K.u.k.

The abbreviation k. u. k. (or k. und k.) stands for kaiserlich und k?niglich -- German for Imperial and Royal.

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The phrase refers to the so-called "Dual Monarchy" of Austria-Hungary: The Emperor of Austria also reigned, in personal union, as the King of Hungary. All government acts took place in the name of "His Imperial and Royal Majesty": most of the time abbreviated to "k. u. k.". Also, all governmental institutions and offices had a name prefixed with "k. u. k.".

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The ubiquity of this phrase in all administrative matters made it a synonym for the Dual Monarchy, often referred to even today as "the k. u. k. monarchy".

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In Czech the equivalent abbreviation appears as "C. a K.", in Polish – as "C. i K." or "CK".

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Arising from the term "k.u.k." we find the name "Kakania", sometimes used to describe the Empire as a state of mind, bureaucratic and with a very stratified formal society (e.g. in work of Robert Musil). The name "Kakania", by means of a childish German-language pun, also expresses the idea of "shittiness".

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Emperor of Austria: The title of Emperor of Austria was proclaimed in 1804 by the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II, who feared for the future of the old Reich in the face of Napoleon's aggressions, and wished to maintain his imperial title in the event that the Holy Roman Empire should be dissolved, as it indeed...

Personal union: A personal union is a political union of two or more entities that, internationally, are considered separate states, but through established law, share the same head of state —hence also whatever political actions are vested in the head of state, but none (or at least extremely few) others....

King of Hungary: The King of Hungary () was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 (or 1001) to 1918....

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