Baron Karl von Macchio
Encyclopedia
Karl Freiherr von Macchio (23 February 1859 – 1 April 1945), was an Austro-Hungarian
diplomat active before and during World War I
.
) on 23 February 1859 into a noble family originating from Lombardy
. After studies in law, he joined the Austro-Hungarian foreign service
in 1881 and served in Constantinople
, Bucharest
, St. Petersburg and Belgrade
.
In 1899, he was appointed to serve as minister at Cetinje
and then from 1903 in Athens
succeeding Baron Burián von Rajecz
, the future Foreign Minister. In 1907, he was a member of the Austro-Hungarian delegation to the Second Hague Peace Conference. In 1908, he was appointed a Privy Councillor (Geheimer Rat).
In January 1909, Baron von Macchio was appointed by Count Lexa von Aehrenthal, who considered him an "expert in Balkan questions", to serve as Second Section Chief (equivalent to a Head of Political Section) at the Ballhausplatz
. He succeeded Baron Müller von Szentgyörgy
who had been promoted to First Section Chief (equivalent to an Undersecretary
) and would in March 1912 succeed him also in that position. During the July Crisis in 1914, he was therefore one of the closest collaborators of Foreign Minister Count von Berchtold but played a much more marginal role than the chef de cabinet Count von Hoyos and the Second Section Chief Count von Forgách
After the outbreak of war, Baron von Macchio was sent to Rome
on 11 August 1914 on a special mission ("in außerordenlicher Mission") to support the embassy as the ambassador, Mérey
, was ill. As such he was de facto ambassador with the title "außerordentlicher und bevollmächtigter Botschafter mit Titel und Charakter", although Mérey remained officially in charge. His mission in Rome was to prevent Italy from entering the war on the side of the Entente, but as the autumn passed it became increasingly clear that it was rather a question about delaying than preventing an Italian declaration of war against Austria-Hungary.
In January 1915, Baron von Macchio, supported by the German ambassador at Rome, the former Chancellor Prince von Bülow
, sought to persuade Foreign Minister Count Leopold Berchtold|Count Berchtold to cede the Trentino to Italy. As pressure mounted on Count Berchtold to accede in this direction, he was forced by the Hungarian Minister-President Count Tisza
and the Chief of the General Staff General Conrad von Hötzendorf to resign.
Following Italy's declaration of war on 23 May 1915, Baron von Macchio returned to Vienna where he continued in his function as First Section Chief until January 1917. After the war, he worked as a staff member of the Neue Freie Presse
, a Viennese newspaper, covering international affairs.
Prince von Bülow and Matthias Erzberger
blamed Baron von Macchio for the failure of the negotiations to prevent the entry of Italy into the war, but Baron von Macchio vehemently denied this in his memoirs, basing himself on Italian sources to justify his course of action.
Baron von Macchio died in Vienna on 1 April 1945.
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
diplomat active before and during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Life
Born in Hermannstadt (now SibiuSibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
) on 23 February 1859 into a noble family originating from Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
. After studies in law, he joined the Austro-Hungarian foreign service
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service
The Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service was the diplomatic service carrying out the foreign policy of the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the formation of the Dual Monarchy in 1867 until it was dissolved in 1918.- Diplomatic missions :...
in 1881 and served in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, St. Petersburg and Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
In 1899, he was appointed to serve as minister at Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
and then from 1903 in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
succeeding Baron Burián von Rajecz
István Burián
Stephan Burián von Rajecz , commonly called: "Baron von Burian" or "Count Burian" in English language press reports was an Austro-Hungarian politician, diplomat and statesman of Hungarian origin and served as Imperial Foreign Minister during World War I.- Career :Stephan...
, the future Foreign Minister. In 1907, he was a member of the Austro-Hungarian delegation to the Second Hague Peace Conference. In 1908, he was appointed a Privy Councillor (Geheimer Rat).
In January 1909, Baron von Macchio was appointed by Count Lexa von Aehrenthal, who considered him an "expert in Balkan questions", to serve as Second Section Chief (equivalent to a Head of Political Section) at the Ballhausplatz
Ballhausplatz
Ballhausplatz is a square in central Vienna containing the building that for over two hundred years has been the official residence of the most senior Austrian Cabinet Minister, the State Chancellor, today the Chancellor of Austria . As a result, Ballhausplatz is often used as shorthand for the...
. He succeeded Baron Müller von Szentgyörgy
Baron Ladislaus Müller von Szentgyörgy
Ladislaus Freiherr Müller von Szentgyörgy was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat of Hungarian origin serving as Ambassador at Tokyo at the outbreak of World War I.- Life :...
who had been promoted to First Section Chief (equivalent to an Undersecretary
Undersecretary
An under secretary is an executive government official in many countries, frequently a career public servant, who typically acts as a senior administrator or second-in-command to a politically-appointed Cabinet Minister or other government official...
) and would in March 1912 succeed him also in that position. During the July Crisis in 1914, he was therefore one of the closest collaborators of Foreign Minister Count von Berchtold but played a much more marginal role than the chef de cabinet Count von Hoyos and the Second Section Chief Count von Forgách
Count Johann von Forgách
Johann Graf Forgách von Ghymes und Gács , was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat of Hungarian origin who played a prominent role during World War I and in particular the July Crisis.- Life :...
After the outbreak of war, Baron von Macchio was sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on 11 August 1914 on a special mission ("in außerordenlicher Mission") to support the embassy as the ambassador, Mérey
Kajetan von Mérey
Kajetan Mérey von Kapos-Mére , was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat of Hungarian origin serving as Ambassador at Rome at the outbreak of World War I.- Life :...
, was ill. As such he was de facto ambassador with the title "außerordentlicher und bevollmächtigter Botschafter mit Titel und Charakter", although Mérey remained officially in charge. His mission in Rome was to prevent Italy from entering the war on the side of the Entente, but as the autumn passed it became increasingly clear that it was rather a question about delaying than preventing an Italian declaration of war against Austria-Hungary.
In January 1915, Baron von Macchio, supported by the German ambassador at Rome, the former Chancellor Prince von Bülow
Bernhard von Bülow
Bernhard Heinrich Karl Martin von Bülow , named in 1905 Prince von Bülow, was a German statesman who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for three years and then as Chancellor of the German Empire from 1900 to 1909.Bülow was described as possessing every quality except greatness...
, sought to persuade Foreign Minister Count Leopold Berchtold|Count Berchtold to cede the Trentino to Italy. As pressure mounted on Count Berchtold to accede in this direction, he was forced by the Hungarian Minister-President Count Tisza
István Tisza
Count István Tisza de Borosjenő et Szeged was a Hungarian politician, prime minister, and member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences....
and the Chief of the General Staff General Conrad von Hötzendorf to resign.
Following Italy's declaration of war on 23 May 1915, Baron von Macchio returned to Vienna where he continued in his function as First Section Chief until January 1917. After the war, he worked as a staff member of the Neue Freie Presse
Neue Freie Presse
Neue Freie Presse known locally as "Die Presse" was a Viennese newspaper founded by Adolf Werthner together with the journalists Max Friedländer and Michael Etienne on 1 September 1864...
, a Viennese newspaper, covering international affairs.
Prince von Bülow and Matthias Erzberger
Matthias Erzberger
Matthias Erzberger was a German politician. Prominent in the Centre Party, he spoke out against the First World War from 1917 and eventually signed the Armistice with Germany for the German Empire...
blamed Baron von Macchio for the failure of the negotiations to prevent the entry of Italy into the war, but Baron von Macchio vehemently denied this in his memoirs, basing himself on Italian sources to justify his course of action.
Baron von Macchio died in Vienna on 1 April 1945.
Works
- Wahrheit! Fürst Bülow und ich in Rom, 1914/1915, Vienna, Jung Österreich verlag, 1931.
- 'Momentbilder aus der Julikrise 1914', Berliner Monatshefte, no. 14, 1936, pp. 763–788.