Austria And Bavaria: Historical Ties And Complexities

Bavaria and Austria share a history of political and cultural closeness. Both are predominantly Catholic, and both have a shared contempt for Prussia. In fact, Bavaria was so closely aligned with Austria that it joined Austria in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, which they lost to Prussia and its allies. Despite this closeness, Bavaria was never part of Austria. Instead, it became part of the German Empire in 1871, which was largely driven by Prussia.

Bavaria and Austria: A Catholic Majority

Bavaria and Austria have historically shared a Catholic majority and cultural similarities. The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that succeeded the Electorate of Bavaria in 1806 and continued until 1918. In 1871, the Kingdom of Bavaria became a federated state of the German Empire, which was largely dominated by Protestant Prussia. This incorporation into the German Empire was controversial among Bavarians, who had to give up their desired autonomy. Bavarians shared a common contempt for the Prussians with the Austrians and were politically and culturally closer to Catholic Austria.

The Austro-Prussian War of 1866, in which Austria and Bavaria were defeated, was a significant event that shaped the relationship between the two regions. After the war, Austria had to settle accounts with Hungary, which had attempted to gain independence in 1848. As a result, Austria elevated Hungary to a "dual" Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, signalling that German affairs were of secondary importance. This created an opportunity for Prussia to position itself as the dominant German power.

Bavaria joined the Prussian-founded German Empire in 1871, but Bavarian nationalists adamantly opposed Prussian domination and refused further integration. The Bavarian government even considered proposals for Austria to join Bavaria, particularly interested in incorporating the regions of North Tyrol and Upper Austria. This proposal gained traction among significant numbers of North Tyrolese, who wished to join Bavaria.

The differences in religious majority between Bavaria and Prussia, as well as cultural and political affinities with Austria, contributed to a sense of shared identity between Bavarians and Austrians. However, ultimately, Bavaria became a part of the German Empire, influenced by Prussia's military successes and the shifting political landscape following the Austro-Prussian War.

Bavaria's Alliance with Austria

Bavaria and Austria were closely allied in the 19th century, with both countries sharing a Catholic heritage and conservative traditions. The Kingdom of Bavaria, which succeeded the Electorate of Bavaria in 1806, was ruled by the House of Wittelsbach until 1918. In 1871, the Kingdom of Bavaria became a federated state of the newly formed German Empire, which was dominated by the Kingdom of Prussia.

The Austro-Prussian War

The origins of the Bavarian-Austrian alliance can be traced back to the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, in which Bavaria and most of the south German states allied with Austria. Prussia, however, quickly defeated the Kingdom of Hanover and then Austria at the Battle of Königgrätz. As a result, the German Confederation was dissolved, ending Austria's influence over the lesser German states.

Bavaria Joins Prussia

Despite their shared history and cultural ties, Bavaria joined the Prussian-founded German Empire in 1871. This shift in allegiance was largely due to the decline of Austrian power following the Austro-Prussian War. Austria had to settle accounts with Hungary, which had been seeking independence, and so elevated Hungary to a "dual" Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867. This signalled that German affairs were of secondary importance to Austria, leaving Prussia as the dominant German power.

Bavaria's decision to join the German Empire was also influenced by fears of French "compensation" following their loss of territory in 1814. Emperor Napoleon III of France had been speaking of France's need for compensation, with the Bavarian-held Palatinate included in their territorial claims. By allying with Prussia, Bavaria sought to protect its interests and move the French frontier away from the Palatinate.

Continued Tensions

Even after becoming part of the German Empire, Bavarians continued to emphasise their separate national identity and considered themselves "Bavarians" first and "Germans" second. Tensions between Bavaria and Prussia persisted, with Bavarian nationalists advocating for independence and resisting further integration into the German Empire. These sentiments were further fuelled by Prussia's anti-Catholic agenda during the Kulturkampf.

In the 20th century, Bavarian nationalism grew in strength, particularly after World War I, when proposals for Austria to join Bavaria emerged. The Bavarian government, at the time, was interested in incorporating the regions of North Tyrol and Upper Austria. However, these proposals were met with a response from the German government, which proposed the Anschluss of Austria into Germany.

The Austro-Prussian War

Bavaria is a state in the southeast of Germany. It was previously the Kingdom of Bavaria, which was a German state that succeeded the former Electorate of Bavaria in 1806 and continued to exist until 1918.

Now, onto the Austro-Prussian War.

The major result of the war was a shift in power among the German states away from Austrian and towards Prussian hegemony. It resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of all of the northern German states in the North German Confederation, which excluded Austria and the other southern German states. The war also resulted in the Italian annexation of the Austrian realm of Venetia.

The war erupted as a result of the dispute between Prussia and Austria over the administration of Schleswig-Holstein, which the two had conquered from Denmark and agreed to jointly occupy at the end of the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The crisis started on 26 January 1866, when Prussia protested the decision of the Austrian Governor of Holstein to permit the estates of the duchies to call up a united assembly, declaring the Austrian decision a breach of the principle of joint sovereignty. Austria replied on 7 February, asserting that its decision did not infringe on Prussia's rights in the duchies.

Prussia's Minister President, Otto von Bismarck, formed an alliance with Italy on 8 April, committing it to the war if Prussia entered one against Austria within three months. This incentivised Bismarck to go to war with Austria within that timeframe, so Italy would divert Austrian strength away from Prussia. Austria responded by mobilising its Southern Army on the Italian border on 21 April, and Italy called for a general mobilisation on 26 April. Prussia's general mobilisation orders were signed in steps on 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 May.

When Austria brought the Schleswig-Holstein dispute before the German Diet on 1 June and decided to convene the Diet of Holstein on 11 June, Prussia declared that the Gastein Convention of 14 August 1865 had been nullified and invaded Holstein on 9 June. When the German Diet responded by voting for a partial mobilisation against Prussia on 14 June, Bismarck claimed that the German Confederation had ended. The Prussian Army then invaded Hanover, Saxony and the Electorate of Hesse on 15 June, and Italy declared war on Austria on 20 June.

The main campaign of the war occurred in Bohemia. Prussian Chief of General Staff Helmuth von Moltke had planned meticulously for the war, rapidly mobilising the Prussian army and advancing across the border into Saxony and Bohemia, where the Austrian army was concentrating for an invasion of Silesia. There, the Prussian armies, led nominally by King William I, converged, and the two sides met at the Battle of Königgrätz on 3 July. The victory was near-total for Prussia, with Austrian battle deaths almost seven times the Prussian figure. An armistice between Prussia and Austria came into effect at noon on 22 July, and a preliminary peace was signed on 26 July at Nikolsburg.

By allying with Italy, Bismarck diverted part of the Austrian forces to the south. This advantage, together with Prussia's modernized army discipline, resulted in a Prussian victory. The war was formally concluded on 23 August by the Treaty of Prague, which assigned Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia. Prussia also annexed Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, Nassau, and Frankfurt, thus acquiring the territory that had separated the eastern and western parts of the Prussian state. By the Peace of Vienna on 3 October 1866, Austria ceded Venetia for transfer to Italy. Prussia's victory in the war enabled it to organise the North German Confederation.

Bavaria's Loss of Autonomy

Historical Context

Bavaria, officially known as the Free State of Bavaria, has a long and complex history. It was settled by Iron Age Celtic tribes and later conquered by the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. Over time, it underwent various transformations, including becoming a duchy, being incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire, and briefly gaining independence as the Kingdom of Bavaria after 1806. However, its autonomy was short-lived as it joined the Prussian-led German Empire in 1871 while retaining its title as a kingdom.

Cultural and Religious Differences

Bavaria shared cultural and religious ties with Austria, with both regions having a predominantly Catholic population and a common contempt for Protestant Prussia. This cultural and religious divide created a natural rift between Bavaria and Prussia, contributing to their competing interests and alliances.

Power Dynamics and Military Conflicts

The power dynamics within the region also played a significant role in Bavaria's loss of autonomy. Prussia emerged as a dominant force after defeating Austria in the Seven Weeks War of 1866, also known as the Austro-Prussian War. This defeat weakened Austria's position and led to the creation of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, signalling a shift in Austria's focus towards non-Germanic concerns. In contrast, Prussia appeared as the rising German power, making it an attractive ally for Bavaria and other German states.

Franco-Prussian War and Unification

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 further solidified Prussia's dominance in the region. Bavaria joined forces with Prussia and other German states against France, which was considered the greater enemy to a united Germany at the time. The defeat of France and the formation of the German Empire in 1871 marked a turning point for Bavaria's autonomy. Despite initial jubilation over France's defeat, Bavaria soon found itself dismayed by the direction Prussia took as the leading force in the new German Empire.

Loss of Autonomy

Bavaria's entry into the German Empire under Prussian leadership marked a significant loss of autonomy for the region. Bavarian nationalists strongly opposed Prussian domination and refused further integration into the Empire. They advocated for Bavarian independence and resented the intrusion of the German government on their desired autonomy. However, despite their efforts, Bavaria's independence was short-lived, and it became a federated state within the German Empire, second only to the Kingdom of Prussia in size, power, and wealth.

Bavarian Nationalism

Post-World War I

After Germany's defeat in World War I, Bavarian nationalism grew in strength, becoming popular among both revolutionary and reactionary political movements. Following the collapse of Austria-Hungary, proposals were made for Austria to join Bavaria, with the Bavarian government showing particular interest in incorporating the regions of North Tyrol and Upper Austria. This was a serious issue in the aftermath of World War I, with significant numbers of Austria's North Tyrolese declaring their intention to join Bavaria.

Post-World War II

Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) is a regional conservative party that is a southern sibling to ex-Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU). The CSU is bound by a deal with the CDU that means the two parties are fused together and yet separate: in exchange for not competing in each other's territories, they agree to form a nationwide force at the federal level. The CSU is a regional party that wields national power, with representatives in the federal parliament as part of the joint CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Bavaria's strong automobile industry and agricultural traditions are key to its identity.

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