Franz Grillparzer’s most famous and from the outset most controversial historical tragedy,
König Ottokars Glück und Ende[
King Ottokar, His Rise and Fall], was inspired by the meteoric rise of Otakar II Premysl (1253-1278) of Bohemia, who after the death of his brother had become heir apparent and been declared “younger king” during a rebellion against his father. Critics have observed parallels between Grillparzer’s Ottokar and Napoleon Bonaparte, whom the author in his younger years both hated and admired. The drama was also interpreted as a critique of the Hapsburg dynasty, since Rudolf I, who defeated Otakar, was the first of the long line of Austrian Hapsburg monarchs. Otakar had risen from Margrave of Moravia to Duke of Austria and strengthened his claim on the…
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Citation: Lorenz, Dagmar C. G.. "König Ottokars Glück und Ende". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 May 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=14743, accessed 23 November 2024.]
