The Lands Of Austria, Hungary, And Croatia: What's In A Name?

The area consisting of Austria, Hungary and Croatia was known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or the Dual Monarchy. It was established in 1867 and consisted of what are now Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and parts of Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and Italy.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire

Following the 1867 reforms, the Austrian and Hungarian states were officially united. The two countries maintained "common" ministries of foreign affairs and defence under the monarch's direct authority, as well as a third finance ministry responsible for financing these two "common" portfolios.

Hungary's leaders were generally less willing than their Austrian counterparts to share power with their subject minorities. However, they granted a large measure of autonomy to Croatia in 1868, modelling their relationship with that kingdom on their own compromise with Austria. After 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian joint military and civilian rule until it was fully annexed in 1908, provoking the Bosnian crisis.

The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia

Following the 1867 reforms, the Austrian and Hungarian states were co-equal in power. The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which also included the Dalmatian territories of modern-day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and parts of Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Italy and Slovakia.

The Austrian and Hungarian states

Hungary's leaders were generally less willing than their Austrian counterparts to share power with their subject minorities, but they granted a large measure of autonomy to Croatia in 1868. To some extent, they modeled their relationship to that kingdom on their own compromise with Austria of the previous year. The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia was an autonomous region under the Hungarian crown, which negotiated the Croatian–Hungarian Settlement in 1868.

After 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian joint military and civilian rule until it was fully annexed in 1908, provoking the Bosnian crisis.

The Austrian Empire

Following the 1867 reforms, the Austrian and Hungarian states were co-equal in power. However, Hungary's leaders were generally less willing than their Austrian counterparts to share power with their subject minorities. After 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian joint military and civilian rule until it was fully annexed in 1908, provoking the Bosnian crisis.

The Kingdom of Hungary

Following the 1867 reforms, the Kingdom of Hungary granted a large measure of autonomy to Croatia, modelling their relationship on their own compromise with Austria. The Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia, an autonomous region under the Hungarian crown, negotiated the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement in 1868, which established Croatian as the only official language in Croatia and Slavonia.

The Hungarians were generally less willing than the Austrians to share power with their subject minorities, but they did grant a degree of autonomy to certain regions, such as Croatia and Slavonia. After 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian joint military and civilian rule until it was fully annexed in 1908, provoking the Bosnian crisis.

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