Austrians: What's In A Name?

The people of Austria are called Austrians. The English term Austrians was applied to the population of Habsburg Austria from the 17th or 18th century. The term Austrian entered the English language in the early 17th century, initially referring to members of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. Austrians have historically spoken German, and the country is also known as Österreich in German.

Austrians are the citizens and nationals of Austria

Historically, Austrians were considered Germans and viewed themselves as such. The Austrian lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, which resulted in Prussia expelling the Austrian Empire from the Confederation. When Germany was founded as a nation-state in 1871, Austria was not a part of it.

After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 at the end of World War I, Austria briefly adopted the name the Republic of German-Austria in an attempt to unite with Germany. However, this was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919). The First Austrian Republic was founded in 1919.

Following World War II, both the political ideology of pan-Germanism and the union with Germany became associated with Nazism. As a result, Austrians developed their own distinct national identity, separate from that of Germany. Today, the vast majority of Austrians do not identify as German.

The English word Austrian is derived from the proper name Austria, which comes from the Latin name for the country, 'Austria'. This, in turn, is a latinization of 'Österreich', the German name for Austria.

The territory of what is now Austria has a long history of human settlement, dating back to the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and was later annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, during the late Roman period.

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, with its capital, Vienna, being the most populous city and state. Austria has a population of around 9 million people and is known for its high standard of living.

The native language of Austria is German, and the standard used is called Austrian German. However, in terms of native language, it is generally Austrian dialects of Austro-Bavarian and Allemannic that are used. Austrian German is used in schools, websites, official announcements, and most media.

The majority of Austrians are traditionally Catholic, with an estimated 66% adhering to Roman Catholicism in 2009. However, secularism has been on the rise since the 1980s, and an estimated 17% of the population is non-religious as of 2005.

The English term Austrian was applied to the population of Habsburg Austria from the 17th or 18th century

The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, it was the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom, while geographically, it was the third-largest empire in Europe after the Russian Empire and the First French Empire.

The English term Austrian was used to identify subjects of the Domus Austriae, the House of Austria, as the dynasty was called in Europe, regardless of their ethnic ancestry. Although not formally a united state, the lands ruled by the Habsburgs would sometimes be known by the name "Austria". In reality, they remained a disparate range of semi-autonomous states, most of which were part of the complex network of states that was the Holy Roman Empire.

The adjective Austrian entered the English language in the early 17th century, at the time referring to Habsburg Austria in the sense of "members of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg" (the junior branch emerging from the dynastic split into Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs in 1521), but from the 18th century also "a native or inhabitant of Austria".

Austrians speak German, with various dialects including Bavarian and Alemannic

The official language of Austria is German, and the standard used is Austrian German, which is distinct from the German of Germany or Switzerland. In less formal situations, Austrians use Bavarian and Alemannic dialects, which are traditionally spoken but rarely written in Austria.

Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the southeast of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and South Tyrol in Italy. It is spoken by approximately 12 million people and is the largest of all German dialects. Bavarian is commonly considered to be a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language. The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is larger than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak. Bavarian has three main dialects: Northern, Central, and Southern.

Alemannic German is a group of dialects of the Upper German branch of the Germanic language family. It is spoken by about 10 million people in southern Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. In Switzerland, it is called Swiss German, and in Alsace, it is usually called Alsatian. Alemannic German is only a spoken language and has no fixed orthography.

Historically, Austrians were regarded as Germans and viewed themselves as such. However, after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, Austrians developed their own separate and distinct national identity. Today, the vast majority of Austrians do not identify as German.

Austria is a federation of nine states, with Vienna as its capital

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is a federation of nine states, with Vienna as its capital. The country is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west.

The area of modern-day Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period, and around 400 BC, it was settled by the Celts. Subsequently, it was annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC, and Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries. During the Migration Period, numerous Germanic tribes arrived in the region.

Austria, as a unified state, emerged from the remnants of the Eastern and Hungarian March at the end of the first millennium. It served as a frontier march of the Holy Roman Empire and later became a Duchy in 1156 and an Archduchy in 1453. As the heartland of the Habsburg monarchy since the late 13th century, Austria was a significant imperial power in Central Europe for centuries.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is renowned for its rich cultural history and architectural landmarks. It was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and served as the administrative capital of the empire during the 16th century.

Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president as head of state and a chancellor as the head of government. The country has a high nominal GDP per capita and boasts high living standards for its citizens.

The native language of Austria is German, specifically Austrian German (Österreichisches Wörterbuch), which is used in schools, publications, announcements, and websites. However, in daily conversations, Austrians speak various dialects of Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic.

Austria is a highly urbanized country, with over half of its population residing in cities and towns. Vienna, the most populous city, is not only the political center but also a cultural hub, known for its musical heritage and Baroque architecture.

The country has a federal structure, consisting of nine federal states (Bundesländer), each with its own unique characteristics and contributions to Austria's diverse culture and history.

The country is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein

Austria is bordered by several countries, including Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west.

Austria's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The country is divided into nine federal states, with the capital, Vienna, being the most populous city and state.

The country's population is approximately 9 million, with over half living in cities and towns of more than 10,000 residents. The official language of Austria is German, and the country has a high life expectancy of 79.1 years for males and 83.8 years for females.

Austria has a rich history, having been a powerful empire in Central Europe for centuries. It is known for its music, art, and cuisine, influenced by its neighbouring countries.

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