Habsburg Crypt
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My latest Europe trip | Posted:
Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:58 pm
In the Habsburg Crypt there are, as you would imagine, many sarcophagi (sp?). Over 600 years worth!
There is a story attached to the next Pic. Traditionally, all the Habsburgs were Catholic. Which wasn't a problem until one of them married a Protestant. And that wasn't a problem until she died.
The question - Was she allowed to be interred in the family crypt?
The Priest said NO!. This caused a furore in the family. Some said she should be interred there, others said no. A compromise needed to be reached.
So, after consultation with the priest, they made an agreement. Yes, she could be buried there - or part of her at least!
What normally happened was that for mumification they took out the intestines and placed them in an urn. this happened with all of them. But the Priest said that she could be interred there if :
1. Her intestines were placed in an urn and shipped elsewhere.
2. Her heart also had to be placed in an urn and sent to a Protestant church for interrment.
3. The rest of her could be interred in the crypt.
They agreed and thus it was done.
After many years the 3 parts of her were once again re-unitied and so here is a picture of her sarcophagus, with the 2 urns on top - one containing her intestines and the other her heart. Believe it or Not!
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