charles VI of Austria (1685–1740), maintained a near-continuous diary, recording his personal reflections on more than thirty years of rule. This article analyses these insights into Charles’s daily life within the wider context of the Habsburg monarchy and the imperial court during the early eighteenth century, illuminating the ruler’s perspective on familial relationships, annual ceremonies, diplomatic endeavours, and decision-making processes. First, the nature of these records and their positioning within the wider context of diary culture is considered, as well as the distinctive features of Charles’s entries and the challenges inherent in deciphering them. The article then investigates Charles’s personal piety, his relationship with his family, and his various advisors at the Viennese court, as demonstrated by his diary entries during his rule. Combining diplomatic, political, and private contemplations, and offering valuable details about the monarch’s day-today routine, this study presents Charles’s diaries as an intimate and essential record of the Baroque period, as well as a unique set of records that reveal the Archduke-Emperor’s innermost thoughts.
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spelling doaj.art-fa72b1f2b79d4f8aaf5e878ee088af1b2022-12-22T02:59:58ZdeuWinchester University PressRoyal Studies Journal2057-67302021-12-018210.21039/rsj.295290The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese CourtStefan Seitschek0Austrian State Archives, University of ViennaBetween 1707 and 1740, the Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke Charles VI of Austria (1685–1740), maintained a near-continuous diary, recording his personal reflections on more than thirty years of rule. This article analyses these insights into Charles’s daily life within the wider context of the Habsburg monarchy and the imperial court during the early eighteenth century, illuminating the ruler’s perspective on familial relationships, annual ceremonies, diplomatic endeavours, and decision-making processes. First, the nature of these records and their positioning within the wider context of diary culture is considered, as well as the distinctive features of Charles’s entries and the challenges inherent in deciphering them. The article then investigates Charles’s personal piety, his relationship with his family, and his various advisors at the Viennese court, as demonstrated by his diary entries during his rule. Combining diplomatic, political, and private contemplations, and offering valuable details about the monarch’s day-today routine, this study presents Charles’s diaries as an intimate and essential record of the Baroque period, as well as a unique set of records that reveal the Archduke-Emperor’s innermost thoughts.https://rsj.winchester.ac.uk/articles/295charles vihabsburg monarchyarchduke of austriaholy roman emperorspainviennese courtimperial householddiaryprinted calendar
spellingShingle Stefan Seitschek
The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court
Royal Studies Journal
charles vi
habsburg monarchy
archduke of austria
holy roman emperor
spain
viennese court
imperial household
diary
printed calendar
title The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court
title_full The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court
title_fullStr The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court
title_full_unstemmed The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court
title_short The Diaries of Emperor Charles VI: “Sneak Peeks” into the Daily Routine of the Imperial Viennese Court
title_sort diaries of emperor charles vi sneak peeks into the daily routine of the imperial viennese court
topic charles vi
habsburg monarchy
archduke of austria
holy roman emperor
spain
viennese court
imperial household
diary
printed calendar
url https://rsj.winchester.ac.uk/articles/295
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