Do you like it?
It is very tight.
One day, you will be Emperor of this great empire, Franz.
20 YEARS EARLIER
This empire is a precious treasure
that our enemies wish to take away from us.
You have to protect this empire in war and in peace.
Why me?
It is God's will.
He appointed you.
If God decides everything,
why does he make it so there are wars and enemies?
It suits you wonderfully, Franz.
If I have a uniform,
will I also fight in wars like the soldiers?
No.
The soldiers fight for the Emperor.
You wear a uniform like them so they can look up to you.
From now on, you will always wear it.
You are not like other people, Franz.
Don't forget that.
THE EMPRESS
Thank you, Theo.
This truly is a great day, Your Majesty.
Yes, that it is.
Your Majesty, the Archduchess.
Your Imperial Highness.
Franz, do you hear the bells?
We've waited so long for this day.
The uniform.
He's just been born.
He's not only getting his name before God, Franz.
He gets his title too.
Where is he anyway?
Our little angel?
Elisabeth already took him with her.
Of course.
May I introduce you?
Your little brother.
You see? He's very quiet.
He cries less than you did back then.
But he's scared of strangers.
You'd have had to look out for him.
Here you are.
You are always with me, Fienchen. No matter what I do.
Your father and I think of you always.
And so we baptise you, Rudolf Franz Karl Joseph,
the future Emperor of Austria
and as of today Colonel of the 19th Imperial Infantry Regiment.
-Amen. -Amen.
Give him to me.
Everything's fine.
You did it.
What's wrong with him?
He has to preside over an army before he can walk. I'd cry too.
He'll have to lead an entire empire.
But not today.
Congratulations have arrived from all over Europe. You see?
Over a thousand messages have arrived.
These are all letters from your family back home.
These are well-wishes from the people.
This can't…
What is it?
Who is the letter from?
Countess Apafi.
From Leontine?
-What did she write? -Just congratulations.
No address.
The stamp is no longer legible.
She's alive.
-To the heir to the throne! -To the heir to the throne!
The future of Habsburg is secured.
Thank you.
Once you have a moment, we need to discuss
a somewhat unpleasant foreign affairs development.
What kind of foreign affairs development, Mr Minister?
It can wait. I don't want to spoil this joyous event.
You already did.
We've received reports saying thousands of volunteer fighters
from other Italian territories have joined the independence movement in Lombardy.
It's descending upon us like an avalanche.
Do I not get one single day to be happy about the heir to the throne?
Where exactly are these independence fighters from?
All of the Italian regions support Garibaldi.
Modena, Parma, Sicily.
Have you spoken to the Empress about Sicily?
I'm afraid the Empress will oppose it.
The Empress should submit to the political situation in this case.
So we must urgently ensure the other Italian states help us stop the rebels.
Our most important ally is the Kingdom of Sicily.
We must bind them to us.
What is your plan?
The King of Sicily is terminally ill.
His son Francesco will take over, but he doesn't have a Queen yet.
And you have one to spare?
To prevent Sicily from becoming utterly irrelevant,
they urgently want a blood relative of a high-ranking European ruling family.
We could give them that.
Mimi just turned 16.
-She is supposed to marry this spring. -Franz, please.
She should find a man who she can stand.
Not everyone can be as lucky as us.
Marriages create political alliances. And we need this alliance, urgently.
When's this supposed to happen?
I'm afraid our time is already running out.
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
MILAN, AUSTRIAN PROVINCE
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Your Highness.
We must leave immediately. General Gyulai has imposed a curfew.
I am still Viceroy.
Your Highness, we must leave. Right now.
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
The situation is escalating.
Garibaldi's rebels are coming from everywhere.
We're hearing about riots.
Almost every night.
According to reports, Piedmont is gathering troops along our border.
Your Majesty,
we must declare war on Piedmont.
That is exactly what Cavour wants.
No, Your Majesty, I think that is a big mistake.
For years, Cavour has been inciting our people against us.
The other major powers are sympathising with the Italian unification movement.
Queen Victoria is imploring us to grant Lombardy independence.
For the sake of peace.
Then we ask Queen Victoria
to grant India independence for the sake of the poor Indians.
The other major powers want to see our empire shrink. That's all.
Lombardy belongs to Austria.
Declaring war on Piedmont is unavoidable.
Cavour wants to sit at the adults's table. Then let him see what comes of it.
And that's exactly why I wonder why the Piedmontese want a war
when Austria is so much stronger?
The rebels are fighting for something they believe in.
And if they join forces with troops from Piedmont,
we'll end up shooting at our own people.
Send an ultimatum to Turin in Piedmont.
Cavour has three days to lay down arms and quit supporting the Lombardian rebels.
If he does so,
we'll sit down at the negotiation table.
And if not…
we will declare war.
Thank you.
Elisabeth's sister is coming today for the bridal preparations.
I will make sure she travels on to Naples as quickly as possible.
The Sicilians have to stop the flow of rebels.
Prince Francesco of Sicily?
I've heard he is intellectually somewhat challenged,
and that his appearance is rather repulsive.
Then you had best not marry him.
Very well.
Have you ever been to Vienna?
No.
Do you know my sister, the Empress?
No.
I only know my home.
Only Bavaria.
Is Sicily pretty?
Yes.
Elisabeth.
Your Majesty.
It's so nice to see you.
I'm getting married. Can you believe it?
Your Majesty.
This is Donna Nina.
The King of Sicily sent her to accompany me.
-She is my court lady now. -Very pleased to meet you.
What are we doing today? What happens now?
I think we have to try on your bridal garments.
Isn't that right?
Yes.
Is she always in such a good mood?
Yes.
There are lemon trees and lizards all over in Naples,
and people only eat macaroni.
Did you know that?
I've missed you.
I'm meant to wear this when I arrive?
Do you think Francesco will like it?
Of course.
I don't know him at all.
I don't know what he looks like, what he likes to do.
Nothing.
Please leave us alone for a moment.
Very well, Your Majesty.
-Let's sit down. -Come along, ladies.
I know this is hard for you, Mimi.
Are you scared?
That's not it.
I haven't…
What? You can tell me, Mimi.
…bled yet.
Mother says you can't marry if you haven't bled yet.
So in the fall, I said it had already happened.
But it hasn't happened yet.
What should I do now?
I'll think of something.
Her Majesty The Empress.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, what can I do for you?
My sister isn't ready to marry yet.
I feared you'd say that.
She hasn't menstruated yet.
That is unfortunate, but not a hindrance.
Since when isn't it a hindrance?
The Sicilians get a Habsburg bride and help us in exchange.
Anything else is a problem for the future.
My sister knows nothing about her groom.
Not even what Francesco looks like.
I knew how my Karl looked.
That didn't make it any better.
I can withdraw my consent at any time.
Tell me the truth.
Francesco was a sickly child.
He didn't speak until he was six years old.
They say he is withdrawn and hypocritical.
Francesco's father is a brutal ruler.
The people despise the whole family.
Will that do?
Men wage war.
We women get married to secure our empires.
That is our place in history.
It has always been done this way.
Even if it comes to war, Elisabeth, which I'm trying to prevent,
the Kingdom of Sicily's over 1,000 kilometres away from Piedmont.
The people of Sicily hate the royal family.
What do you think will happen to that family and my sister
if a revolution breaks out there?
Sometimes a person has to make a sacrifice to save many others.
Would you do that?
Make such a sacrifice?
Is there anything new?
My brother has given the rebels and Piedmont three days
to lay down their arms, or else there will be war.
He has no choice. Piedmont will not stop provoking Austria.
Of course he has a choice. He could negotiate with Cavour and Lombardy.
He won't do that.
Then it's the biggest mistake of his reign.
-I can't allow that. -Why not?
He's my brother.
He doesn't care what you think.
He's left you in the lurch here for months.
Was it ever about Lombardy for you?
About the people?
Or is it always just about him?
Why did he even give me this position?
Maybe he wanted to see you fail.
-I have to speak to him. -It's not enough, Maximilian.
This life here…
It's not enough for me.
I cabled.
We must speak to the Emperor at once.
Very well.
I hope you got some sleep last night, Your Majesty.
Not until we hear from Piedmont.
Lieutenant Colonel Rosmini, Your Majesty.
He says it's urgent.
-I'll take care of it. -No, have him come in.
Your Majesty, thank you for your time.
We confiscated this crate after the last big riots
on our border to Piedmont.
Muskets.
The Piedmontese have been supplying rebels in our country,
thousands of them for months.
We already knew that.
The French eagle.
Cavour and Napoleon must have come to a secret agreement.
That means if we declare war on Piedmont…
We'll be at war with France.
Why didn't we know this?
I am just as surprised as you, Your Majesty.
But it is not your job to be surprised!
Your job is to be prepared!
Your Majesty, I never would have thought
Napoleon would be allied with Cavour. I…
I don't know what he gets out of it.
He's using the Lombards's discontent to destroy us.
Even Napoleon's army is not invincible…
That's not the point.
I want to decide who I go to war with!
And not be surprised on the battlefield!
You've all made that impossible.
Please go.
Is my sister here yet?
Yes, Your Majesty.
-Thank you. -Elisabeth.
Your Majesty.
-Good morning. -Look what Auntie Sophie gave me.
It belonged to Maria Theresia.
And it makes you look like a real Queen, Mimi.
Maria Theresia was a steadfast woman.
She never gave up.
Even when things were difficult.
I'd like to speak to my sister alone.
Your sister and I spoke candidly about the fact
that it might not be pleasant in Sicily.
But Mimi is a brave young woman, aren't you?
And she wants to make our family proud.
I know that.
Why don't you want me to go?
I think Elisabeth is afraid her own beautiful, young sister
might take her place in Europe.
You know that's nonsense, Mimi.
I have to get back to work.
Finish your meat, Mimi.
That will help with the bleeding.
Why did you tell her?
Because I don't want…
That was our secret.
Because I don't want you to go.
Why not?
It's too dangerous.
There may be a revolution.
And Francesco?
Are you jealous like Auntie Sophie said?
No, Mimi.
I just want you to know the truth.
You have no right to decide what I can and can't do.
Stop.
Your Imperial Highness.
I want to see him right away. Will you be okay alone?
I didn't know it was so huge.
Don't get jealous.
Jealousy is for those who can't achieve what they really want.
I shall go for a walk.
His Imperial Highness, Archduke Maximilian, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I cabled that I was coming.
Withdraw the ultimatum.
We must negotiate with the Piedmontese.
The Piedmontese aren't the only ones against me.
-What do you mean? -Napoleon.
He's supporting the rebels. He has an agreement with Cavour.
I think that's what he wanted the whole time.
To force us into a war without him having to start it.
Then we must give up Lombardy. Only then will there be no reason for war.
And then?
Do you think that would end it?
Don't you understand what's happening?
Napoleon will keep encroaching until he's here in Vienna with us.
I will not be the little boy who draws in his horns to Napoleon.
This isn't you, Franz.
We ourselves are partly to blame.
If we'd listened to the Lombards in time.
Is that what you've been doing the last year and a half?
And what has cost us so much money?
Listening?
I am very proud of what Marie and I achieved in Lombardy.
But it wasn't enough.
You can't blame me for this disaster.
Just when I had the Lombards trust, Gyulai came and ruined it.
On your damn command!
You gave me an impossible task.
You wanted to see me fail.
Why would I do that?
Because you can't forgive me.
That's no reason to jeopardise my own empire.
Your Majesty.
We have a reply from Turin.
Read it.
Cavour rejected the ultimatum.
Is there news from Vienna yet?
From him?
Not yet.
We're declaring war on Piedmont, and in doing so, on France as well.
Order mobilisation.
Absolutely the right decision, Your Majesty.
Minister Grünne, Minister Buol, this was your last deed for Habsburg.
I expect your resignations by this evening.
Your Majesty, we all misjudged the situation.
-But you can't make me… -Napoleon deceived us, yes.
But since this conflict in Lombardy-Venetia started,
you haven't had one sensible idea for defusing the situation.
Send in the military, bolster it. That was it.
That's not enough for me.
And as I was informed, Count Buol,
you've made lucrative investments in our armament factories.
So you wanted to keep building up arms.
You served your own interests, not Habsburg's.
You can leave.
I expect your resignation letter by tomorrow morning too.
From me too?
You are the Viceroy of Lombardy.
The people must see that our family is taking responsibility.
You need a scapegoat.
No, I need my brother.
Emperor Franz Joseph has declared war.
It happened exactly as you predicted.
That's good.
Isn't it, Your Majesty?
I just felt sorry for him for a moment.
Franz Joseph?
Why?
It's the beginning of the end for Austria.
He doesn't know it yet.
Franz?
Franz.
I had no other choice.
I know.
All throughout Europe, it will look like the Emperor's little brother
failed as Viceroy.
It's war.
-I have to stand by my family's side. -And this war is his fault alone.
Not yours.
He needs me.
That's what he said.
I need you.
Your family isn't good for you, don't you see?
It is the only family I have.
I didn't mean it that way.
Habsburg.
Your family will be on the wrong side of history.
Don't be stupid enough to stand alongside them.
Mimi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you question yourself.
No.
You were right.
I don't want to go there.
Give us a moment, please.
You have to go.
But…
you said you didn't want me to.
I know, but it's not about what I want.
What if the family is just as awful as you said?
Then I don't want to go there. Then I don't want to be their Queen.
Mimi, being a Queen doesn't mean wearing pretty dresses and going to balls.
Being a Queen means giving people hope when it gets dark around them.
And that's why you have to go.
So there's someone the people can believe in now.
If it doesn't work out, I'll come pick you up. I promise you.
Write as soon as you arrive.
You'll be proud of me.
I've always been proud.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
I never would have imagined this.
That I would send my sister there?
That you would be a true Habsburg one day.
Giddy-up!
3 WEEKS LATER
GARRISON HOSPITAL I, VIENNA
There were several thousand dead in Magenta,
8,000 wounded, and 4,500 missing.
For now, General Gyulai has ordered them to retreat.
Napoleon was ahead of us at every turn.
Your Majesty, what do you plan to do?
How could this happen?
Tens of thousands lost. What is General Gyulai doing there?
What's wrong with you?
My brother is in the army.
He was there, in Magenta.
We cannot be weak now, Margarete.
What kind of an example would we be for our soldiers?
Of course, Your Imperial Highness.
LEONTINE COUNTESS APAFI
Your Majesty, do you desire something?
I often wonder what Leontine would do.
What she would advise me to do in a situation like this.
I know you had a special bond with Leontine.
I will never be able to replace her.
But if there's anything I can do…
Is there anything about Leontine that I don't know?
There are things you don't know, Your Majesty.
When Leontine left…
she was expecting a child.
All the other stories about Leontine were just nasty rumours.
Your Majesty.
Her Majesty The Empress.
What can I do for you, Your Majesty? Is this about your visit to the hospital?
Leontine lied to both of us, Mr von Bach.
I know as little about her real identity as you do.
Or where she came from.
Countess Apafi, or whatever that woman's name was, was an imposter.
And she is not worth you wasting any more of your precious time on this matter.
She was expecting a child.
I tried everything I could to find her.
But I don't think I'm the one who has to look for her.
The Lord is on our side.
He will lead us to victory in this war.
Do you remember the day I got my uniform?
I asked you why the good Lord allows war and all this suffering
if He is omnipotent.
I remember it well.
To this day, I don't have an answer.
But I don't expect one either.
I baptised you.
I crowned you.
I married you.
I know you, Franz Joseph.
You may be an Emperor by God's grace,
but you feel, suffer, and doubt like every other person.
That is your weakness.
But it is also your strength.
You're right.
Excuse me, Your Eminence.
Your Majesty, do you have a moment?
What is this?
Excuse me?
We lose thousands of soldiers each day, and you want to leave now?
-This war is not your fault, von Bach. -It's mine as much as it was all of ours.
I… Over this past year, I haven't always had the clearest head.
You are the only one I can trust.
Whatever you blame yourself for,
it is forgiven.
That is very generous, Your Majesty.
But I still ask to be removed from my position.
What if I refuse?
I will leave the court, Your Majesty.
I have to make up for a big mistake.
Even if it means giving up this position.
Your Majesty, working with you was the greatest honour of my life.
Alexander?
I don't think it's ever too late to do the right thing.
Franz.
Leave us alone, please.
I've made a decision.
I'm going to the front.
What?
Why?
Because it's what's right.
Do you think it will make it better?
Do you think you can do it better than your generals?
No, I don't.
You were right, Elisabeth.
I've never made a sacrifice.
I've been wearing this uniform for 20 years.
For what?
Please, Franz. Don't do it.
You've seen with your own eyes what this war is doing.
I must take responsibility.
I need your support.
I have something to tell you.
I relieved General Gyulai of his command.
At the end of the week, I will go to the front in Lombardy
and assume command of the troops.
My mind is made up.
Why?
Over 6,000 dead.
Just as many wounded. The morale of the army is at rock bottom.
That's life in a war.
A war I didn't want.
The least I can do is be with the soldiers.
No, Franz. You don't belong on the battlefield.
That's for soldiers, and you are the Emperor.
Napoleon is there too.
Napoleon is a General.
Someone who takes what he wants.
You are not made for war. You are…
Too weak?
I knew all of Europe sees it that way, but not my own mother.
Is this your idea?
No.
It sounds like it's your idea.
I support him.
Excuse me.
You're right, Mother.
There is a difference between Napoleon and me.
He made himself Emperor.
I never had a choice.
Franz.
You said you needed me.
If something should happen to you,
I'll be here.
I have a son, Maximilian.
He isn't even a year old.
I can take over in the meantime…
Between our mother and my wife, the Empire is in good hands.
What do you need me for, Franz?
-Ever? -It's not about you.
-We're fighting for our empire. -I don't think it's my empire.
It is neither your empire, nor my empire.
I need to preserve it.
For this brief moment in eternity. That is all.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
Thank you, Theo.
Attention!
See you soon, Mother.
Which hand?
This one.
Fienchen asked where the stars are when you can't see them.
We'll see each other again.
Attention!
Get up.
Go away.
Go away!
Why are you all that I have left?
What if he doesn't come back?
I've sacrificed so much.
I know.
What if this empire was never worth it?
What if I can't stop the darkness?
All we can do is have hope.
And carry on.
Today.
Subtitle translation by: Kristopher Brame