Anton von Schmerling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anton von Schmerling
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Anton Ritter von Schmerling, 1849
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| Minister President (Chancellor) of Germany | |
| In office 24 September 1848 – 15 December 1848 |
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| Monarch | Johan, Regent of the Empire |
| Preceded by | Karl zu Leiningen |
| Succeeded by | Heinrich von Gagern |
| Interior Minister of the Austrian Empire | |
| In office 13 December 1860 – 26 June 1865 |
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| Monarch | Kaiser Franz Josef |
| Prime Minister | Count Johann Bernhard von Rechberg und Rothenlöwen (1860–1861) Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria (1861–1865) |
| Preceded by | Count Agenor Gołuchowski |
| Succeeded by | Count Richard Belcredi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 August 1805 Lichtental, Vienna, Austrian Empire |
| Died | 23 May 1893 (aged 87) Vienna, Austria-Hungary |
| Spouse | Pauline von Koudelka-Schmerling |
Anton Ritter von Schmerling (born August 23, 1805 – died May 23, 1893) was an important Austrian statesman. He played a big part in Austrian politics during a time of major changes. He worked to bring about new laws and a more modern government.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Politics
Anton von Schmerling was born in Vienna, the capital of Austria. His father worked in a high position in the government's legal department. Anton studied law in Vienna. In 1829, he started working for the government himself. For the next 18 years, he mostly worked in Lower Austria.
In 1847, he became part of the local assembly in Lower Austria. He joined a group of people who wanted to make the government more fair and modern. This was called the Liberal movement.
The 1848 Revolutions
In March 1848, a big revolution happened in Vienna. People were protesting for more rights and changes. Schmerling was part of a group that took the people's demands to the palace. He also helped set up the new National Guard, which was like a citizen army.
Later that month, the government sent him to Frankfurt. This city was a key place for discussions about the future of Germany.
Role in German Politics
Schmerling soon became the leader of the Confederate Diet. This was a meeting of different German states. On July 12, 1848, he officially gave power to Archduke John of Austria. Archduke John had been chosen as the temporary leader, or regent, of Germany.
Some extreme politicians in the National Assembly strongly criticized Schmerling for this. But he defended his actions well. He was known for being practical and understanding the real situation.
Schmerling was a very important member of the government that the Regent formed. From July 15, he was in charge of internal affairs and foreign relations. He helped this new government seem strong and important, even though it was still quite new.
When the previous leader, Prince Carl zu Leiningen, resigned in September 1848, Schmerling was asked to form a new government. He faced a challenge when the parliament disagreed with him. He resigned but was quickly asked to return. He was given special powers to stop a revolt that broke out in Frankfurt on September 18. His bravery helped prevent a disaster.
Schmerling hoped to make Austria a strong, modern, and liberal leader in Germany. This put him against those who wanted Prussia to be the main power. When the Prussian supporters gained more power, he resigned. He was replaced by Heinrich von Gagern.
Schmerling stayed in Frankfurt as Austria's representative. He led the "Grossdeutsche" party. This group wanted a "Greater Germany" that included Austria. But their hopes ended when the government in Vienna became more traditional and less open to change.
In April 1849, the Austrian government told Schmerling and other Austrians to leave Frankfurt.
Return to Austrian Government
When Schmerling returned to Vienna, he became the Minister of Justice. He made many good changes that improved his reputation. He became even more popular with people who wanted liberal reforms.
In 1851, he resigned to protest because the government did not keep its promise to create a new constitution. For the next few years, he worked as a judge in the highest court.
When the old system of absolute rule (where one person had all the power) failed, Schmerling became a minister again in January 1862.
His first action was to announce a new constitution. This plan aimed to organize the entire Austrian Empire as one state with a parliament. However, this plan did not work. People in Croatia and Magyars (Hungarians) strongly opposed it. Schmerling famously said that "Hungary could wait," which offended them greatly.
Schmerling was a formal person, which made it hard for him to keep the German Liberals united. He also faced opposition from powerful groups at court and religious leaders. After a few months, Emperor Franz Joseph I did not support him strongly.
When Schmerling retired in 1865, the attempt to make the empire more German and liberal failed. This plan had aimed to make Hungarians, Poles, Czechs, and Croatians accept a system run by a German-speaking parliament. Even though the 1862 constitution was stopped after Schmerling left, it was still considered legally valid for the western parts of the empire.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from his ministerial role, Schmerling returned to his work as a judge. In 1867, he became a life-member of the Upper House (called Herrenhaus) in the Reichsrat, which was like a parliament. He became its vice-president and then its president in 1871.
He left this position in 1879. He then became a leader of the Liberal German opposition against the government of Count Taaffe. In 1891, he retired from public life completely. He passed away in Vienna on May 23, 1893.
In 1835, Schmerling married Pauline von Koudelka. She was known for her writing and artistic skills. Sadly, she died young in 1840, leaving behind two daughters.
See also
In Spanish: Anton von Schmerling para niños
