Episode 15: Mayerling 1889, The Scandal that Shook the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Warning: This episode talks about difficult topics including Murder and Suicide.The story of the Mayerling Incident of 1889, which was not only a tragedy for the Habsburg Dynasty of Austria-Hungary but had unexpected implications for European History. Episode Icon: Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Freiin von Vetsera, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.Links to photos associated with the episode…Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3luy4uterjs2t Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19GPrTaTiM/?mibextid=wwXIfrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMoH6BQoWQF/?igsh=bmtmbW9qenFlbWR1 Recommended further reading...Coatman, Lucy, 'Love is Dead, Newly discovered letters get us closer to understanding the tragic truth of royal murder-suicide at Mayerling', in History Today, Volume 72, Issue 2 (February 2022), pp. 16-18- For a study on Rudolf and Mary's letters.Hamann, Brigitte, 'The Reluctant Empress, A biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, (Berlin, 2018 Edition)- For a biography on the mother of Crown Prince Rudolf, Empress Elisabeth "Sisi". Judson, Peter M. 'The Habsburg Empire – A New History', (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2018)- For an in-depth survey of the Austro-Hungarian State.King, Greg, Wilson, Penny, 'Twilight of Empire, The Tragedy of Mayerling and the End of the Habsburgs', (New York, 2017)- For a comprehensive survey of the Mayerling Incident.Rady, Martyn, 'The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power', (London, 2022)- For a detailed overview of the Habsburg Dynasty.Vocelka, Karl, Mutschlechner (eds.), Franz Joseph, 1830-1916, (Vienna, 2016)- For a comprehensive survey of the life and reign of Emperor Franz Joseph. Additionally, Lucy Coatman is working on the first English Language biography of Mary Vetsera, which should shed new light on her for a wider audience beyond German- speaking countries in Europe and Hungary. Break Music: 'Brahms - Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F# Minor by Wilfred Symphony Orchestra on PremiumBeat by Shutterstock, https://www.premiumbeat.com (Purchased with license on the 20/07/2025).Beginning and closing theme, 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrqwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the 01/06/2024).