The Princes´ Stage (14th century)

Duke ("Archduke") Rudolf IV of Austria did not only shape the history of his own era but also Austria`s cultural and historical identity, most visibly by the enlargement and reconstruction of St. Stephen`s Cathedral and the foundation of the University of Vienna. The central aim of the research project "The Princes` Stage" is to study the princely actions of representation and the representative media. Some of them like buildings, sculptures and the famous portrait have been studied in the context of art history. Other media like seals, diplomas, historiographical and hagiographical texts are still waiting for a profound survey. The diplomas and the seals express how the Duke saw himself, his descent and his rank in the world. Narrative sources of Rudolf`s own time and of the succeeding generations must be studied on account of the creation of a particular identity for the duchy and in regard of the Duke`s image. Within the large field of 14th century historiography, the autobiography of Emperor Charles IV is an outstanding source for the way how a "prince" saw himself. Duke Rudolf IV and his means of representation have often been compared to his father-in-law, Emperor Charles IV. But more important than the comparison of the two personalities is the survey of their court-systems, their intellectual and cultural surroundings and the international networks of the dynastic society. Apart from the probably most fantastic falsification of the late middle ages, the so called "Privilegium Maius", implying an antique origin of the house of Austria, a further example of Rudolf`s invented connections is the exaggerated descent of his mother Joan of Ferrette, which led Rudolf IV to wearing the title "marchio Burgundiae". The imperial origin of his wife Catherine could also be used to increase the Duke`s prestige. The actually existing connections hint at a strong cultural and intellectual impact from all parts of Europe. The activities of the influential persons - scholars, artists and clerks - should be studied too, whereby it is necessary to extend the prosopographic frame and start with the wife of Rudolf III, Blanche of France ( 1305) and end with Jean Gerson ( 1429) who lived two years in Melk. The political relationship with several Italian towns, esp. Venice, is another important topic of the project. Regarding all these aspects Rudolf IV seems to be the most "international" prince of Austria until the time of Emperor Maximilian I. His role in history is to be reviewed and doubtlessly more emphasized.

Duke ("Archduke") Rudolf IV of Austria did not only shape the history of his own era but also Austria`s cultural and historical identity, most visibly by the enlargement and reconstruction of St. Stephen`s Cathedral and the foundation of the University of Vienna. The central aim of the research project "The Princes` Stage" is to study the princely actions of representation and the representative media. Some of them like buildings, sculptures and the famous portrait have been studied in the context of art history. Other media like seals, diplomas, historiographical and hagiographical texts are still waiting for a profound survey. The diplomas and the seals express how the Duke saw himself, his descent and his rank in the world. Narrative sources of Rudolf`s own time and of the succeeding generations must be studied on account of the creation of a particular identity for the duchy and in regard of the Duke`s image. Within the large field of 14th century historiography, the autobiography of Emperor Charles IV is an outstanding source for the way how a "prince" saw himself. Duke Rudolf IV and his means of representation have often been compared to his father-in-law, Emperor Charles IV. But more important than the comparison of the two personalities is the survey of their court-systems, their intellectual and cultural surroundings and the international networks of the dynastic society. Apart from the probably most fantastic falsification of the late middle ages, the so called "Privilegium Maius", implying an antique origin of the house of Austria, a further example of Rudolf`s invented connections is the exaggerated descent of his mother Joan of Ferrette, which led Rudolf IV to wearing the title "marchio Burgundiae". The imperial origin of his wife Catherine could also be used to increase the Duke`s prestige. The actually existing connections hint at a strong cultural and intellectual impact from all parts of Europe. The activities of the influential persons - scholars, artists and clerks - should be studied too, whereby it is necessary to extend the prosopographic frame and start with the wife of Rudolf III, Blanche of France ( 1305) and end with Jean Gerson ( 1429) who lived two years in Melk. The political relationship with several Italian towns, esp. Venice, is another important topic of the project. Regarding all these aspects Rudolf IV seems to be the most "international" prince of Austria until the time of Emperor Maximilian I. His role in history is to be reviewed and doubtlessly more emphasized.