Correspondence from Friedrich Ferdinand graf von Beust, circa 1871-1882, many letters undated

Series — Box: 1, Folder: (9 folders total)

Call Number: MS 30:B

Scope and Contents

Beust met Novikova when he was still chancellor, in Vienna in 1871. He began writing to her thereafter, in French, and the series includes social notes as well as correspondence with political gossip and confidences. Some letters contain verse.

Dates

Creation: circa 1871-1882, many letters undated

Biography of F. F. graf von Beust (1809-1886)

Beust was minister of foreign affairs for the Saxony German state from 1849 to 1866 and a leading member of the Saxony government. He led the smaller German states in opposition against Otto von Bismarck's Prussian expansion, and after Prussia defeated Austria in 1866, Beust was forced to resign. Beust was thereafter made foreign minister of Austria in 1866 and Austrian minister-president in 1867. He was responsible for restoring constitutional government to the Austro-Hungarian empire, and also in 1867 he was made Chancellor for the empire and a count.

In 1871 Beust announced an entente with Prussia and Bismarck. He was thereafter dismissed from office and served as the Austrian ambassador to London from 1871 to 1878, then the Parisian ambassador from 1878-1882. He retired to his Altenberg villa in 1882.