SCHWARZENBERG, FELIX, PRINCE ZU ( 1800—I 85 2 ) , Austrian statesman, was born on Oct. 2, 1800.
After six years' service in the Austrian army, Felix espoused a diplomatic career at the instance of Metternich, and underwent a period of probation (1824-1848) at various European courts, which confirmed his aristocratic aversion to popular government. In 1848 he took an active part in the war against Piedmont and the insurgents in Vienna. On Nov. 21 of the same year he was appointed head of a reactionary ministry, at the instance of his brother-in-law, Prince Windischgratz. Himself a soldier, he aimed at the ultimate restoration of the absolute monarchy by means of the army. He supervised the abdication of Ferdinand and proclamation of Francis Joseph as Emperor, and although at first he held out prospects of constitutional government, he dis solved the Kremsier Reichstag at the earliest opportunity (March 7, 1849) and late in November called in the Russians to end the war in Hungary. He then turned his attention to Germany. His refusal to incorporate only the German provinces of the monarchy in the proposed new German Empire had thrown the German parliament into the arms of Prussia. His object now was to
restore the status quo ante of the Confederation, with the old predominance of Austria. His success in this respect was partly due to exterior circumstances, notably the mistimed exaggera tions of the German revolutionists, but largely to his diplomatic skill, unscrupulousness and iron tenacity of purpose with which the weakness of Frederick William IV. and his ministers was unable to cope. His triumph came with the restoration of the old federal diet in May 1850 and the signature of the convention of Olmiitz on Nov. 29 of the same year. (See GERMANY: History.) Schwarzenberg was also mainly responsible for Francis Joseph's suspension of the last remnants of the Constitution on Dec. 31, 1851. He died on April 5, 1852.