Editing Ferdinand I of Austria (section)

=== 1848 Revolution ===
[[File:Kaiser Ferdinand I.jpg|thumb|Ferdinand I in the uniform of an Austrian field marshal, by Eduard Edlinger, 1843]]
As the revolutionaries of 1848 were marching on the palace, he is supposed to have asked Metternich for an explanation. When Metternich answered that they were starting a revolution, Ferdinand is supposed to have said "But are they allowed to do that?" ([[Viennese German]]: ''Ja, dürfen's denn des?'') He was convinced by [[Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg]] to abdicate in favour of his nephew, [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph]] (the next in line was Ferdinand's younger brother [[Archduke Franz Karl of Austria|Franz Karl]], but he was persuaded by his wife [[Princess Sophie of Bavaria|Sophie]] to renounce his succession rights in favour of his son) who would occupy the Austrian throne for the next 68 years.

Ferdinand recorded the events in his diary:

{{quote|The affair ended with the new Emperor kneeling before his old Emperor and Lord, that is to say, me, and asking for a blessing, which I gave him, laying both hands on his head and making the sign of the Holy Cross ... then I embraced him and kissed our new master, and then we went to our room. Afterwards I and my dear wife heard Holy Mass ... After that I and my dear wife packed our bags.}}