Austria's Military Legacy: Victories And Influence

The Austrian Empire, officially the Empire of Austria, was a major player in several European wars and conflicts from its formation in 1804 until its dissolution in 1918. The empire was created by unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government and was the third most populous monarchy in Europe during its existence. One of its earliest major conflicts was against Napoleonic France, which resulted in defeats at the Battles of Ulm and Austerlitz and the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805. Despite these setbacks, the Austrian Empire played a crucial role in the overthrow of Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars. It also participated in the War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession, and various Ottoman-Habsburg Wars. During the 19th century, the empire faced nationalist revolts and liberal movements, which eventually led to the Revolutions of 1848. While the empire managed to suppress these revolutions, it continued to face internal and external challenges, including the Crimean War and conflicts with Prussia and Italy. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 served as a catalyst for World War I, and by the war's end, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had collapsed, leading to a new world order.

Austrian-Hungarian War (1246-1254)

The Austrian-Hungarian War of 1246-1254 was a conflict between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Margraviate of Austria, which was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. The war lasted for eight years and involved several other belligerents, including the Kingdom of Croatia, the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, and the Old Swiss Confederacy.

During this period, the Kingdom of Hungary was under the rule of Mathias Corvinus, while the Margraviate of Austria was led by Frederick V, who was also the Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III. The conflict arose from a long-standing rivalry between Mathias and Frederick, dating back to 1458 when Mathias succeeded as King of Hungary after the early death of Frederick's cousin, King Ladislaus the Posthumous. At the time, Frederick held the Holy Crown of Hungary and was a candidate for the Hungarian throne himself.

The war resulted in significant gains for Mathias, humiliating Frederick. However, these gains were short-lived as Mathias suddenly passed away in 1490, and his illegitimate son, John Corvinus, was too young to succeed him. The Hungarian nobles were also too selfish to protect the monarchy, leading to a reversal of Mathias' gains.

Some of the notable battles of the Austrian-Hungarian War include the Battle of Leitzersdorf, the Siege of Vienna in 1485, and the Siege of Wiener Neustadt, where Emperor Frederick was besieged by Mathias' troops for 18 months until the fortress was captured in 1487.

The war ended with an armistice in 1488, although the Habsburgs were dissatisfied with the peace terms. Despite the outcome, the Austrian-Hungarian War had significant consequences for the region, shaping the political landscape and setting the stage for future conflicts and alliances.

Austrian-Hungarian War (1459-1462)

The Austrian-Hungarian War of 1459-1462 was part of a larger conflict between the Kingdom of Hungary under Mathias Corvinus and the Habsburg Archduchy of Austria, which was a part of the Holy Roman Empire under Frederick V (also known as Frederick III). This war was a result of longstanding tensions between Mathias and Frederick, dating back to Mathias' succession as King of Hungary in 1458. At the time, Frederick also held the Holy Crown of Hungary and was a candidate for the Hungarian throne himself. However, the Hungarian nobility favoured Mathias, and he was proclaimed king in 1458.

In the following years, Mathias worked to consolidate his power and defend Hungary against Ottoman incursions. He established a mercenary army, known as the Black Army, which was crucial in deterring Ottoman attacks. This standing army was financed through an extraordinary war tax, which the Hungarian diets approved in exchange for strengthening the power of the counties.

By 1462, Mathias had approximately 20,000 men in his army, which included foreign mercenaries, Hungarian banners, and Hussar light cavalry. This force was highly effective and remained unbeaten in the northern and western theatres. Meanwhile, the Habsburgs were relatively weak militarily, despite their power in marriage politics.

The conflict between Mathias and Frederick came to a head in 1477 when Frederick's son, Maximilian, married Mary of Burgundy, significantly enhancing the power of the House of Habsburg. Frederick then pushed harder for control of Hungary, leading Mathias to secure allies among Frederick's enemies in Austria and Germany. In response, Mathias launched a series of destructive raids into Austria in 1477, 1479, and 1482.

The Austrian-Hungarian War of 1459-1462 was part of this larger conflict, and while there is limited information specifically about this period, it likely involved similar raids and military engagements. The war concluded with the Treaty of Wiener Neustadt in 1463, in which Frederick recognised Mathias as the de facto King of Hungary and returned the Holy Crown in exchange for a heavy ransom.

Austrian-Hungarian War (1477-1488)

The Austrian–Hungarian War, fought between 1477 and 1488, was a military conflict between the Kingdom of Hungary under Mathias Corvinus and the Habsburg Archduchy of Austria, led by Frederick V (also known as Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III).

The roots of the conflict can be traced back to 1458 when Mathias succeeded as King of Hungary following the death of his cousin, King Ladislaus the Posthumous. At the time, Frederick held the Holy Crown of Hungary and was a contender for the Hungarian throne himself. However, Mathias prevailed and became king, with Frederick recognising him as the de facto ruler and returning the crown in exchange for a hefty ransom, as outlined in the Treaty of Wiener Neustadt in 1463.

In 1468, with the Pope's consent, Mathias invaded Moravia, instigating the Bohemian War with his former ally, King George of Poděbrad. Mathias' true motive was to depose his father-in-law, King George, under the pretext of protecting Catholicism against the Hussite movement. Mathias' campaign was successful, and he acquired new territories, including Silesia, Lusatia, and Moravia, where he pronounced himself King of Bohemia in 1469.

Meanwhile, Emperor Frederick was entangled in the France–Habsburg rivalry over the Burgundian succession with King Louis XI of France. Initially, Frederick aided Mathias against the Hussites in the Bohemian War but soon reversed his position and forged an alliance with King Vladislaus, Poděbrad's successor, whom he granted the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1477. Angered by this betrayal, Mathias made peace with Vladislaus and turned his attention towards invading Frederick's Austrian lands, thus initiating the Austrian–Hungarian War.

Mathias' highly destructive raids into Austria during 1477, 1479, and 1482 were followed by the notable Siege of Vienna in 1485, which resulted in his victory. Emperor Frederick, unable to secure aid from the Prince-electors and the Imperial States, was forced to abandon his residence in Vienna and flee to Wiener Neustadt, where he endured an 18-month siege by Mathias' troops before the fortress fell in 1487.

The war concluded with an armistice in 1488, although the Habsburgs were dissatisfied with the peace terms. Mathias offered to return the conquered Austrian provinces and Vienna if Frederick would renounce the Treaty of 1463 and accept Mathias as his designated political heir. However, before this agreement could be finalised, Mathias Corvinus died suddenly in 1490, allowing Frederick to regain the Austrian lands without a fight.

Austrian-Hungarian War (1490-1491)

The Austrian-Hungarian War of 1490-1491, also known as the War of the Hungarian Succession, was triggered by the death of King Matthias Corvinus I of Hungary and Croatia. Matthias Corvinus died on 6 April 1490, leaving no legitimate heir except for his illegitimate son, John Corvinus. As a result, several rival claimants began to wage war to succeed him as king.

The four candidates for the throne included John Corvinus, who was primarily supported by barons and prelates with estates along the southern frontier; Maximilian of Habsburg, who based his claim on the 1463 Peace Treaty of Wiener Neustadt; Vladislaus, the king of Bohemia and eldest son of the sister of Matthias's predecessor, Ladislaus the Posthumous; and Vladislaus' younger brother, John Albert, whose claim was proposed by his parents, who wanted to secure separate realms for their sons.

Most Hungarian barons and prelates preferred Vladislaus due to his commitment to respecting their liberties, and he was elected king by the Diet of Hungary on 15 July. In the Peace of Pressburg, signed on 7 November 1491, Vladislaus renounced all territories that Matthias Corvinus had conquered in Austria and acknowledged the Habsburgs' right to inherit Hungary and Bohemia if he died without a son.

Austrian-Hungarian War (1505-1506)

The Austrian-Hungarian War of 1505-1506 was one of many conflicts between the two nations. It ended with the Treaty of Vienna in 1506.

The Kingdom of Hungary, under Mathias Corvinus, was in conflict with the Habsburg Archduchy of Austria, led by Frederick V, who was also the Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III. This war was an extension of the rivalry between the two rulers, which stretched back to 1458 when Mathias succeeded as King of Hungary after the death of Frederick's cousin, King Ladislaus. At the time, Frederick held the Holy Crown of Hungary and desired to become the Hungarian king himself. However, Mathias prevailed with the support of the Bohemian King George of Poděbrady, whose daughter he married in 1461. The two rivals eventually settled their differences in 1463 with the Treaty of Wiener Neustadt, in which Frederick recognised Mathias as the de facto King of Hungary and returned the Holy Crown for a hefty ransom.

In 1468, with the consent of Pope Paul II, Mathias invaded Moravia, instigating the Bohemian War with his former ally, George of Poděbrady, under the pretext of protecting Catholicism against the Hussite movement. In reality, he aimed to depose his father-in-law, the King of Bohemia. Mathias was welcomed by the German nobility in Silesia and the Lusatias, as well as the Catholic Czechs in Moravia, and he acquired these territories for himself. In 1469, he proclaimed himself the Bohemian king in Olomouc but was never able to seize the capital, Prague. The war dragged on until 1478 when Mathias' gains were recognised in the Treaty of Brno by Poděbrady's successor, the Polish prince Vladislaus Jagiellon.

Emperor Frederick, occupied with the France-Habsburg rivalry over the Burgundian succession, initially assisted Mathias against the Hussites in the Bohemian War but soon reversed his role and forged an alliance with Vladislaus, enfeoffing him with the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1477. Angered by this action, Mathias invaded Frederick's Austrian lands, leading to the Austrian-Hungarian War of 1505-1506. Notable battles of this conflict include the Battle of Leitzersdorf, the Siege of Vienna in 1485, and the Siege of Wiener Neustadt.

Emperor Frederick failed to secure aid from the Prince-electors and the Imperial States. In 1483, he had to abandon his Hofburg residence in Vienna and fled to Wiener Neustadt, where he was besieged by Mathias' troops for 18 months until the fortress was captured in 1487. Humiliated, Frederick fled first to Graz and then to Linz in Upper Austria. The Habsburgs, despite their prowess in marriage politics, were relatively weak in martial affairs. They had few resources to match the Black Army of Hungary, an early standing mercenary force under capable commanders like Stephen V Báthory and Lawrence of Ilok, which conquered most of the Lower Austrian territories.

The war ended with an armistice in 1488, although the Habsburgs were dissatisfied with the peace. Mathias Corvinus offered to return the Austrian provinces and Vienna to Emperor Frederick and his son, Prince Maximilian, if they would renounce the Treaty of 1463 and accept Mathias as Frederick's designated political heir and probable inheritor of the title of Holy Roman Emperor. However, before this could be settled, Mathias Corvinus died from a stroke on 6 April 1490, allowing Frederick to regain the Austrian lands without a serious fight.

In summary, the Austrian-Hungarian War of 1505-1506 was part of a larger rivalry between Mathias Corvinus and Frederick III/V, which resulted in significant gains for Mathias, including the acquisition of Moravian and Silesian territories. However, his sudden death in 1490 led to a reversal of these gains, as his illegitimate son, John Corvinus, was too young to succeed, and the Hungarian nobles were too selfish to protect the monarchy. This conflict was one of many between the Austrian and Hungarian realms, which would later unite to form the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867.

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