Chronicle of the Metlika’s Fux Family Coat of Arms (Chronik zum Wappen des Geschlechts Fux): The Analysis of Authenticity

Abstract

While researching the history of the Fux family from Metlika a family member gave me the family chronicle that has been kept in the family from generation to generation. It is written in German in Gothic script. The unknown author of the chronicle describes the family roots back to the 16th century, mentioning individuals who were to serve as the proof that the Fux family obtained their coat of arms as early as the 16th century.
The most important claims from the chronicle are:
- The family obtained their coat of arms in the 16th century with brothers Niklas and Viktor (Victor) Fux.
- The 18th century family ancestor Johann Joseph Fux was a renowned composer.
- The chronicle states many individuals with the surname Fux in the 19th century.
The problem with the chronicle is the lack of continuity among the successive generations, hence, it is necessary to check all the evidence and discover its author. It has been directly ascertained that the author of the chronicle is a certain Hermann Julius Hermann, a forger from Vienna selling bogus chronicles to which he added coat of arms belonging to families that happen to have the same surname. For that purpose he established The Institute for Genealogy and Heraldry in Vienna. He supplied numerous families with false chronicles; for the period between 1898 and 1905 alone it has been proven that he drew up and sold 696 chronicles.
Herman did not act on its own. A certain Raimund Günther, a forger from Salzburg, was his aide, who supplied him with paper that was printed in advance. Günther was a consummate professional in his activities. He advertised his work in magazines and had numerous sales agents in his employment. They had with them examples and a catalogue in order to obtain clients. They were active across the entire Habsburg Monarchy, which is how the Fux family got in contact with them. The price for the forged chronicle was between 30 and 300 crowns.
Chronicles drawn up by Hermann Julius Hermann are not scientific work. Hermann created them entirely for self-interest and did not choose means or sources in order to achieve that goal. He deceived his clients for the purpose of achieving a suitable price.
The coat of arms obtained by Niklas and Viktor Fux in the 16th century was described by Julius Hermann in his chronicle, adding the composer Johann Joseph Fux and several other individuals who were not related, and he also included two members of the Fux family from Metlika (Karl Fux and his son Emanuel). In that way he created the impression that Karl and Emanuel Fux (the latter most probably placing the order) are related to other named individuals and sold this to the family.