CHARLES I. (IV. IN HUNGARY) former Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary; born Aug. 17, 1887. He was grandson of the Archduke Karl Ludwig, and son of the Archduke Otto Franz Josef. On the death of his great-uncle, Franz Josef I., he succeeded to the throne, Nov. 21, 1916. He was of an amiable disposition, but lacked the quali ties of a great ruler. His heart was never in the war, and there is little doubt that he would have liked to with draw from it at any time after his acces sion. His wife was Empress Zita, a princess of Bourbon and Parma, whose sympathies were naturally with Italy, and it was largely to her influence that the lukewarmness of Charles was attrib uted. A great sensation was created in 1917 by the publication of the "Dear Sixtus" letter, which had been sent by Charles in his own handwriting to his brother-in-law, Prince Sixtus of Bour bon, in which the emperor referred to "France's just claims to Alsace-Lor raine." Attempts were made to show
that the letter was a forgery, but the evidence was irrefutable, and Charles finally admitted that he was the author. Great tension was created between the courts of Berlin and Vienna by the inci dent, and Charles was compelled to atone for his indiscretion by writing another letter to the German emperor, in which he reiterated his firm adherence to the military plans of Germany. The rela tives of Empress Zita were banished from Vienna and the Austrian armies were placed more fully than before un der German leadership. Immediately after the collapse of the Central Powers and the signing of the armistice, Charles abdicated, and removed with his family to the stronghold of Eckhartsau. Their safety being menaced there, the royal family fled to Switzerland.