Unveiling Forgotten Ties: The Franz Joseph Order, Carlos Boríes, and Austro-Hungarian Diplomacy in Chile (1898–1904)

 

Rare Monograph on Austro-Hungarian Diplomacy and Chile (1898–1904)

As a lawyer and historical researcher, I have carried out extensive archival work in the National Library of Spain, as well as in numerous archives and libraries across Europe and the Americas. Over the years, I have authored several historical works now held in prestigious academic and national collections on both continents.

My research focuses on Chile’s connections with Europe and the broader Atlantic world. In this line, I have recently published a concise yet meaningful monograph:

Concesión de la Cruz de la Orden de Franz Josef a Carlos Boríes, Gobernador de Magallanes (1898–1904)

Though only 48 pages long, this book sheds light on a rarely documented episode of early 20th‑century diplomacy between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Chile. This full-color edition includes portraits of the main historical figures, facsimiles of original documents, and a detailed explanation of:

• The significance and protocol of the Franz Joseph Order,

• The reasons behind its prestigious concession,

• The ceremonial act of certification and the awarding of the medal,

• And its place within the broader diplomatic currents of the time.

Beyond diplomacy, the book also highlights Governor Carlos Boríes' role in fostering German and Austro-Hungarian immigration in the Magallanes region. He not only protected these communities but also founded schools, libraries, hospitals, and German cultural institutions that profoundly shaped the region’s development.

The research draws on evidence from contemporary national publications and original documents retrieved from the Imperial Archives in Vienna. Despite its limited print run, this work is already held by institutions such as the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut in Berlin, the Austrian National Library in Vienna, the Hispanic Library of Madrid, and Harvard University, which recently confirmed its acquisition. The Library of Congress (USA) has also confirmed the inclusion of my previous works in its distinguished collection.

With this publication, my aim is to rescue a forgotten yet significant chapter of Chilean-European diplomacy, adding new insights into the historical links that connected Chile with Central Europe at the dawn of the 20th century.