Image:Mayerling.final letter.jpg

Warning: This photo shows Royal Princess Stephanie of Belgium, wife (widow) of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, and NOT the baroness Mary Vetsera. See and compare different photos of Mary and Stephanie in enwiki, dewiki, huwiki, also in Commons. Akela3.

[edit] Summary

The first of the undeciphered names in the German text may be "Latour".

I believe that the second name that cannot be decpihered is 'Wowo', a nickname for the barones Von Welden, Rudolf's nanny.

[edit] Licensing

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[edit] Text of the letter

For anyone interested in the text in this letter :

Liebe Stephanie!

Du bist von meiner

Gegenwart und Plage

befreit; werde glücklich

auf Deine Art.

Sei gut für die

arme Kleine, die das

einzige ist, was von

mir übrig bleibt.

Allen Bekannten,

besonders Bombelles,

Spindler, Latour, Wowo,

Gisela, Leopold, etc.

etc. sage meine

letzten Grüße.

Ich gehe ruhig in

den Tod, der allein

meinen guten Namen

retten kann.

Sei herzlichst

umarmt. Dein

Dich liebender

Rudolph

English translation:

Dear Stephanie, you are now rid of my presence and annoyance; be happy in your own way. Take care of the poor wee one, she is all that remains of me. To all acquaintances, especially Bombelles, Spindler, Latour, Wowo (nickname for the barones Von Welden, Ruldolf's nanny), Gisela, Leopold, etc., etc., say my last greetings. I go quietly to my death, which alone can save my good name. I embrace you affectionately. Your loving Rudolph.

• Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria
• Mayerling Incident