The Karl Vault

KARL VI.

The extension planned by Emperor Joseph I. (N°35) and financed by the Silesian salt tax was completed in 1720 under Emperor Chales VI. (N°40).

THE SECOND EXTENSION OF THE CAPUCHIN CRYPT

In 1710, Emperor Joseph I continued the expansion of the Capuchin Crypt: “We must expand our crypt at the Capuchin monastery, as well as repair and improve other parts of it. We are willing to pay for the necessary expenses from the Silesian salt taxes” - "Wassmassen wür unser Grufft Bey denen P.P. Capuzinern erweithern auch sonsten in ainem und anderen repariren und verbessern die herzu erforderliche Unkhosten aber aus denen Schlesischen Salz geföhln bezahlen zu lassen willens sind.“

In 1720, Emperor Charles VI completed the expansion. The small chapel located under the monastery choir, consecrated in 1627, was now included, so that the crypt now extended under the entire church and under the monks' choir.

In the same year, Charles VI also had a new wide staircase installed on the north side and had the court locksmith Jacob Scheübl make the magnificent wrought-iron grille that ran along both sides of the crypt in front of the coffins. This grille had become necessary to protect the sarcophagi from damage and theft; it was not removed until 1909. On December 18, 1719, the imperial court locksmith Jacob Scheübl was issued a “chamber pass” for “50 hundredweight of good iron for the manufacture of the crypt grilles” - "Kammerpaß“ "auf 50 Centen gätter Eysen zu Verferttigung der Kruftengätter.“ On December 2, 1720, the court architect reported that “the cost of manufacturing the iron crypt grilles, including iron and labor, will hardly be more than 3,500 florins, and with the new staircase will amount to over 4,500 florins” - "zur Verfertigung der Eisernen Grufften gatter sambt Eysen und Macherlohn 3500 fl. kaum erkhlekhlich sein werden und mit der neuen Stüegen yber 4500 fl. betragen wird“.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE Karl Vault

The late Baroque Karl Vault extends beneath the church and the monks' choir. It lies beneath the presbytery and the choir room. A stuccoed flat barrel vault arches over the elongated late Baroque space. The walls are divided by pilasters and double pilasters, above which are stuccoed belts. In the eastern section, three lunettes cut into the ceiling. This is where the first extension, commissioned by Leopold I. (N°37) in 1701, ended.

The connection to the old Leopoldine Vault is made by three open double arches. The base and impost profiles are the same as in the Leopold Vault, but the framing of the fields in the pilasters themselves is different. The connection to the adjoining Maria Theresa Vault is made by three openings between pillars. The corbels attached to the vault show the navel disc, the workshop mark of Lukas von Hildebrandt. 

The Sarcophagus

The Karl Vault contains a total of seven sarcophagi and one heart urn, including the four impressive ceremonial sarcophagi of Emperors Leopold I, Joseph I, Charles VI, and Empress Elisabeth Christine (N°36). They are the creations of the most important pewterers, sculptors, and theatrical engineers of their time.

Overview if the Karl Vault

Builder/Donor: Emperor Joseph I., Emperor Karl VI.

Architect: Lukas von Hildebrandt

Architectural style: Late Baroque

Sarcophagi und heart urn:

• N°33 Leopold Joseph (1700-1701), son of Josephs I.
• N°34 Amalia Wilhelmina (1673-1742), Empress, heart urn, wife of Josephs I.
• N°35 Joseph I. (1678-1711), Empress, son of Leopolds I.
• N°36 Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick (1691-1750), Empress, wife of Charles VI.
• N°37 Leopold I. (1640-1705), Emperor, son of Ferdinands III.
• N°38 Maria-Elisabeth (1680-1741), governor of the Netherlands, daughter of Leopolds I.
• N°39 Maria Anna (1718-1744), sister of Maria Theresias
• N°40 Charles VI. (1685-1740), Emperor, son of Leopolds I., father of Empress Maria Theresia