König Ottokars Glück und Ende ("King Ottokar's Fortune and Fall") is a tragedy in five parts, written by Austrian playwright Franz Grillparzer in 1823. The play dramatizes the life of King Ottokar II of Bohemia, his quest to become Emperor against Rudolf I of Habsburg, and ultimately his fall from power and grace. It has been criticized for its Pro-Habsburg Austrian nationalist themes, but its popularity has remained to the present due to the elegant tragedy of King Ottokar.
The play was written as an allusion to the life of Napoléon Bonaparte.
This play provides examples of:
- Historical Hero Upgrade: King Rudolf is portrayed as The Good King, and a humble paragon, instead of the ambitious and occasionally warlord he could be in real life. He serves as the Hero Antagonist to King Ottokar.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: The real Ottokar is considered one of the greatest kings of Bohemia, a strong proponent of law, trade, and order, as well as having many towns, including Konigsberg built. The play gives him many traits of Napoleon instead, being a Byronic Hero and tragic character that the real Ottokar may have had in some measure, but not as much as the play.
- Propaganda Piece: Criticized as one, thought still applauded for how well it was written.
- Tragedy: Famously for Franz Grillparzer.
- Tragic Hero or Tragic Villain: King Ottokar himself, as a great warrior and hero that brought him to great power, but his anger, Pride, and ambition left himself unable to moderate his behavior or know when it was the time for diplomacy. These lead to his defeat on the Marchfield, abandoned by allies he failed to be loyal to in turn.
