For much of its afterlife, the Habsburg Empire has been derided as an archaic state, out of sync with its neighbors and the overall atmosphere of Europe. The focus of this view rests partly on the interpretation of the Habsburg monarch. Indeed, the penultimate monarch, Franz Joseph, has been viewed as more mediaeval than modern. In the rest of Europe, rulers like Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were seen as the embodiments of the respective ruling nations. By contrast, Franz Joseph became the centerpiece of a supranational idea traditionally explained, in part, by his longevity on the throne. Concurrently, a key part of the symbology surrounding Franz Joseph became his portrayal as a benevolent ruler, a steward of progress, and a symbol of modernity. This chapter argues that Franz Joseph became associated with modernity and progress through a negotiated process between the administration and the general populace, specifically in the Bohemian Crownlands. The focus on this region underlines the supranational factor as well as the search for a new sense of popular legitimacy. The monarchy was to be portrayed not only as an ageing, whiskered man but also as an institution for the betterment of the peoples under it. This chapter focuses on the administration’s stressing of connections between the sovereign and progress, which was reinforced by ceremonies and tributes from people across the region. In doing so, this chapter connects Franz Joseph with the idea of modernity, challenging traditional accounts of his popularity.