“To give our utmost…”—the title of the exhibition in the Gallery of the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany was derived from Otto von Habsburg’s recollection written in 1972 in which he assessed his father’s life. He concluded that the last Austro-Hungarian monarch’s career was successful—despite all external failures and losses—because his actions were always in accordance with the guiding principle of life described in the title.
In his welcome speech, Father Norbert Jeromos Mihályi, the prior of the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany, highlighted that the “royal-guardian abbey” was a fitting place for the exhibition. The building is a confluence of the beginning and the final period of the kingdom of Hungary since it is the resting place of King Andrew I, who died in the mid-11th century, and at the same time, also the site where the beatified ruler of Hungary spent his last days before the exile in 1921. The monk urged that Charles I (IV)’s life, with all his efforts striving for peace, serve as a guide and a beacon for all of us.
Tibor Navracsics underlined the importance of seeking peace and forging alliances based on the last emperor and king’s oeuvre. The Hungarian Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development considered that a happy nation is one whose leaders conscientiously and wholeheartedly live with it—the reign of Charles of Austria was a prime example of this. The value of these ideas became clear to visitors as they strolled through the exhibition about the last Hungarian monarch, who sought to renew the concept of Central Europe and emphasise the significance of the smaller nations.
The Director of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation, Gergely Prőhle, remarked that in the course of the processing of our namesake’s heritage, it has become more and more evident how much influence the paternal legacy had on Otto’s life and activities, focusing on the deep Christian commitment of both of them. The values pointed out by Tibor Navracsics were reflected in Otto’s work to strengthen European integration. At the same time, the optimism stemming from his faith also guided his actions, thus confirming that Christian commitment and devotion to the Church are compatible with modern thinking. The exhibition on the occasion of this special anniversary also reflects these interconnections.
The exhibition’s material came primarily from the Otto von Habsburg Foundation’s collection of photographs, documents, and objects. The display cases were filled with rare treasures such as Queen Zita’s kneeling cushion from the coronation and plaques commemorating the event, King Charles’ silver rosary and prayer cards upon which small pieces of linen used by the former monarch were sewn. The host made a special mention of the Tihany missal, which was a gift from the Abbey to the Habsburg family. To conclude the exhibition, visitors could watch original film clips from the life of Charles I (IV) and his family or play with the jigsaw puzzle designed for children.
The opening ceremony included a violin performance by András Vavrinecz, followed by a reception on the terrace of the Abbey building.
The exhibition was curated by Eszter Fábry, archivist of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation, and the graphics were created by Laura Balázs and Szilveszter Dékány.
Special thanks to Prior Norbert Jeromos Mihályi, Vice-Prior Father Gábor Ágoston Barkó, Director of the Benedictine Abbey Museum, and Eszter Simor and Mariann Szlavkovszky, museologists of the Abbey, for their helpful cooperation!
The exhibition will be on display until 3 November 2024, during the opening hours of the Museum of the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany.
Photos: Gábor Halász
