100 years ago, on 21 November 2016, Franz Joseph I. died. During his 68-year reign the monarch also had a great influence on the 'Habsburg Home University' in Vienna. The resignation of his uncle as Emperor as well as Franz Joseph's accession to the throne can already be considered as a result of the revolution in 1848, in which the Academic Legion played a major part.
In 1849, Leo von Thun-Hohenstein, Minister of Education appointed by Franz Joseph, carried out far-reaching reforms that laid the foundation for the development of a modern university (Freedom of Teaching and Learning).
In 1854 Emperor Franz Joseph also decided to build the new representative university building, which was not opened until 1884, however.
The University celebrated the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne in 1898 with the publication of a festive volume. Moreover, the long-standing monarch of the Habsburgs has become part of the culture of representation at the University of Vienna.
