His active spirit led him to take a vigorous part in the internal politics of the monarchy, his knowledge of the Hungarian and more especially of the Southern Slav question being intimate.

He had attracted the attention of the heir to the throne, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, who had, in spite of much opposition, secured his appointment as Minister of War of the Empire in 1911, where he served until 1912, when he was obligated to resign after only a little over a year.

He was blamed for the defeat, dismissed from the command and replaced by the Archduke Josef Ferdinand.

On 22 April 1915 Emperor Franz Joseph I awarded him the title of Freiherr (Baron) with the designation "von Komarow," in recognition of his victory at this battle.

In April 1915, he was arrested, being suspected that, as War Minister, he delivered to an unauthorized person a copy of military instructions with a view to speculation on the stock exchange, but the court acquitted him.