Count Karl Sigmund von Hohenwart

Hochgeboren Karl Sigmund Graf von Hohenwart
Count Karl von Hogenwart
6th Minister-President of Cisleithania
In office 7 February 1871 – 30 October 1871
Monarch	Francis Joseph I
Preceded by
Succeeded by	Ludwig Feirherr von Holzgethan
Interior Minister of Cisleithania
In office 7 February 1871 – 30 October 1871
Monarch	Francis Joseph I
Prime Minister	himself
Preceded by	Eduard Graf von Taaffe
Succeeded by	Ludwig Feirherr von Holzgethan
Personal details
Born	(1824-02-12)12 February 1824 Vienna
Died	26 April 1899(1899-04-26) (aged 75)

Count Karl Sigmund von Hohenwart (German: Karl Graf von Hohenwart) (February 12, 1824 in Vienna – April 26, 1899) was an Austrian politician who served as Minister-President of Austria in 1871. Hohenwart’s government attempted to implement a Federalist agreement between Bohemia and the governing Austro-Hungarian Empire. This attempt to conciliate the Bohemian Czechs caused massive criticism, and led to the fall of the Hohenwart government only months after it assumed office.

Karl Hohenwart was a German aristocrat and devout Roman Catholic. He held administrative posts in Carniola and Trentino. In 1868, Hohenwart became the Governor of Upper Austria. Hohenwart was the leader of the Conservative Federalists political faction in Austria. His political beliefs revolved around the view that Federalism and conciliation of Slavs was the only way to preserve the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hohenwart believed that Federalism was only possible with equality between the nationalities of the Empire. Furthermore, Hohenwart believed in dealing only with leading nobles and other members at the top of the social order. Hohenwart distrusted social change.

The victory of Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War (1870) caused a shift in the politics of Austria. Emperor Francis Joseph turned against the Liberals who held the Premiership at the time because they were too enthusiastic for Prussia and its victory. Instead, Emperor Joseph turned to Conservatives willing to conciliate with Slavs. Hohenwart, as leader of the Conservative Federalists, was chosen in order to placate the Slavs with a new federalist system. Also, Emperor Francis Joseph saw Federalism as a way to undercut the Austro-German Liberals.

Emperor Francis Joseph appointed Hohenwart to the Premiership of Austria on February 7, 1871. The Hohenwart Ministry described itself in public statements as a “non-party.” Also, the Hohenwart Ministry stated that its mission was to reconcile the people of Austria along federal lines.