Absolute Monarchy In Austria: A Historical Perspective

The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867. The empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. While the Austrian monarchy was composed of a number of kingdoms forming a free alliance, it was not an absolute monarchy, as the various estates (or Stande) retained power. However, the Austrian version of constitutionalism called for a strong emperor with a comparatively weak role assigned to the people's representatives. The December Constitution of 1867 turned the Habsburg Monarchy into a constitutional monarchy, restricting the absolute power of the monarch.

Maria Theresa of Austria was an absolute monarch for forty years

Maria Theresa was the eldest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. In 1711, Charles found himself as the sole remaining male Habsburg. As a woman was prohibited from inheriting her father's kingdom under the Salic Law, Charles issued a decree in 1713, known as the Pragmatic Sanction, which guaranteed the right of succession to his daughter.

When Charles VI died in 1740, challenges to the Habsburg lands led to the War of the Austrian Succession. Maria Theresa's rule began during this turbulent time, with Prussia, Bavaria, and France invading her lands. Despite this, she was determined not to surrender to her enemies but to reconquer all of her lands. She initiated a series of reforms, strengthening the army, reorganizing the tax structure, and centralizing tax collection. Economic reform fueled prosperity for her empire.

In 1756, Maria Theresa renewed her conflict with Prussia, which resulted in the Seven Years' War. The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Hubertusberg, recognizing Prussian possession of Silesia. Two years later, she suffered a personal loss with the death of her husband, Francis Stephen of Lorraine. She went into mourning, dressing in black for the rest of her life.

Maria Theresa continued her reforms, focusing more on human concerns, such as serf reform, and maintaining peace. She recognized her eldest son, Joseph II, as emperor and co-regent, although she limited his powers due to their fundamental differences in beliefs. Maria Theresa considered abdicating the throne but ultimately decided against it.

Maria Theresa's forty-year reign transformed her empire into a modern state, solidifying Habsburg rule and making her a major figure in women's history.

The Austrian Empire was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867

The Austrian Empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire. It unified all Habsburg possessions under one central government and remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806. The Austrian Empire continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period between 1809 and 1813, when Austria was first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia and later neutral during the first few weeks of the Sixth Coalition War.

The Kingdom of Hungary—as Regnum Independens—was administered by its own institutions separately from the rest of the empire. After Austria was defeated in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 was adopted, joining the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria to form Austria-Hungary.

The Austrian version of constitutionalism called for a strong emperor

Austria's constitutional framework is composed of a range of domestic and international instruments. The core constitutional act from 1920 is detailed, as are amendments regarding EU and international law. The country has been governed by multiple constitutions, including the Pillersdorf Constitution in 1848, the "irrevocable" Stadion Constitution from 1848 to 1851, the October Diploma in 1860, the February Patent from 1861 until 1865, and the May Constitution from 1934 to 1938.

The February Patent, issued by Francis Joseph in 1861, established a bicameral system: an empire-wide House of Representatives composed of delegates from the diets and a House of Lords. This restored much authority to the central government, but it further antagonized the federalists, particularly the Hungarians. Resistance was so great that by 1865 the constitution was considered unworkable, and Francis Joseph began negotiations with the Hungarians to revise it.

The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867. It was created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs and was the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom. The empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire.

In 1809, Klemens von Metternich became Foreign Minister and later had a major influence in European politics. He was known for his strong conservative views and believed that absolute monarchy was the only proper system of government. This influenced his anti-revolutionary policy to ensure the continuation of the Habsburg monarchy in Europe.

In 1848, the Liberal Revolutions forced Metternich's resignation and marked the end of the era of neo-absolutism. The Revolutions also resulted in some lasting reforms, including the abolition of serfdom, cancellation of censorship, and a promise to implement a constitution throughout the whole Empire.

The Austrian version of constitutionalism, with its strong emperor, was further reflected in the country's history following the Revolutions of 1848. From 1852, the Minister of the Interior, Baron Alexander von Bach, largely dictated policy in Austria and Hungary. He endorsed reactionary policies and used a wide-ranging spy network to suppress unrest. This period became known as the era of neo-absolutism, or Bach's absolutism.

In summary, the Austrian version of constitutionalism called for a strong emperor, and this was reflected in the country's history of absolute monarchy and neo-absolutism, as well as the influence of key figures such as Klemens von Metternich.

The December Constitution of 1867 turned the Habsburg Monarchy into a constitutional monarchy

The Austrian Empire, also known as the Austrian Monarchy, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867. It was created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, it was the third most populous monarchy in Europe, and geographically, it was the third-largest empire in Europe.

The Compromise with Hungary, in response to the demands of the Hungarian elite, was one of the most important results of these reforms. Hungary was the largest of the lands within the state system of the Monarchy and was being held down by the central authorities in Vienna. The Compromise created the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, a real union between two states that were joined only by a common head of state and a common foreign policy. The army constituted another important bond. In all other affairs of state, Hungary was granted complete autonomy. The Monarchy now had two capitals – Vienna and Budapest. There were now two separate governments and two parliaments in parallel to one another: the Reichsrat, representing only the lands of Austria and its dependencies, known as Cisleithania, and the Hungarian half of the empire, known as Transleithania, had its own parliament.

The December Constitution of 1867 was a decisive step on the path to a constitutional monarchy. It was sanctioned by Franz Joseph on 21 December 1867, and formed the constitutional basis of the Monarchy until 1918. A special feature of Austrian constitutionalism was the emperor’s extensive authority to exert power (monarchical constitutionalism): Franz Joseph retained the right of appointment for posts in the central bureaucracy and had the right of veto when laws were enacted. In times of crisis, the emperor was empowered to rule the empire without consulting the elected representatives of the people, a provision that was to severely curtail the power of the Reichsrat during the First World War.

The Austrian Lands: Habsburg Absolutism under Leopold I

The Austrian monarchy, also known as the Habsburg Empire or the Habsburg Realm, was a collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties, and other polities ruled by the House of Habsburg. The history of the Habsburg monarchy can be traced back to the election of Rudolf I as King of Germany in 1273. However, it was only in 1282 that Rudolf I acquired the Duchy of Austria for the Habsburgs, establishing the "Austrian hereditary lands."

The period of Habsburg Absolutism under Leopold I in the Austrian Lands refers to the 17th century, a time when the Habsburgs sought to strengthen the authority of their monarchy. While the Habsburgs aspired to centralise power and establish an absolute monarchy, the unique structure of the Austrian monarchy, composed of multiple kingdoms in a free alliance, made this a distant goal. The various estates (known as Stände) retained significant power, reflecting the supremacy of the aristocracy (Herrenstand).

Leopold I, also referred to as the 'Baroque Emperor', faced challenges from rival dynasties, particularly the Bourbons in France, who were experiencing their golden age under Louis XIV, also known as the 'Sun King'. The conflict between the Habsburgs and the Bourbons escalated into the War of the Spanish Succession, which lasted from 1701 to 1714. Leopold's plan was to secure the imperial title and Central European lands for his elder son, Joseph, and place his younger son, Charles, on the Spanish throne. However, Leopold only witnessed the initial phase of this pan-European conflict, as he died in 1705.

Leopold I also had problems with Hungary and the Turks, and he played a significant role in the Austrian branch of the Habsburgs' military successes against the Ottomans. These victories bolstered the mythic aura of the medieval emperorship and reinforced Leopold's position as the head of the Holy Roman Empire.

Frequently asked questions