On June 12, 1875, Austrian Ferdinand I passed away in Jerusalem. Following his last wish, Franz held a state funeral for him in Jerusalem.
Ferdinand I did not have a strong presence in Austria, nor did he make any notable contributions in his life, and he certainly did not have a bad reputation; he left the image of a "good old man" behind.
The funeral was grand, with all guests already present, having just attended Franz's coronation ceremony and still sightseeing the landmarks and historical sites of Jerusalem.
Of course, that was just a courtesy expression. In reality, Jerusalem was one big construction site, with the city's buildings being reconstructed according to the Vatican's wishes; there was nothing pretty to look at.
The truth was that Franz had notified everyone, European nobility are all family, some closer, some more distant, but relatives all the same. Since they were already there, naturally they could not fail to pay their respects.
