Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen

Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen (29 September 1823 – 29 July 1889) was an Austrian noble and civil servant who served as the Governor of Liechtenstein from 1861 to 1884. Having grown up in Vienna in a noble family, he worked in the government of Lower Austria, and was successively a district administrator in Poysdorf and Korneuburg, and then head of the district office at Valtice, before taking up his position in Liechtenstein. As governor of the principality, he was tasked with overseeing the introduction of its 1862 constitution as well as various other reforms. He resigned in ill health in 1884 and died just under five years later, having been created a baron by the Prince of Liechtenstein in 1884.

Early life Hausen was born on 29 September 1823 at Salzburg in the Austrian Empire, the son of Karl von Hausen, an imperial and royal postmaster, and his wife Katharina, née von Demling. His paternal family, of Franconian extraction, had been elevated to the hereditary nobility by Emperor Francis II in 1797, under the name "von Hausen". He grew up in Vienna, attending a high school before studying law at the Theresian Academy.

Early career

Austrian civil service From 1845 Hausen worked as an intern in the government of Lower Austria. From 1850 to 1854 he was the district administrator of Poysdorf, then Korneuburg from 1854 to 1855. He became head of the district office in Valtice. During this time, he played a role in managing the response to a cholera pandemic in the district. As a result, he was awarded honorary citizenship in Valtice in 1861. In April 1861, Hausen was appointed by Johann II as the Governor of Liechtenstein, succeeding Michael Menzinger. In this position, he acted as a mediator between the constitutional council and Johann II, and he also managed to maintain public trust in the government. It was heavily inspired by the constitution of Vorarlberg and largely addressed the demands of the revolutionaries in Liechtenstein. Most notably in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 Johann II placed the Liechtenstein military at the disposal of Austria. However, the Landtag had not been consulted regarding the deployment, and the war was unpopular among the population; as such, it faced resistance from the Landtag. As a result, he promised a loan to the country and refused to have his men fight against other Germans.

Hausen was awarded honorary citizenship in Liechtenstein on 8 July 1869 by Johann II by recommendation of the Landtag. He was made a Liechtenstein baron in 1884. Starting from the 1870s, he developed a heart condition which impeded him from his duties and eventually led to his resignation as Governor on 23 September 1884.

Following his resignation as Governor, Hausen moved to Innsbruck. He died on 29 July 1889 in Lindau, aged 65 years old.