My spiritual exercises
utorak, 21.03.2017.
PRINCE WILLIAM – INCARNATION OF FERDINAND I OF AUSTRIA
Ferdinand I (1793 –1875) was Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, as well as associated dominions from the death of his father (Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor). His mental deficiency (primarily his frequent seizures if epilepsy) made him unable to rule the monarchy. His father (in his will, before he died in 1835) appointed Archduke Louis as his proxy in regard of internal policy, and Prince Metternich, in relation with foreign affairs.
In 1831 he married Maria Anna of Savoy, daughter of Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. In revolutionary 1848 he was persuaded to abdicate in favor of his nephew, Franz Joseph, who would rule Austro-Hungarian Monarchy for the next 68 years.
Ferdinand I kept a diary on regular basis, in which his thoughts that he noted down are rather coherent. On the day he abdicated, he wrote in his diary: The affair ended with the new Emperor kneeling before his old Emperor and Lord, that is to say, me, and asking for a blessing, which I gave him, laying both hands on his head and making the sign of the Holy Cross ... then I embraced him and kissed our new master, and then we went to our room. Afterwards I and my dear wife heard Holy Mass ... After that I and my dear wife packed our bags."
It is obvious that he loved his wife, but also that she loved him, as in the 20th century they incarnated as Prince William and Kate Middleton in the same year, in 1982, to be again joined as royal couple. They started to date at the university, in 2003, and married in 2010. They have two children, son and daughter. (In past incarnation as Ferdinand I, Prince William was 10 years older than his spouse, and they had no children.)
This is proof that ruler who was unable to rule in one incarnation, may perform his duty with no obstacles in the next (as was the case of Henry VI, king of England).
