Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream (2016)

Episode Overview

In the series finale, Simon Sebag Montefiore chronicles the tumultuous fall of the Habsburg dynasty. Emperor Franz Josef grappled with challenges from figures like Napoleon III and Bismarck, faced the tragic suicide of his son Rudolf, and endured the heartbreaking assassination of his beloved wife, Sisi. The empire and its royal family spiraled out of control. Meanwhile, Vienna thrived amid the Habsburgs' decline. The city became a hub of modern thought with Freud's theories and the sensual works of secessionist artists such as Klimt and Schiele, even as the shadows of Hitler and Stalin loomed. It was here that the sparks of World War I ignited and the seeds of World War II were sown.