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Center for Urban History
6 Bohomoltsia Str. Lviv 79005, Ukraine

City in the Empire

From the imperial point of view, Lviv was (or was to become under the Habsburg rule) an organic part of the monarchy, the capital of a crown province and a city with a certain portion of identity. To convey this idea to local elites and the population, special rituals were used, among other things.

In the times of neo-absolutism, after the suppression of the Spring of Nations, imperial and religious rituals were actually the only permitted option of street manifestation.

Over time, when liberal reforms and autonomy allowed local political activists to openly manifest their views, still new and new meanings were imposed on these rituals. This is very well illustrated, for example, by the five visits of Emperor Franz Joseph to Lviv.

Local elites used these opportunities to popularize their ideas or rather to "show themselves" and "show the city" according to their views and beliefs. However, the main thing is that these rituals became an example and a basis for further "street" mass politics.

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Visit of the shah of Persia (1905)

 In 1905 it was the shah's third visit to Lviv. Since Lviv didn't often receive such high-ranking guests, the visit became one of the most important events for local authorities.
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The 550th anniversary of the shoemakers' guild (May 1907)

 In May 1907, Lviv celebrated 550th anniversary of the shoemakers’ guild. In fact, any anniversary "older" than the period of Galicia being under the rule of the Habsburgs is an example of the use of history in national politics, when some relic from the times of, for example, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was interpreted as valuable heritage of previous generations and as an example to follow.
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Honouring the emperor without the emperor

 The symbolic role of Franz Joseph in the system of ideas about imperial power is described in the text about the emperor's visit to Lviv. However, the figure of the emperor was informationally present in the city even in his physical absence. It was quite evident, in particular, during various celebrations, jubilees or anniversaries.
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40th anniversary of the Fire Association Sokół (May 30-31, 1909)

 In 1909, Lviv celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Fire Association Sokół. The anniversary of this association was an opportunity to demonstrate success in city management and to show that a Polish association was capable of effective self-organization. Also, it was an opportunity to "play with one's muscles" as the event had a clearly paramilitary character.
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The murder of the student Adam Kotsko (1910)

 The murder of Adam Kotsko took place in 1910 amidst the riots that broke out over the possible opening of a Ukrainian university. The student was one of the leaders of the Ukrainian student movement here. After the bloody culmination, the struggles switched to a more legal political course.
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