Austria-Hungary And Russia: Allies Or Adversaries?

Austria-Hungary and Russia had a complex relationship in the years leading up to World War I, marked by shifting alliances and conflicts of interest. While the two empires were allies during several conflicts in the 18th century, by the late 19th century and early 20th century, their relationship had deteriorated due to conflicting ambitions in Southeastern Europe, particularly regarding Serbia and the Balkans. This rivalry led to Austria-Hungary seeking alliances with other powers, such as Germany and Italy, and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War I, with Austria-Hungary and Russia fighting on opposing sides.

Russia and Austria-Hungary were allies during the War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738)

In the lead-up to the war, Russia and Austria-Hungary, along with Prussia, agreed to support Manuel of Portugal as the next king of Poland, opposing the election of either Stanislaus or Augustus III. In July 1733, Frederick Augustus of Saxony negotiated agreements with Austria and Russia. In exchange for Russian support, he agreed to give up any remaining Polish claims to Livonia and promised Anna of Russia her choice of successor to the Duchy of Courland.

When Augustus II died on February 1, 1733, France and Spain, the two Bourbon powers, tested the power of the Austrian Habsburgs in Western Europe. Russia and Austria-Hungary mobilised to support the eventual victor, along with Saxony. The war's major military campaigns and battles occurred outside the borders of Poland-Lithuania.

The fighting in Poland-Lithuania resulted in the accession of Augustus III, who was also politically supported by Russia and Saxony. The war proved disastrous for Polish-Lithuanian independence, reaffirming that the affairs of the nation, including the election of its ruler, were controlled by the other great powers of Europe.

Russia and Austria-Hungary were allies during other conflicts in the 18th century, including the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), and separate wars against the Ottomans from 1787 to 1791.

Russia and Austria-Hungary were both part of the League of Three Emperors

The League of Three Emperors was formed in 1873 when Bismarck negotiated an agreement between the monarchs of the three empires: Franz Joseph I of Austria, Alexander II of Russia, and Wilhelm I of Germany. These countries guaranteed their neutrality in case of a conflict with another nation. The treaty also ruled out the possibility of Russia supporting France in case of a Franco-German conflict. Additionally, it was unlikely that Britain would join the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary due to their disagreements with Russia.

The League aimed to neutralise the rivalry between Germany's neighbours by agreeing on their respective spheres of influence in the Balkans and isolating France, Germany's enemy. Bismarck's solution was to give Austria predominance in the western areas of the Balkans and Russia in the eastern areas. The League also sought to control ethnic groups such as the Poles and suppress radical socialist bodies like the First International.

However, the League faced challenges due to conflicting interests between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary feared that Russia's support for Serbia might ignite irredentist passions among the Slav populations, while Russian authorities worried about insurrection if a Pan-Slavist movement gained power. These conflicts led to the dissolution of the League in 1878. It was revived in 1881 through the Treaty of the Three Emperors but ultimately lapsed again in 1887 due to ongoing tensions between Austria-Hungary and Russia.

Russia and Austria-Hungary were both part of the Triple Alliance

The formation of the Triple Alliance was largely driven by mutual concerns and interests. Germany and Austria-Hungary had shared cultural and economic ties, with portions of the two empires sharing a common language. The unification of Italy and the emergence of Germany as a dominant power in Central Europe in the 1870s had thwarted Austrian territorial ambitions in the Italian Peninsula and the Balkans. This led to a recognition of mutual interests and a formalisation of their relationship.

The decline of the Ottoman Empire presented an opportunity for both Russia and Austria-Hungary to expand into the Balkans. However, this also created tensions between the two empires as they appeared to be on a collision course. In 1876, Russia offered to partition the Balkans, but this was refused by Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Andrassy, who cited his country's inability to absorb additional territory at that time. This decision escalated tensions between the two empires, which would persist for years.

Despite their differences, Austria-Hungary and Russia found themselves on the same side of various conflicts prior to World War I. They were allies during the War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738), the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), and the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). From 1787 to 1791, they both waged separate wars against the Ottomans. Additionally, they participated in the first and third Partitions of Poland.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the two empires continued to have conflicting ambitions in South Eastern Europe, particularly regarding Serbia. Austria-Hungary's desire to crush Serbia and its declaration of war against Serbia in 1914 were motivated by a fear of losing its status as a Great Power. Russia, on the other hand, supported Serbia during the 1914 crisis, also driven by a similar fear of losing its status.

The complex dynamics between Russia and Austria-Hungary, including their rivalry and alliances, played a significant role in shaping the diplomatic landscape of Europe in the years leading up to World War I.

Russia and Austria-Hungary fought together during the Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars dominated Austrian foreign policy from 1804 to 1815. During this period, Russia and Austria-Hungary were allies in the War of the Second Coalition (1798–1801) and the War of the Third Coalition (1805–1807). However, French victories forced Austria to make an alliance with Napoleon, sending troops to join his invasion of Russia in 1812. When the invasion failed, Austria joined Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain in the final coalition that defeated Napoleon in 1814 and occupied Paris.

The alliance between Russia and Austria-Hungary during the Napoleonic Wars was part of a broader context of bilateral relations between the two empires. Austria maintained an alliance with Russia for most of the 18th century due to their shared rivalry with France, which was seeking aid from Russia's neighbours, Poland and Turkey. Russia supported Austria during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).

The two empires also collaborated during the partitions of Poland, with Russia and Austria-Hungary joining Prussia in the First Partition of Poland (1772) and Austria-Hungary participating in the Third Partition following Kosciuszko's revolt (1795). This collaboration aimed to preserve regional equilibrium by compensating the three powers at Poland's expense.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the alliance between Russia and Austria-Hungary was not without challenges. Austria was preoccupied with France and withdrew from the war with Turkey in 1791, while Russia and Prussia cooperated in the Second Partition of Poland. However, they found common ground again in their opposition to Napoleonic France and worked together to defeat him and occupy Paris in 1814.

Following the defeat of Napoleon, Austria and Russia continued their cooperation to support the conservative order and prevent revolution. In 1849, Nicholas I sent a Russian army to help Austria defeat the Hungarian bid for independence. This collaboration, however, did not extend to the Crimean War (1853-1856), during which Austria maintained a policy of hostile neutrality towards Russia.

Russia and Austria-Hungary were both part of the First World War

Russia and Austria-Hungary were both part of World War I, which began in 1914. The two countries had a history of complex relations and shifting alliances in the decades leading up to the war.

In the 19th century, Russia and Austria-Hungary were often allies, united against common foes like the Ottoman Empire and France. However, by the early 20th century, their interests began to diverge, especially in the Balkan region, where both powers sought influence. This rivalry contributed to the tensions that eventually led to World War I.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife on June 28, 1914, served as a catalyst for the war. Austria-Hungary, with German encouragement, declared war on Serbia, blaming them for the assassination. Russia, fearing loss of prestige and seeking to protect its Slavic allies in the Balkans, rapidly mobilized its forces and entered the conflict in support of Serbia. This move brought France into the war on Serbia's side, as they were allied with Russia.

The war soon escalated, with Germany declaring war on Russia and France, and Britain joining the conflict due to violations of Belgian neutrality and fears of German domination in Europe. The Eastern Front of World War I became a 'war of movement', with Central Powers forces facing a disorganized but larger Russian force. The conflict on this front had cataclysmic results, contributing to the collapse of both the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires by the war's end.

Throughout the war, the two empires continued to clash, with Austria-Hungary and Germany launching offensives into Russia in 1915 and 1916. These campaigns resulted in heavy losses for both sides and further destabilized the region. By 1917, the Russian army had collapsed, and the Bolshevik Revolution brought an end to Russia's participation in the war. The war ended with the overthrow of the monarchies in both Russia and Austria-Hungary and the dissolution of their empires, leading to a new world order.

Frequently asked questions