From the village to the highest circles... and to war

Karel was born to family of František and Anna Vachuška in 1873 in Sedlo, a small village located on the border of today's South Bohemian and Pilsen regions. At least six generations of Karel's ancestors had lived in this village, so it was to be expected that he would settle there and follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a wheelwright like his grandfather and great-grandfather. However, research in registers and other sources reveals Karel's presence in the highest circles of the Austro-Hungarian state.

Although his ancestors' marriages took place very close to Sedlo, Karel married at the age of 32 in České Budějovice, unusually far from his homeland. However, three other pieces of information from the marriage record are even more interesting. His place of residence was listed as Krakow, Poland. Given the travel options available at the time, he must have had a good reason to live there. Further information indicates that he was a soldier, even a first lieutenant in the 20th Landwehr Regiment. This was probably the reason why he lived in Krakow. And now the most important thing... In 1906, Karel married Veronika Katharina Effmertová, daughter of Antonín Jan Effmert, member of the Czech Provincial Assembly and imperial councilor. Karel's father-in-law was an imperial councilor.

But Karel's story does not end there. Antonín Effmert's second daughter Miloslava married František Fiedler. The same František Fiedler who had already been a member of the Austrian Imperial Council and the Czech Provincial Assembly for five years and later became Minister of Trade for Cisleithania... and the same František Fiedler who was Karl's best man at his wedding! Karel Vachuška, originally the son of a wheelwright from a small village in southern Bohemia, became good friends with a man who went on to become Minister of Trade for Cisleithania. Who would have expected that?

Record of the marriage of Karel Vachuška, where the bride's father Antonín Effmert and Karel's witness František Fiedler are recorded.

Source: State Regional Archives in Třeboň; Collection of registers of the South Bohemian Region; inv. no. 748. Register O; České Budějovice. Dates: 1905–1908.

During his lifetime, Karel rose through the ranks of the military. He was part of the 20th and 15th Landwehr Infantry Regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Army. He participated in World War I, which proved fatal for him. In 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Karel appeared in newspaper articles in lists of the fallen dated September 29, 1914. According to these articles, Karel died as a captain in the 15th Landwehr Infantry Regiment.

There are many such stories written in registers and newspapers. What stories do your ancestors have?