16 OCTOBER, 2018 – FAKE FACTS 20 JANUARY, 2019 THE PRIVILEGIUM MAIUS AND ITS HISTORY In co-operation with the Austrian State Archives, Kunsthistorisches Museum will show one of the most fascinating forgeries of the Middle Ages and the most famous forged document in Austrian history, the Privilegium maius. The complex of five documents, a creation of the young and ambitious ruler Rudolf IV (1339–65), known as “the Founder”, was long to influence the self-image of the Habsburg dynasty and, as consequence, Austrian history. In the European Year of Cultural Heritage all five manuscripts will be shown together for the first time at an exhibition. The use of falsehoods to influence society and politics to further one’s ideas and aims is not a phenomenon new to our times. Such activities are as old as mankind itself. The European Middle Ages have been called an “Age of Forgeries”. Documents, historical texts, letters, relics, in fact anything that might help to procure legal, economic or other advantage or security, might be used. Of the documents from the Early Middle Ages that have been preserved more than half are considered forgeries. The group of documents which the youthful and aspiring Rudolf IV (ruled 1358–65) commissioned are extraordinary even in this historical context. The idea, implementation, and consequences of these forgeries, which long shaped the self-view of the Habsburg dynasty in the concert of Europe’s great powers up until 1918, are the focus of this exhibition. Duke Rudolf IV had the charter by which Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa raised Austria to a duchy in 1156 rewritten and its terms broadened by four additional documents. Basing himself on purportedly older manuscripts he claimed a privileged position for his country and dynasty. The rank and dignity of the Habsburgs as archdukes was intended to place them on an equal footing with the prince-electors, whose special status in the Holy Roman Empire had been codified by the duke’s father-in-law, Emperor Charles IV (1316–78) in the Golden Bull (1356). The Habsburgs had not been included by Charles IV in this exclusive circle of seven princes, who as the representatives of their territories henceforth elected the sovereign of the Holy Roman Empire. Today these five documents are preserved in the Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, a division of the Austrian State Archives. About 165 years ago researchers were able to prove that these were forgeries dating to the time of Rudolf IV. In a research project a number of experts recently investigated for the first time questions relating to the materials and techniques used. The remarkable findings of the comprehensive material analyses carried out in 2017 and 2018 in the Conservation Science Department of Kunsthistorisches Museum are presented and explained at the exhibition, as are the historical background and consequences of this famed forgery. The presentation is enhanced by spectacular loans, including a copy of the Golden Bull, which is part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, and the statue of Rudolf IV from the Singertor of St. Stephen’s cathedral in Vienna. The statue has been removed from the cathedral especially for this exhibition. It portrays the young duke wearing the archducal coronet, which was one of the most tangible of the special privileges to which he laid claim for himself and his house by the forged Privilegium maius. An exhibition of Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna in co- operation with the Austrian State Archives. Curators: Martina Griesser, Director, Conservation Science Department, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna Thomas Just, Director, Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, Austrian State Archive Kathrin Kininger, Archivist, Austrian State Archives Franz Kirchweger, Curator, Kunstkammer and Imperial Treasury PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS Press photographs are available in the press section of our website free of charge, for your topical reporting: http://press.khm.at/ Privilegium maius Austrian State Archives © BKA Andy Wenzel Privilegium maius Austrian State Archives © BKA Andy Wenzel Privilegium maius Austrian State Archives © BKA Andy Wenzel Privilegium maius Austrian State Archives © BKA Andy Wenzel Privilegium maius Austrian State Archives © BKA Andy Wenzel Privilegium maius Austrian State Archives © BKA Andy Wenzel Golden Bull Austrian State Archives, Haus-, Hof- und Staats-Archiv © Austrian State Archives The city of Vienna confirms the privileges of the House of Habsburg Austrian State Archives © Austrian State Archives Frame of Austrian Archducal Coronet 1764 Kunsthistorisches Museum, Secular Treasury © KHM-Museumsverband Statue of Rudolf IV as Archduke of Austria c. 1359–1365 Vienna, Metropolitan and Cathedral Church of St. Stephen’s, Singertor © KHM-Museumsverband INSTAGRAM UND FACEBOOK Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and get the latest news about the upcoming exhibition and our programme of events and lectures. #kunsthistorischesmuseum VIDEOS For videos about our exhibitions and series of talks as well as other lectures and interviews please go to the YouTube channel of the Kunsthistorisches Museum: www.youtube.com/user/KHMWien CATALOGUE A catalogue in German is going to be published in conjunction with the show. Falsche Tatsachen. Technologische Studien Band 13, 2018 Herausgegeben von Sabine Haag Das Privilegium maius und seine Geschichte Herausgegeben von Martina Griesser, Thomas Just, Kathrin Kininger und Franz Kirchweger ISBN 978-3-99020-183-1 192 Seiten € 24,95 OPENING HOURS AND ENTRANCE FEES Open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Thu, until 9 p.m. (Closed on Mon, 14.1.2019) Annual Ticket € 44 Annual Ticket U25 € 25 Adults € 15 Vienna City Card € 14 Concessions € 11 Groups (of 10 or more) € 11 Children and teens under 19 free Online-Tickets: www.shop.khm.at/en/tickets/ prices are subject to change PRESS CONTACT Nina Auinger-Sutterlüty, MAS (Head of Press and PR) Mag. Sarah Aistleitner T +43 1 525 24 - 4021 /- 4025 [email protected] KHM-Museumsverband Wissenschaftliche Anstalt öffentlichen Rechts Burgring 5, 1010 Vienna www.khm.at.