Anachronism from 1919

The Nobility Abolition Act and the Habsburg Laws are an example of how some laws should come with an expiry date. A commentary by Karl von Habsburg.

These days mark an anniversary that can certainly be seen as proof that laws should be given an expiry date. If these laws still serve a purpose, they will be reinstated; but if they have long since lost their original meaning, and only lead to bureaucratic absurdities, or fuel arguments of ideological narrow-mindedness, they simply expire. Specifically, I am referring to the Habsburg Laws and the Nobility Abolition Act of 3 April 1919.

It may well be that the young Republic at the time feared for its existence, and therefore wanted to see all members of my family who did not renounce their affiliation with this family far away. However, these potential fears from back then have long since proven unfounded; the Habsburg Laws are an anachronism that is best consigned to the dustbin of history.

The situation is similar with noble titles. Everyone primarily thinks of the great princely houses, which are still taught in history lessons. However, the vast majority of the nobility consisted of military and civil service nobility. The Emperor honoured – ennobled – meritorious individuals, giving families a lasting memory for the special achievement of an ancestor. The Republic took something from these people without offering them the slightest compensation. Indeed, some authorities even today still pursue possible traces of nobility in family names, as if a particular crime were behind it.

This cannot be regarded as proof of the country’s future viability.

The article originally appeared on the website of Karl von Habsburg. Excerpts of the text also appeared in the editorial of the magazine “Paneuropa” 2 2019.