The Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as the Dual Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed by the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which united the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary under a single monarch. The Empire was geographically the second-largest country in Europe and the third most populous, with wealth and income levels comparable to France and the USA in 1870.
The Empire's economy changed significantly during its existence, with technological advancements accelerating industrialisation and urbanisation. The GNP per capita grew by roughly 1.76% per year from 1870 to 1913, a rate that compared favourably to other European nations. However, the Austro-Hungarian economy as a whole lagged behind due to its late start in sustained modernisation.
Economic growth was centred around Vienna, Budapest, Prague, the Austrian lands, the Alpine region, and the Bohemian lands. Rapid economic growth later spread to the central Hungarian plain and the Carpathian lands, resulting in wide disparities of development within the Empire. By the early 20th century, most of the Empire was experiencing rapid economic growth, and it became the world's third-largest manufacturer and exporter of electric appliances and power generation apparatus for power plants.
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The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a dual monarchy
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as the Dual Monarchy, was a constitutional monarchy in Central Europe that existed from 1867 to 1918. It was formed as a result of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which established a dual system with two capitals, Vienna and Budapest. The Empire was a union of two sovereign states, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, under a single monarch, who reigned as Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
The two halves of the Empire had their own constitutions, governments, and parliaments, with each half treating citizens of the other as foreigners. The Austrian half, officially known as Cisleithania, consisted of seventeen historical crown lands, while the Hungarian half, Transleithania, included the Kingdom of Hungary, the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia, and the free city of Rijeka/Fiume.
The two countries conducted unified diplomatic and defence policies, with common ministries of foreign affairs, defence, and finance under the monarch's direct authority. The Emperor-King held significant authority over the structure and administration of the three armies (the Common Army, the Imperial-Royal Landwehr, and the Royal Hungarian Honvéd) and had the right to declare war, dissolve the National Assemblies, and appoint and dismiss members of the Cabinet Councils.
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise ended an 18-year-long military dictatorship and absolutist rule over Hungary imposed by Emperor Franz Joseph after the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. It restored Hungary's territorial integrity and its old historic constitution, including the Hungarian parliament as the supreme legislative power. The Compromise was unpopular among ethnic Hungarian voters, who felt it betrayed the cause of the 1848 Revolution and reduced Hungary's sovereignty.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of Europe's major powers, with the fourth-largest machine-building industry in the world. It had the second-largest railway network in Europe and was the third-most populous country in Europe, with a heavily rural economy that slowly modernised after 1867.
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It was a multinational constitutional monarchy
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as the Dual Monarchy, was a multinational constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed by the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which established a real union between Cisleithania (the northern and western parts of the former Austrian Empire) and Transleithania (the Kingdom of Hungary). This compromise gave Hungary full internal autonomy and its own parliament in Budapest, while the two countries conducted unified diplomatic and defence policies.
The Dual Monarchy was a military and diplomatic alliance consisting of two sovereign states with a single monarch, who was titled both Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. The two countries shared a common government, with a common ministry of foreign affairs, defence, and finance. The common government was responsible for the army, navy, foreign policy, and customs union. However, Austria and Hungary maintained separate parliaments, each with its own prime minister, and the two halves of the empire had distinct governmental structures.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of the major powers in Europe and was the second-largest country in Europe geographically and the third most populous. It had a heavily rural economy with wealth and income levels comparable to France and the USA in 1870. The empire's economy changed slowly during its existence, and technological advancements accelerated industrialization and urbanization. By the early 20th century, the empire had built the fourth-largest machine-building industry in the world and was a global leader in the production of electric appliances and power generation equipment.
The Dual Monarchy was characterized by its ethnic and linguistic diversity, with German, Hungarian, Czech, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Croatian, Italian, Slovak, Serbian, and Slovene among the official languages. However, nationalism and ethnic tensions were significant issues, as various national groups within the empire sought greater autonomy or independence. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serb nationalist in 1914 sparked World War I, ultimately leading to the empire's demise.
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It was the third-most populous country in Europe
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was the third-most populous country in Europe, after Russia and the German Empire. It was also among the ten most populous countries worldwide. The empire was a multinational constitutional monarchy in Central Europe, consisting of two sovereign states with a single monarch, who was titled both Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was formed in 1867 with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, following wars of independence by Hungary in opposition to Habsburg rule. The two countries conducted unified diplomatic and defence policies, with "common" ministries of foreign affairs and defence maintained under the monarch's direct authority.
The population of the empire grew from 23 million inhabitants in 1800 to 36 million by 1870. By 1913, the population of Austria-Hungary, plus Bosnia-Herzegovina, was 53 million. The population was heavily rural, with 67% of the workforce in agriculture in 1870, and 60% in 1913.
The empire was geographically the second-largest country in Europe. It was made up of the Austrian Empire ("Lands Represented in the Imperial Council", or Cisleithania) in the western and northern half, and the Kingdom of Hungary ("Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen", or Transleithania) in the eastern half. The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia was an autonomous region under the Hungarian crown. After 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian joint military and civilian rule until it was fully annexed in 1908.
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It was the second-largest country in Europe by area
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was the second-largest country in Europe by area. It was a multinational constitutional monarchy in Central Europe, consisting of two sovereign states with a single monarch. The empire was formed in 1867 following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, which gave Hungary near-complete autonomy over its internal affairs. The Austrian Emperor would continue to be the King of Hungary, and the two states would be considered the Austrian Hungarian Empire for purposes of foreign policy, diplomacy, and war.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was geographically the second-largest country in Europe, after the Russian Empire. It covered an area of 676,615 square kilometres (261,243 square miles). The empire included the modern-day countries of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, and parts of several others.
The empire was a multi-ethnic state, with German Austrians and Magyars (Hungarians) making up around 44% of the population. Other ethnic groups included Czechs, Slovenes, Poles, Slovaks, Romanians, Ruthenians, Serbs, and Croats. The official languages of the empire were German and Hungarian, but other languages such as Czech, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Croatian, Italian, Slovak, Serbian, and Slovene were also spoken.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a major power in Europe and had the fourth-largest machine-building industry in the world. It was also the third-largest manufacturer and exporter of electric appliances and power generation equipment. The empire had a strong agriculture and food industry, with Hungary becoming the world's second-largest exporter of flour.
The empire's heavy industry focused on machine building, especially for the electric power, locomotive, and automotive industries. It also had a significant electrical industry, with companies like Tungsram producing light bulbs, vacuum tubes, and X-ray tubes.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire had a large territory and a large population, which required an extensive railway system for transportation and trade. By 1914, the empire had 43,280 kilometres of railway tracks, exceeded in length only by Russia and Germany. The railway system played a crucial role in supporting the army during World War I.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a unique empire with a dual monarchy structure. It faced challenges due to the diverse ethnic groups within its territory and the rise of nationalism. Ultimately, the empire's involvement in World War I, along with internal unrest and economic stagnation, led to its demise in 1918.
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It was a major world power
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of Europe's major powers. It was the second-largest country in Europe geographically and the third most populous, with wealth and income levels comparable to France and the USA in 1870. It was a large, heavily rural country, with a population of 53 million by 1913.
The Empire was a multi-national constitutional monarchy, consisting of two sovereign states with a single monarch, who was titled both Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. The two countries conducted unified diplomatic and defence policies. The Empire was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, also known as the 'Ausgleich', and lasted until 1918, when Hungary terminated the union with Austria.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was the fourth-largest machine-building country in the world and the third-largest manufacturer and exporter of electric home appliances, electric industrial appliances, and facilities for power plants, after the US and the German Empire. It was also the world's second-largest flour exporter, after the US, and Budapest was the world's largest flour-milling centre. The Empire had the fourth-biggest machine manufacturer in the world and constructed Europe's second-largest railway network, after the German Empire.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a central power in World War I, which began with an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war on the Kingdom of Serbia on 28 July 1914. The Empire was already effectively dissolved by the time the military authorities signed the armistice of Villa Giusti on 3 November 1918.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was not the sole industrialised centre of the Empire. While industrialisation was centred on Vienna, Budapest, and Prague, it also spread to the Austrian lands, the Alpine region, the Bohemian lands, the central Hungarian plain, and the Carpathian lands.
No, the Kingdom of Hungary comprised 42% of the population of the Empire.
No, the Kingdom of Hungary comprised over half of the Empire's territory.