Do you like it?
It's very tight.
One day, you'll be Emperor of our great Austria, Franz…
20 YEARS EARLIER
…and she is indeed a very precious treasure.
Our enemies wish to steal her from us.
You have to protect her in war and in peace.
Why me?
It is God's will.
The Lord's appointment.
If God's a good person, why must he make us fight all the time?
It suits you wonderfully, my dear Franz.
As I wear a uniform,
then will I have to join the army just like other soldiers?
No.
Your soldiers go to battle for Austria.
You wear a uniform like them so they can look up to you.
You are now a commander of men.
You're very special, Franz.
Never forget that.
THE EMPRESS
Thank you, Theo.
This is indeed a great day, Your Majesty.
It is, truly.
Your Majesty, the Archduchess.
Your Imperial Highness.
Franz, do you hear the bells?
We have waited so long for this day.
The uniform.
He is a newborn.
He's not just getting his name before God, Franz.
He will be getting his title.
Where is our Rudolf?
Our little angel?
Elisabeth has taken him with her.
Of course.
May I introduce you? Your little brother.
He's so very quiet.
He doesn't cry like you once did.
But strangers frighten him.
You'd have taken good care of him.
Here you are.
You are always with me, Fienchen, whatever I do.
Your father and I think of you all the time.
And so we baptise you, Rudolf Franz Karl Josef,
one day to be Emperor of Austria…
…and as of today,
Colonel of the 19th Imperial Infantry Regiment.
-Amen. -Amen.
Give him to me.
Hush there, Rudolf. It's done now.
You did it.
You were so good.
What's wrong with him?
He's just been made head of the military.
I'd cry as well.
He will also be head of the empire.
But not today.
Congratulations have come from across Europe, you see?
More than a thousand messages have arrived.
These are all the letters from your family back home,
and these are from the common folk.
-This cannot… -What is it?
Who's that one from?
Countess Apafi.
From Leontine? What's happened?
She merely congratulates me.
There's no address.
The postmark is illegible.
There is hope.
-To the heir to the throne! -To the heir to the throne!
The future of Habsburg is secured.
-Congratulations, Your Majesty. -I thank you.
Could we talk, Your Majesty?
I have to tell you about a rather unfortunate
recent political development in Lombardy.
Today is not the day for politics, Foreign Minister.
I'm sure it can wait. I don't want to foist it on Your Highness now.
It's a bit late for that.
Well, um, we have heard there are now thousands of recruits
from a number of Italian regions
who've joined the independence movement in Lombardy, Your Highness.
It's an assault, just like an avalanche.
Do I not get one single day to celebrate having an heir to the throne?
Where do these rebel fighters come from?
They come from the regions that are supporting Garibaldi.
Modena, Parma, Sicily.
Have you spoken with Her Highness about our Sicily trouble?
I know that she will oppose your idea.
Her Highness will yield to our will when political challenges are surfacing.
We urgently need the other Italian states to help stop the rebellion,
and our closest ally is the Kingdom of Sicily.
We have to strengthen that bond.
And how do we do that?
The King of Sicily is terminally ill.
His son Francesco will soon be on the throne,
but he doesn't yet have a Queen by his side.
And you have one going spare?
To maintain their position within the empire,
they'll need to secure a matrimonial union with a ruling European family.
We could give that to them.
Mimi has just turned 16.
She was due to be wed next year anyway.
Oh please.
She needs a man, Franz, who she can fall in love with.
Not everyone can be as happy as we are.
Marriages secure political alliances.
And the empire depends on this one. Really.
When would it happen?
We will need them to marry straight away.
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
MILAN, AUSTRIAN PROVINCE
Freedom for Italy! Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
Stay where you are!
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Highness, you have to get away from here.
General Gyulai has imposed a curfew on all citizens.
I remind you that I am still the Viceroy.
Highness, we must leave. Immediately.
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
Down with the Habsburgs!
Freedom for Italy!
The situation is coming to a head.
Garibaldi's rebels come from far and wide.
There are reports of riots almost every night.
Our intelligence has learnt that Piedmont
is gathering troops along our border.
Your Majesty,
we must send word to Piedmont this amount to war.
That is exactly what Cavour wants.
No, Your Majesty, this is a grave error.
For years, Cavour has been inciting our people against us.
The other great powers are showing sympathy for Italian unification.
Queen Victoria pleads with us to grant Lombardy the independence they seek.
You have to take heed of that.
Then we ask Queen Victoria to grant India their independence,
and she will have to take heed of that.
The other great powers want to see our empire diminish, that is all.
Lombardy belongs to Austria.
So declaring war on Piedmont is our only course.
Cavour wants a seat at the adults' table, so let's see what comes of that.
That's exactly why I wonder
what on earth the Piedmontese want a war for,
when Austria is so superior.
The rebels in our country are fighting for something they believe in.
And if they join forces with troops from Piedmont,
then we will end up firing at our own.
Send an ultimatum to Turin in Piedmont.
Cavour has three days to lay down arms
and cease giving Lombardian rebels his aid.
If he does this…
we can start to negotiate.
Otherwise…
it's a declaration of war.
You can go.
Elisabeth's sister is coming today for the bridal preparations, Franz.
I will make sure she travels on to Naples as early as possible.
The Sicilians really must stop the influx of rebels.
Is she to marry Prince Francesco of Sicily?
I've heard he's intellectually challenged,
and that his appearance is somewhat repulsive.
Then you had best not wed him, had you?
Uh, Highness.
Have you ever been to Vienna?
No.
Do you know my sister, Her Highness?
No.
It's my first time away from Bayern.
Is it lovely in Sicily?
Yes.
Whoa!
Elisabeth.
Your Majesty.
It's so good to see you.
-I shall wed soon. Can you believe it? -Mm-mm.
Your Majesty.
This is Donna Nina.
The King of Sicily sent her to accompany me on the journey.
-And she is my waiting-woman. -You are welcome.
So, what are we doing? What happens now?
Well, now we have to try on your bridal garments, Mimi.
Is that so?
Yes.
Is she always so cheery?
Yes.
In Naples, there are lemon trees and lizards,
and people only eat macaroni.
Did you know that?
Mm-mm.
You've been much missed.
I will wear this when the day comes.
Will it please Prince Francesco?
Of course it will.
I've never seen him.
I know not what he looks like, what his interests are.
Nothing.
I wish to have some time with my sister.
Very well, Your Majesty.
-Let us sit. -Come along, ladies.
I know this is hard for you, Mimi.
Are you afraid?
That's not it.
I still have not…
What?
You can tell me, Mimi.
…bled yet.
Mother says you're not supposed to marry if you haven't bled.
In the autumn, I told her I'd started bleeding.
But I was lying about it.
I have not yet bled.
Allow me to take care of this.
Her Majesty the Empress.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, what can I do for you?
My sister is not yet ready to be wed.
I was afraid that you were going to say that.
She says her monthlies have not yet begun.
That is unfortunate, but not a hindrance.
Since when is it not?
The Sicilians help us, and they get a bride from Habsburg.
We have that understanding.
All other concerns are problems for the future.
My sister knows nothing at all about her bridegroom.
Not even what he looks like.
I knew how my Karl looked. It didn't make it any better for me.
I can withdraw my consent at any time.
Tell me the truth about him.
Francesco was a very sickly child.
He didn't speak a word until he was six years old.
They say he is withdrawn and bigoted.
Francesco's father is a brutal tyrant.
Everyone fears him and hates the whole family.
Will that do?
Men wage war,
but we secure the empire on our wedding day.
That is our place in history.
It was ever thus, my dear.
Even if it comes to war, Elisabeth, which I'm trying to prevent,
the distance between Piedmont and Sicily is almost a thousand miles.
Your subjects in Sicily all hate the royal family.
What do you think will happen to them all, and my sister, Franz,
if they start a revolution there?
She must be prepared to do what we demand of her
for the sake of the empire.
Would you do that too?
You can't do this to me.
Is there anything new?
My brother gave the rebels and Piedmont
three days to lay down their arms or else there's war.
What choice had he? As Piedmont would do nothing but provoke him.
There was another way.
He could sit down with Cavour and Lombardy.
He won't do that.
He's making the biggest mistake of his reign.
-I cannot allow it. -And why not?
He's my brother.
He does not care at all what you think.
He's treating you like a boy again.
Was it ever really about Lombardy?
Or the empire?
Or is it really about your brother?
Why did he even give me this position?
Just so that he could take it away again.
-I must speak with him. -Resolve this, Maximilian.
Do you hear me?
Or there's no me and you.
I telegraphed ahead.
We must speak to the Emperor at once.
Very well, Lieutenant Colonel.
I trust that you slept well last night, Your Majesty.
I won't until we hear from Piedmont.
Lieutenant Colonel Rosmini, Your Majesty. He says it's urgent.
-I'll deal with this, Majesty. -I will talk to him.
Your Majesty. Thank you for your time.
We confiscated this crate
after the latest riots on our border with Piedmont.
Muskets. The Piedmontese have been smuggling them across the border
to Austrian rebels for months.
This is not a surprise.
It's the French eagle.
Cavour and Napoleon must be collaborating somehow.
Therefore, if we declare war on Piedmont…
We'll be at war with France.
Why didn't we know this?
I'm just as surprised as you, Your Majesty.
It is not your duty to be surprised, but to be prepared for it!
Your Majesty, I never thought that
Napoleon would give his support to Cavour in this way.
I cannot see his advantage.
He's using the Lombards' rebellion to destroy us.
Highness, Napoleon's army is not unbeatable.
I couldn't care less!
I want to decide who I go to war with, and not be surprised on the battlefield!
You've taken that away from me.
Now, just get out.
Is my sister here?
-Yes, Your Majesty. -Thank you.
Elisabeth!
Your Majesty.
-Good morning. -Look what Aunt Sophie gave me.
It belonged to Maria Theresia.
And you look like a real Queen with it on, Mimi.
Maria Theresia was steadfast and strong.
She would never give up.
An example to us all.
I'd like to be alone with my sister, please.
Your sister and I have had so much to talk about.
How life in Sicily could be difficult.
But Mimi is a very brave young woman indeed.
And she will honour our family greatly.
I know she will.
You obviously don't agree I should go.
I sense Elisabeth is jealous.
You could soon be more adored throughout Europe
than she could hope to be.
That's nonsense, Mimi. It's a joke.
Hm.
I have duties to attend to.
Eat your meat, Mimi.
It will stimulate the blood.
Why did you tell her?
-Ignore Aunt Sophie. -I trusted you, Elisabeth.
You cannot go through with this farce.
-And why not? -It's too dangerous.
And, Mimi, a revolution could come.
And Francesco?
Are you jealous, then, like Aunt Sophie said?
No, Mimi.
I just want you to be aware of the facts.
You have no right to tell me what I can't do or what I can.
Halt.
Your Imperial Highness.
I'll go straight to him. Will you be all right?
I didn't know it was so impressive.
Is that envy?
Envy's an emotion for those who can't get what they want.
I will see you soon.
His Imperial Highness the Archduke Maximilian, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I telegraphed that I was coming.
Withdraw the ultimatum.
We must negotiate with the Piedmontese.
It isn't just the Piedmontese against me now.
-What do you mean? -Napoleon.
He supports the rebels. He has an agreement with Cavour.
It is clear that this is what he wanted from the start.
To trick us into declaring war on them all.
Then we must give Lombardy freedom.
-And there will be no reason for war. -And then?
You think that would be the end of it?
Do you not see what's happening here?
Napoleon will come one step closer, then another,
until he's standing here in Vienna.
I will not be the little child that Emperor Napoleon has running scared.
Do you not see it, Franz?
You yourself are partly to blame.
If you had talked to the Lombards, this would not have happened.
Is that all you have been doing for the last year and a half?
And what's bled our coffers dry? Is it? You talked?
I am very proud of everything Marie and I did in Lombardy this last year.
However, it didn't work.
You cannot blame me for this disaster.
Just when I had the trust of the Lombards, along came Gyulai,
and he ruined it all because he was following your damn orders!
You gave me an impossible task.
You wanted to enjoy my failure.
And what makes you think so?
You just can't forgive me, can you?
I wouldn't risk the empire for that, ever.
Your Majesty.
There's word from Turin.
Read it.
Cavour rejected the ultimatum.
Is there news from Vienna yet?
From him?
Not yet.
We are now at war with Piedmont,
and with France as well.
Order mobilisation.
Absolutely the right decision, Your Majesty.
Ministers Grünne and Buol,
the time for you to leave my service has come.
I expect your resignations by this evening.
Your Majesty, we all misjudged the situation.
-But you can't do this to us… -Napoleon deceived us all.
But since the beginning of this conflict in Lombardy-Venetia,
you have yet to present one good idea to resolve it.
Send in the military for strength, that was all.
That's not enough.
We received information, Count Buol,
that you've lucrative investments in artillery and ammunition factories.
That's why you kept up production.
You pursued your own interests and not Habsburg's.
You can go.
And I want a letter of resignation from you as well.
From me as well?
You are the Viceroy of Lombardy.
The world must see that our family holds itself responsible.
You just need a scapegoat.
I just need my brother.
Emperor Franz Josef 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 Josef?
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.
The whole of Europe will think that the Emperor's little brother
has failed utterly as the Viceroy.
We are at war.
-I have to stand by my family. -But this war rests on his shoulders.
His only.
He needs me.
That's what he said.
And what about us?
That family is no good for you. Can you not see?
Yet they're my only family.
I didn't mean that, Marie.
Habsburg.
That family of yours will be on the wrong side of history, Maximilian.
Do not be so dumb as to join them.
Mimi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have unsettled you.
No.
You were right.
I do not want this.
May I have a moment with my sister?
You must wed him.
But you…
-You said that you didn't even want this. -I know.
But it's not about what I want, my love.
What if the family is as horrid as you once said,
and they really are disgusting?
And if they are, then…
Then I really don't want to be a Queen there.
Mimi, Queens don't just wear nice clothes and host parties all the time.
Queens give the people something to hold on to
when all around them is darkness.
And that's why you must go.
So that there's someone there that the people can believe in.
If you really cannot stand it, I will come and bring you back.
You represent the empire.
You will think well of me?
Yes, my darling.
Farewell, Your Majesties.
I never would have believed it.
That I would ever send her there?
That you would be a true Habsburg one day.
Hyah!
3 WEEKS LATER
GARRISON HOSPITAL I, VIENNA
In Magenta, there were many thousand dead,
8,000 wounded, and 4,500 missing.
General Gyulai has ordered them to retreat.
Napoleon was ahead of us at every turn.
Your Majesty, what do you command us to do?
How could this happen?
Tens of thousands lost. What is General Gyulai doing there?
What is this crying for?
My brother is in the army.
He was there, in Magenta.
I'll not tolerate weakness, Margarete.
This is no way to behave when our men are fighting for the empire.
I know it's not, Imperial Highness.
LEONTINE COUNTESS APAFI
Majesty, can I be of service?
I often wonder what Leontine would do.
What she would say to me in such a situation.
Highness, I know that you and Countess Apafi became very close,
and that I cannot replace her.
But if there is something that I could do…
Can you tell me if there's something about Leontine that I am not aware of?
There's one thing that you do not know.
When Leontine went…
she was with child.
All the other stories about Leontine, they were just nonsense.
Your Majesty.
Her Majesty the Empress.
What can I do for you, Your Majesty? Is it about our military hospital?
Leontine deceived us both, Minister.
I know as little about who she really was as you do,
or where she came from.
The Countess Apafi, or whatever her real name was,
was nothing but a swindler.
And she is not worth you wasting any more of your precious time, Imperial Highness.
She was with child.
I tried all I could to find her…
but I don't think I'm the one who should be searching.
The Lord's on our side, standing by.
Victory will be ours. He's our guide in this conflict.
Can you recall the first day that I put on my uniform?
I asked you to tell me that if God were good,
then why does he allow wars to happen, Cardinal.
I do remember it.
I do not recall you answering.
I don't believe that you can.
It was me who baptised you, Franz.
It was me who crowned you and married you.
I know you, Franz Josef.
You may be an Emperor by the grace of God,
but you feel, suffer, and doubt like everyone else.
It's your weakness…
but also your strength.
You are right.
Excuse me, Your Eminence.
Your Majesty, do you have a moment?
What is this?
Will you explain?
You cannot leave. We're losing a thousand soldiers every single day.
This war is not your fault, von Bach.
It was mine as much as it was all of ours.
Uh…
Over this past year, my judgement has been erratic.
You're the only Minister I can trust.
Whatever you blame yourself for,
I forgive you.
That is generous, Your Majesty.
But I must implore you to dismiss me from duty.
And what if I want to keep you?
I will still leave your service, Majesty.
I've done someone wrong, and it haunts me.
I have to atone for my actions before it's too late.
Majesty, I've been so proud being in your service.
Alexander?
It can never be too late for one to atone.
Franz?
Leave us alone, please.
I've made a decision.
I'm going to the front.
Franz.
How come?
I have to do this.
And what difference will that make?
Do you think that you can do better than your generals?
Not remotely.
But I'm ashamed, Elisabeth.
I've yet to become a man.
I've been wearing this uniform for 20 years.
And what for?
Please, Franz, don't go.
You've seen what this war is doing to our soldiers.
It is my duty to accompany them.
Your support is essential.
I have something I need to say.
General Gyulai has been demoted.
At the end of the week,
I will join our troops at the front in Lombardy,
and I will assume command of them.
My decision is final.
Why?
More than 6,000 soldiers dead. Just as many wounded.
Morale has never been worse.
With war, that happens.
It is a war that I couldn't avoid.
The least I can do for our soldiers is join them.
No, Franz. You do not belong on the battlefield.
It is a foolish notion, and your duty's to stay here.
Napoleon's there though.
Napoleon is a fighter.
A general who never stops or gives in!
You're not the same kind of man as he is. You are just…
Too weak?
I knew that the whole of Europe thinks that,
but not my own mother.
This is your idea.
No.
It sounds like it.
It's your influence, isn't it?
I support him.
Will you excuse me?
Utter madness.
You're right, Mother.
There's a big difference between Napoleon and me.
He declared himself Emperor.
A choice I never had.
Franz…
you said that you needed me.
If anything should happen to you…
I'll be here.
I have my son, Maximilian.
He's not yet a year old.
I could stand in for him.
Between our mother and my wife, Austria is in good hands.
What do you want from me, Franz?
-Tell me. -Will you stop this?
-Our empire needs us to fight… -This empire is not mine at all.
That's right. Not yours, and not mine either.
And as Emperor,
my role is to keep it safe, and 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!
Goodbye, Mother.
Which hand?
Right.
Fienchen asked where the stars disappear to in the day.
We will meet again.
Stand fast!
That's enough.
Leave me.
Just leave!
Why must it be you who remains here with me?
What do I do if he doesn't come back?
I've sacrificed so much.
I know you have.
What if these dark days are never over?
What if everything I've done wasn't worth anything?
All that we can do is continue to hope…
and keep going.
For now.