The Good Soldier Švejk

Franz Ferdinand
*18.12.1863 Graz - †28.6.1914 Sarajevo
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Franz Ferdinand was a nephew of emperor Franz Joseph I and from 1889 to 1914 heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. He was murdered in Sarajevo in 1914 together with his wife Sofie Chotek, an event that led to the outbreak of World War I. His full name was Franz Ferdinand von Österreich-Este.

Context

Franz Ferdinand was the Ferdinand Švejk did not know. The novel starts with Mrs Müllerová telling Švejk that "they have killed our Ferdinand". Švejk knows two Ferdinands; one is a servant at a chemists and another one collects dog turds. Not until Mrs. Müllerová reveals that it is the fat religious one from Konopiště, do we understand that she is a talking about the fateful assassination of Sarajevo.

Quote from the novel

„Tak nám zabili Ferdinanda,“ řekla posluhovačka panu Švejkovi, který opustiv před léty vojenskou službu, když byl definitivně prohlášen vojenskou lékařskou komisí za blba, živil se prodejem psů, ošklivých nečistokrevných oblud, kterým padělal rodokmeny. ... more

Also written:Ferdinand Hašek

Mrs Müllerová

Context

Mrs Müllerová was a servant in the house where Švejk lived. The first dialogue in the novel is between the two, they discuss the news of the shots in Sarajevo where Franz Ferdinand and his wife were murdered by Serb nationalists. Mrs Müllerová is subsequently not mentioned again until Švejk was set free in chapter 6. Then his room had already rented out to someone else. The next chapter boasts the famous scene where old Mrs. Müllerová pushes Švejk to the military in a wheelchair. The last time the good soldier is at home (chapter 10) he finds that poor Mrs. Müllerová had been arrested the very evening she had rolled him off to the army and she was now in the concentration camp at Steinhof.

Quote from the novel

„Tak nám zabili Ferdinanda,“ řekla posluhovačka panu Švejkovi, který opustiv před léty vojenskou službu, když byl definitivně prohlášen vojenskou lékařskou komisí za blba, živil se prodejem psů, ošklivých nečistokrevných oblud, kterým padělal rodokmeny. Kromě tohoto zaměstnání byl stižen rheumatismem a mazal si právě kolena opodeldokem. „Kerýho Ferdinanda, paní Müllerová?“ otázal se Švejk, nepřestávaje si masírovat kolena, „já znám dva Ferdinandy. ... more

Also written:Paní Müllerová cz Frau Müller de

Ferdinand

Context

Ferdinand was a servant at the chemist's Průša and drank a bottle of hair oil by mistake. He was the first Ferdinand Švejk knew.

Quote from the novel

„Kerýho Ferdinanda, paní Müllerová?“ otázal se Švejk, nepřestávaje si masírovat kolena, „já znám dva Ferdinandy. Jednoho, ten je sluhou u drogisty Průši a vypil mu tam jednou omylem láhev nějakého mazání na vlasy, a potom znám ještě Ferdinanda Kokošku, co sbírá ty psí hovínka. Vobou není žádná škoda.“ ... more

Průša

Context

Průša was the the chemist's where Ferdinand was an assistant.

Quote from the novel

Jednoho, ten je sluhou u drogisty Průši a vypil mu tam jednou omylem láhev nějakého mazání na vlasy, a potom znám ještě Ferdinanda Kokošku, co sbírá ty psí hovínka. Vobou není žádná škoda.“ ... more

Ferdinand Kokoška

Context

Ferdinand Kokoška collected dog turds. He was the second Ferdinand that Švejk knew.

Quote from the novel

Jednoho, ten je sluhou u drogisty Průši a vypil mu tam jednou omylem láhev nějakého mazání na vlasy, a potom znám ještě Ferdinanda Kokošku, co sbírá ty psí hovínka. Vobou není žádná škoda.“ ... more

Sophie Chotek
*1.3.1868 Stuttgart - †28.6.1914 Sarajevo
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Sophie Chotek was a Bohemian noble lady, married to the heir to the Austrian and Hungarian thrones, Franz Ferdinand. She was killed in sarajevo together with her husband. Sophie was never accepted by the Habsburg imperial family due to her non-royal background. The children of Sophie and Franz Ferdinand therefore had no rights in succession to the throne. Her name was Sophie Maria Josephine Albina Gräfin Chotek von Chotkowa und Wognin.

Context

Sophie Chotek is never mentioned by name in the novel, just refrerred to as the Archduchess.

Quote from the novel

„Práskli ho v Sarajevu, milostpane, z revolveru, vědí. Jel tam s tou svou arcikněžnou v automobilu.“ ... more

Also written:Žofie Chotková cz Sophie Chotek von Chotkowa de

God
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God is a mythical figure from the Bible and the Qur'an and is the most important symbol in the three monotheistic world religions of Semitic origin: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The word "God" can also have a more general meaning, including in polytheistic religions like the old Nordic Ásatrú.

Context

God is first referred to by Švejk when he states to Mrs Müllerová that the Archduke Ferdinand now rests with God, obviously referring to the Christian god. God is mentioned on numerous occasions in the novel, often through expletives like Himmelherrgott!.

Quote from the novel

„Tak se podívejme, paní Müllerová, v automobilu. Jó, takovej pán si to může dovolit, a ani nepomyslí, jak taková jízda automobilem může nešťastně skončit. A v Sarajevu k tomu, to je v Bosně, paní Müllerová. To asi udělali Turci. My holt jsme jim tu Bosnu a Hercegovinu neměli brát. Tak vida, paní Müllerová. On je tedy pan arcivévoda už na pravdě boží. Trápil se dlouho?“ ... more

Also written:Bůh cz Gott de Gud nn

Luigi Lucheni
*22.4.1873 Paris - †19.10.1910 Genève
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Luigi Lucheni was a French-born anarchist of Italian descent who lived most of his life in Switzerland. He murdered empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary in Geneva in 1898. He was sentenced to life for this (Switzerland had abolished the death penalty) and later committed suicide in prison. The name is often written Luccheni, and this is also used by Hašek.

Context

Luigi Lucheni is mentioned by Švejk in conversations with Mrs Müllerová when he displays his knowledge on royal murders.

Quote from the novel

Hlavní věcí je vyčíhat na ten moment, až takovej pán jede kolem. Jako, jestli se pamatujou, na toho pana Luccheniho, co probod naši nebožku Alžbětu tím pilníkem. Procházel se s ní. ... more

Also written:Luccheni Hašek

Elisabeth of Bavaria
*24.12.1837 München - †10.9.1898 Genève
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Elisabeth of Bavaria was empress of Austria, queen of Hungary, also called Sissi, unhappily married to emperor Franz Joseph I. Elisabeth was killed in Geneva by the anarchist Luigi Lucheni. Her full name was Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, Herzogin in Bayern.

Context

Elisabeth of Bavaria is mentioned by Švejk when he is reeling off for Mrs Müllerová his list of royal murders.

Quote from the novel

Hlavní věcí je vyčíhat na ten moment, až takovej pán jede kolem. Jako, jestli se pamatujou, na toho pana Luccheniho, co probod naši nebožku Alžbětu tím pilníkem. Procházel se s ní. ... more

Also written:Alžběta Bavorská cz

John Moses Browning
*21.1.1855 Ogden - †26.11.1926 Liège
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The weapon that killed Franz Ferdinand.

John Moses Browning was an American firearms designer. He made pistols, rifles, shotguns and machine-guns. Franz Ferdinand was actually killed with a Belgian-made semi-automatic Browning-pistol (FN Model 1910).

Context

John Moses Browning is mentioned by Švejk when he explains for Mrs Müllerová what he would have used if he was to kill an archduke.

Quote from the novel

„To jde náramně rychle, paní Müllerová, strašně rychle. Já bych si na takovou věc koupil brovnink. Vypadá to jako hračka, ale můžete s tím za dvě minuty postřílet dvacet arcivévodů, hubenejch nebo tlustejch. ... more

Bretschneider

Context

Bretschneider was an undercover agent working for the state police. He met Švejk at U Kalicha and tried to trick him and the host Palivec into compromising themselves in connection with the Sarajevo murders. He succeeded in both cases. We hear about Bretschneider for the last time in Chapter 6 when Švejk has been released after his arrest. This time he did not get Švejk on the hook, and the author sends him out of the story in the most miserable manner by revealing that the detective was devoured by the very dogs he had bought from Švejk. Bretschneider is actually the only person taking part in the plot who explicitely gets killed.

Quote from the novel

V hospodě „U kalicha“ seděl jen jeden host. Byl to civilní strážník Bretschneider, stojící ve službách státní policie. ... more

Palivec

Context

Palivec was landlord at the pub U Kalicha and known for his foul mouth. He was also a man who had read a lot without this having refined his language the slightest. He was arrested by detective Bretschneider, having uttered an unfortunate sentence about flies shitting on a portrait of the Emperor. For this he got 10 years hard labour, and the epilogue to Part one reveals that he served his sentence until the end of the war. In the same epilogue the author presents Palivec as a symbol of his right to reproduce things as they were told, without having to embellish it to placate the more sensitive part of the readership or to satisfy the demands for decent language in literature.

Quote from the novel

V hospodě „U kalicha“ seděl jen jeden host. Byl to civilní strážník Bretschneider, stojící ve službách státní policie. Hostinský Palivec myl tácky a Bretschneider se marně snažil navázat s ním vážný rozhovor. Palivec byl známý sprosťák, každé jeho druhé slovo byla zadnice nebo hovno. Přitom byl ale sečtělý a upozorňoval každého, aby si přečetl, co napsal o posledním předmětě Victor Hugo, když líčil poslední odpověď staré gardy Napoleona Angličanům v bitvě u Waterloo. ... more

Franz Joseph I
*18.8.1830 Wien - †21.11.1916 Wien
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Franz Joseph I was Emperor of Austria and from the "Ausgleich" (Vienna Accord) in 1867 also king of Hungary. His reign lasted from 1848 to 1916 and is the third longest in European history. He ascended the throne when he was 18 years old, after the revolution of 1848. He was regarded as very conservative during his first period in power. The young Emperor was initially unpopular and in 1853 he survived an attempt on his life. The next year he married his cousin, Elisabeth of Bavaria. They had four children. The Emperor suffered a number of personal tragedies: the oldest daughter died when she was two, his brother Maximillian was executed in Mexico, his son and heir Rudolf committed suicide, and in 1914 his nephew Franz Ferdinand was murdered in Sarajevo. The emperor was quite unpopular in the Czech Lands as he refused to be crowned as King of Bohemia.

His full name was Franz Joseph Karl von Habsburg.

Context

Franz Joseph I is mentioned in the first chapter, referred to as "His Imperial Highness" but is crops up several times later in the novel with his real name. He was the theme of the discussion at U Kalicha after Palivec revealed that the flies had crapped on his portrait.

Quote from the novel

„To se samo sebou rozumí, paní Müllerová,“ řekl Švejk, konče masírování kolen, „kdybyste chtěla zabít pana arcivévodu, nebo císaře pána, tak byste se jistě s někým poradila. ... more

Also written:Francis Joseph I Parrot František Josef I/Franz Josef I Sadlon František Josef I cz Franjo Josip I hr I. Ferenc József hu Franciszek Józef I pl František Jozef I sk Franc Jožef I sl Франц Йосиф I ua

Victor Hugo
*28.2.1802 Besançon - †22.5.1885 Paris
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Victor Hugo was a French author and politician who published poetry, drama and novels. In France, he is regarded as one of the country's leading poets. His most famous novel is probably "Les Misérables". Hugo was also an important political activist and had to go into exile for some years. After his return in 1870 he was elected member of Senate. Apart from this he was known as an advocate of human rights.

Context

Victor Hugo was an author Palivec had read and liked to quote. Palivec put forward Hugo in defense of his vulgar language. Indirectly he refers to a passage in "Les Misérables" where the famous "mot de Cambronne", which is connected to Napoleons old guard in the battle of Waterloo, is quoted. General Cambronne is said to have given this simple answer to general Colville when the latter insisted he surrender: "Merde!".

Quote from the novel

Palivec byl známý sprosťák, každé jeho druhé slovo byla zadnice nebo hovno. Přitom byl ale sečtělý a upozorňoval každého, aby si přečetl, co napsal o posledním předmětě Victor Hugo, když líčil poslední odpověď staré gardy Napoleona Angličanům v bitvě u Waterloo. ... more

Makovec

Context

Makovec was one of Švejks superiors when he did national service. Švejk refers to him as obrlajtnant Makovec (senior lieutenant) and portrays him as a nasty brute and a fanatic disciplinarian.

Quote from the novel

Náš obrlajtnant Makovec, ten nám vždycky říkal: ,Disciplina, vy kluci pitomí, musí bejt, jinak byste lezli jako vopice po stromech, ale vojna z vás udělá lidi, vy blbouni pitomí? A není to pravda? Představte si park, řekněme na Karláku, a na každým stromě jeden voják bez discipliny. Z toho jsem vždycky měl největší strach.“ ... more

Lazarus
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Lazarus was the name of two persons from the new testament. One of them was a pauper in St. Lucas' gospel, mentioned in a parable. The second one was Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Martha and Mary and who was very close to Jesus. It was this Lazarus that Jesus resurrected. Švejk is however probably talking about the poor Lazarus.

Context

Lazarus was mentioned in a dialogue when Švejk told Bretschneider that he was tied up like Lazarus for two days after having got arrested with 20 buttons missing on his uniform.

Quote from the novel

Jednou se pamatuji, že mně scházelo při takové přehlídce dvacet knoflíků u munduru a že mě zavřeli za to na čtrnáct dní do ajnclíku a dva dni jsem ležel jako lazar, svázanej do kozelce. ... more

Also written:Lazar cz

Břetislav Ludvík

Context

Břetislav Ludvík was a cattle trader who was, according to one of Svejks numerous and long anecdotes, stabbed on the square in České Budějovice. This story associated cattle traders with the imperial family and contributed greatly to Svejks arrest by Bretschneider.

Quote from the novel

U nás před léty v Budějovicích probodli na trhu v nějaké takové malé hádce jednoho obchodníka s dobytkem, nějakého Břetislava Ludvíka. ... more

Bohuslav Ludvík

Context

Bohuslav Ludvík was the son of Břetislav Ludvík in Svejks anecdote about cattle traders. He committed suicide by jumping in the Vltava from the bridge in Český Krumlov.

Quote from the novel

U nás před léty v Budějovicích probodli na trhu v nějaké takové malé hádce jednoho obchodníka s dobytkem, nějakého Břetislava Ludvíka. Ten měl syna Bohuslava, a kam přišel prodávat prasata, nikdo od něj nic nekoupil a každý říkal: ,To je syn toho probodnutýho, to bude asi také pěknej lump.’ Musel skočit v Krumlově s toho mostu do Vltavy a museli ho vytáhnout, museli ho křísit, museli z něho pumpovat vodu a von jim musel skonat v náručí lékaře, když mu dal nějakou injekci.“ ... more

Pinďour

Context

Pinďour was a game keeper from Zliv. He figured in an inapproriate anecdote that Švejk told Bretschneider in "U Kalicha". In this story water bailiffs and pig gelders are subtly compared to the imperial family. Pinďour was shot by poachers. He had an ugly name according to Švejk. The name means "small dick" but this is not directly stated in the novel.

Quote from the novel

To byl ve Zlivi u Hluboké před léty jeden hajný, měl takové ošklivé jméno Pinďour. ... more

Pepík Šavlovic

Context

Pepík Šavlovic was a gamekeeper from Mydlovary in the anecdote Švejk told at U Kalicha (see Pinďour). He got married to the widow of Pinďour, and was like him shot by poachers. The analogy towards the killings of Sarajevo didn't serve Švejk well at all.

Quote from the novel

To byl ve Zlivi u Hluboké před léty jeden hajný, měl takové ošklivé jméno Pinďour. Zastřelili ho pytláci a zůstala po něm vdova s dvěma dítkami a vzala si za rok opět hajného, Pepíka Šavlovic z Mydlovar. A zastřelili jí ho taky. ... more

Jareš

Context

Jareš was a pond warden from Ražice in a story Švejk told at U Kalicha (see Pinďour). He was married to the widow of Pinďour and Pepík Šavlovic but drowned during fishing. The widow finally married a pig gelder from Vodnany but was killed by him. The pig gelder uttered the most unsavoury phrases about the emperor when he was hung in Písek, and this anecdote surely contributed to Svejks arrest.

Antonín Jareš was the grandfather of Jaroslav Haš ek and was a pond warden in Ražice. The name is used again on a few occasions later in the novel.

Quote from the novel

Tak jí odporučili porybnýho Jareše z ražické bašty. A co byste řekli, utopili jí ho při lovení rybníka, a měla s ním dvě děti. ... more

Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
*21.08.1858 Laxenburg - †30.01.1889 Mayerling
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Rudolf of Austria-Hungary was the Crown Prince and heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary and the only son of Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth of Bavaria. He committed suicide together with his lover Maria Vetsera at Mayerling castle outside Vienna. Rudolf suffered from strong depressions but there still is still some debate over wheter it really was suicide. The death certificate mentions "spiritual confusion." The drama of Mayerling has been filmed many times, including in a French/British production from 1968 with Omar Sharif in the role as Rudolf. The free-thinking crown price lived a dissolute life, got dependent on morphine after treatment for VD and infected his wife with gonorrhoea, which made her sterile. Rudolf was politically liberal and associated Free Thought. His political attitudes prevented him from being included in the influential circles of the court, his father keeping him at distance.

Context

Rudolf of Austria-Hungary was mentioned by Švejk as he in front of Bretschneider reeled off the personal tragedies the emperor Franz Joseph had suffered in his lifetime.

Quote from the novel

Syna Rudolfa ztratil v útlém věku, v plné mužské síle. ... more

Also written:Rudolf av Austerrike-Ungarn cz Rudolf von Österreich-Ungarn de

Johann Orth
*25.11.1852 Firenze - †1890 Cabo del Horno
Wikipedia deenitsv Google search

Johann Orth was Archduke of the house of Habsburg and Prince of Tuscany. His real name was Johann Salvator, he took the common name Orth in 1889 after having reneged on his imperial privileges. This happened after a conflict with the ossified court as Salvator wanted to marry below his rank. He took the new name after a castle he owned in Salzkammergut.

Orth was a good friend of Crown Prince Rudolf and shared his liberal political views. Orth went missing after a boat trip near Cape Horn in 1890. What happens is yet unknown. He was declared dead in 1911, but in 1945 a certain Hugo Køhler from Kristiansand claimed on his death bed that he was Johann Orth.

His full name was: Giovanni Nepomuceno Salvatore Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Ferdinando Baldassares Lodovico Carlo Zenobio Antonino d'Asburgo-Lorena.

Context

Johann Orth was mentioned by Švejk when he listed the tragedies that had hit the Emperor during his lifetime.

Quote from the novel

Manželku Alžbětu mu propíchli pilníkem, potom se mu ztratil Jan Orth; bratra, císaře mexického, mu zastřelili v nějaké pevnosti u nějaké zdi. ... more

Also written:Jan Orth cz Giovanni Orth it

Maximillian of Mexico
*6.6.1832 Wien - †19.6.1867 Santiago de Querétaro
Wikipedia czdeenesno Google search

Maximillian of Mexico was an Archduke of the house of Hapsburg, and brother of Franz Joseph I. He was installed as Emperor of Mexico by the French in 1863, but was executed in 1867 after a rebellion led by the liberal Benito Juárez.

His full name was Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph von Österreich .

Context

Maximillian of Mexico is referred to by Švejk as the Emperor of Mexico when he tells Bretschneider about all the tragedies that hit Franz Joseph I. He was executed by some wall in some fortress in Mexico according to Švejk.

Maximillian is mentioned again in the introduction to lieutenant Dub i Book Three, now by name.

Quote from the novel

Manželku Alžbětu mu propíchli pilníkem, potom se mu ztratil Jan Orth; bratra, císaře mexického, mu zastřelili v nějaké pevnosti u nějaké zdi. ... more

Also written:Maxmilián I. Mexický cz Maximiliano I de México es

Mrs Palivcová

Context

Mrs Palivcová was left crying in U Kalicha at the end of chapter 1 when her husband was escorted out by Bretschneider. Palivec consoled her and told that she need not fear the police just because some flies had shitted on a portrait of the Emperor.

Mrs Palivcová pops up again in chapter 6 after Švejk was released from jail. In chapter 11, she refuses to serve Švejk because she thinks he is a deserter. This is the last time we hear about her.

Quote from the novel

A zatímco vedli Švejka do přijímací kanceláře, „U kalicha“ předával pan Palivec hospodu své plačící ženě, těše ji svým zvláštním způsobem: „Neplač, neřvi, co mně mohou udělat kvůli posranýmu obrazu císaře pána?“ ... more

Also written:Paní Palivcová cz