Luigi Lucheni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luigi Lucheni
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Swiss police mugshot of Luigi Lucheni (1898)
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| Born | April 22, 1873 |
| Died | October 19, 1910 (aged 37) Geneva, Switzerland
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| Resting place | Zentralfriedhof Vienna, Austria |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Criminal charge(s) | Murder of Empress Elisabeth of Austria |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Italy |
| Service/ |
Royal Italian Army |
| Years of service | 1893–1896 |
| Battles/wars | First Italo-Ethiopian War |
Luigi Lucheni (born April 22, 1873 – died October 19, 1910) was an Italian man known for his beliefs as an anarchist. He is remembered for his role in the death of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Contents
Who Was Luigi Lucheni?
His Early Life
Luigi Lucheni was born in Paris, France, on April 22, 1873. His birth name was Louis Luccheni. His mother left him at a special hospital for babies who needed care.
In August 1874, he was moved to Italy. He lived in different orphanages and with different foster families. As he grew up, Lucheni worked many different jobs. He worked in Italy, Switzerland, and a country called Austria-Hungary.
He also served in the military for three years. After his time in the military, he moved to Switzerland. There, he became friends with people who believed in anarchism in a city called Lausanne. Anarchists are people who believe that society should not have any government or rules.
The Event in Geneva
What Happened?
On September 10, 1898, Empress Elisabeth of Austria was in Geneva, Switzerland. She was with her friend, Countess Sztáray. They were leaving their hotel by Lake Geneva to catch a boat to another town. The Empress liked to walk without many guards.
As they walked on the docks, Lucheni came up to them. He hurt Empress Elisabeth. Even though she was badly hurt, she kept walking. With help from others, she walked about 100 yards to get on the boat.
Once on the boat, her friend noticed she was bleeding. The boat quickly returned to shore. The Empress was carried back to her hotel. Doctors arrived but she passed away within an hour. Records about her medical examination were later destroyed.
His Arrest and Trial
Lucheni was caught when he tried to run away. He told the police he was an anarchist. He said he came to Geneva to hurt a ruler. He wanted to show others his beliefs. This act was meant to inspire others to act against governments.
His trial started the next month, in October. Lucheni was very upset to learn that the death penalty had been stopped in Geneva. He wanted to be tried in a different area where he could be put to death. He hoped to become a martyr, someone who dies for their beliefs. Instead, he was given a sentence of life in prison.
His Later Life and Impact
Life in Prison
While in prison in Geneva, Lucheni started writing about his childhood. He faced difficulties in prison. His notebooks were taken from him. On October 19, 1910, he was found dead in his prison cell.
How His Actions Changed Things
The event involving Empress Elisabeth led to a big meeting. Delegates from 21 countries came together. They decided that anarchism was a form of terrorism. They agreed to create groups to watch people suspected of being anarchists. They also allowed the death penalty for those who hurt rulers.
Empress Elisabeth's life and her death have been shown in many plays, movies, and books. Lucheni's writings about his childhood were published in 1998.
See also
In Spanish: Luigi Lucheni para niños
