»Spomin z Kine«

Souvenirs from China co-shaping the image of the Habsburg Trieste

Abstract

The ties between the Habsburg Trieste and China from the mid-nineteenth century to the onset of the First World War reveal a diverse image. The glory of Maximillian’s Miramare Castle and the successes of Lloyd’s ships overlap with imposed unequal contracts and military interventions of foreign forces on Chinese soil. The objects and pictures brought home by some Slovenian sailors from Trieste who served in the Austro-Hungarian War Navy offer an opportunity for a broader discussion. Focus is on the Trieste view on the above-mentioned developments, with an emphasis on Slovenian presence.