Omari Gates
The March of Austria, also known as the Margraviate of Austria, was a medieval frontier march that existed from around 970 to 1156. It was centred along the river Danube, between the river Enns and the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald). The term March refers to a border region, and the March of Austria served as a defensive border for eastern Bavaria against the Avars during the reign of Charlemagne. In contemporary Latin sources, the March of Austria was referred to as Marcha orientalis or marchia Austriae, while in Old High German, it was called Ostarrîchi. The early march closely corresponded to the modern region of Lower Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | c. 970 to 1156 |
| Location | Along the river Danube, between the river Enns and the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) |
| Territory | Within the modern Austrian provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria |
| Preceding Events | Defence of eastern Bavarian borders against the Avars, who were defeated during the reign of Charlemagne (d. 814) |
| Historical Context | Frankish period, under the jurisdiction of Eastern Frankish rulers holding Bavaria and appointing frontier commanders in eastern regions |
| Raids | By Magyars around 900, leading to their defeat in the Battle of Lechfeld (955) and gradual German reconquest |
| Formation | Reorganisation of retaken frontier regions along the Danube into a frontier county (margraviate) by 970 |
| Names | Marcha orientalis ("Eastern march"), marchia Austriae, Austrie marchionibus, Ostarrîchi, Margraviate of Austria (German: Markgrafschaft Österreich), Bavarian Eastern March (Bayerische Ostmark) |
| Administration | Under margraves, including Burchard (appointed by King Otto I) and Leopold the Illustrious from the House of Babenberg |
| Expansion | Eastwards beyond the modern Wachau, with colonisation of the northern Waldviertel up to the Thaya river and the Bohemian march of Moravia |
| Residence | Moved down the Danube to Klosterneuburg until 1145, when Vienna became the capital |
| Defence | Babenbergs built a system of castles in the Wienerwald mountain range and along the Danube river |
| Population | Mix of Slavic and native Romano-Germanic peoples, speaking Rhaeto-Romance languages |
| Later History | Annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938, referred to as the Anschluss ("joining" or "connection") |
| Nazi-era Name | Ostmark ("Eastern March"), with Upper and Lower Austria renamed as Upper and Lower Danube |
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What You'll Learn
The Margraviate of Austria
By about 970, the newly retaken frontier regions along the river Danube were reorganised into a frontier county, with the march comprising the lands north and south of the river. The early march corresponded closely to the modern region of Lower Austria. The first margrave appointed was Burchard in around 960, followed by Leopold the Illustrious from the House of Babenberg in 976. The Babenbergs had a defence system of several castles built in the Wienerwald mountain range and along the Danube River, including Greifenstein.
Under Margrave Ernest the Brave (1055-1075), the colonisation of the northern Waldviertel up to the Thaya river and the Bohemian march of Moravia began, and the Hungarian March was merged into Austria. The margraves' residence was moved down the Danube to Klosterneuburg until 1145, when Vienna became the official capital. The early margraviate was populated by a mix of Slavic and native Romano-Germanic peoples, with the surrounding area colonised and Christianised by the Bavarian Bishops of Passau.
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The Eastern March
Under Margrave Ernest the Brave (1055-1075), the colonisation of the northern Waldviertel up to the Thaya river and the Bohemian march of Moravia began, and the Hungarian March was merged into Austria. The margraves' residence was moved down the Danube to Klosterneuburg, and in 1145, Vienna became the official capital. The Babenbergs constructed a defence system of castles in the Wienerwald mountain range and along the Danube, such as Greifenstein.
The early margraviate was populated by a mix of Slavic and native Romano-Germanic peoples, with the Bavarian Bishops of Passau leading the colonisation and Christianisation of the area. Ecclesiastical centres were established at the Benedictine abbey of Sankt Pölten, Klosterneuburg Monastery, and Heiligenkreuz Abbey.
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The Nazi Anschluss
The proposal for Anschluss had strong support in both Austria and Germany in the 1920s, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. However, support for unification waned over time, and by the end of 1933, Austrian public opinion about German annexation was largely against the idea. Nevertheless, the Austrian Nazi Party's popularity grew after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, and the notion of Austria joining Germany gained popularity, aided by Nazi propaganda campaigns.
In February 1938, Hitler invited Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to allow the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the question of Anschluss, but he was pressured by the Germans to cancel the vote and resign. On 11 March, Hitler threatened to invade Austria if Schuschnigg did not resign and hand over power to the Austrian Nazis. Schuschnigg resigned on the evening of 11 March, and Arthur Seyss-Inquart was appointed chancellor after midnight on 12 March. Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on 12 March, and German troops crossed the border into Austria, greeted by cheering Austrians. The invasion, without any shots fired, was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War").
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany and was widely popular in both Germany and Austria. It resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population, with Austrians participating in the persecution and the mass murder of Jews. The country of Austria ceased to exist, and Austrian and German Nazis worked to rapidly Nazify all aspects of Austrian life.
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The Bavarian Eastern March
In the 10th century, the region was raided by Magyars, who were defeated in 955 at the Battle of Lechfeld. This marked the beginning of the gradual German reconquest of the region. By 970, the newly retaken frontier regions along the River Danube were reorganised into a frontier county (margraviate) known as the Bavarian Eastern March. The first known margrave was Burchard (or Burkhard), appointed around 960 by King Otto I of Germany, who had initiated the reconquest.
In 976, during a restructuring of Bavaria, Otto's son and successor, Emperor Otto II, deposed Burchard and appointed Leopold the Illustrious from the House of Babenberg as margrave in return for his support. The margravial residence was probably at Pöchlarn or Melk, and the territory extended at least as far as the Wienerwald. Under Margrave Ernest the Brave (1055-1075), the colonisation of the northern Waldviertel up to the Thaya River and the Bohemian March of Moravia began, and the Hungarian March was merged into Austria. The residence was later moved down the Danube to Klosterneuburg until 1145, when Vienna became the official capital.
The Babenbergs constructed a defence system of several castles in the Wienerwald mountain range and along the Danube River, including Greifenstein. The surrounding area was colonised and Christianised by the Bavarian Bishops of Passau, with ecclesiastical centres at the Benedictine Abbey of Sankt Pölten, Klosterneuburg Monastery, and Heiligenkreuz Abbey. The early margraviate was populated by a mix of Slavic and native Romano-Germanic peoples, who spoke Rhaeto-Romance languages, remnants of which remain today in parts.
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The Austrian Empire
The origins of the Austrian Empire can be traced back to the late 10th century when the region was known as the Margraviate of Austria or the "Eastern March" of the Duchy of Bavaria. This medieval frontier march was centred along the Danube River, between the Enns River and the Vienna Woods. During this period, the region was often raided by the Magyars, who were eventually defeated in 955 at the Battle of Lechfeld, leading to a gradual German reconquest. By 970, the newly retaken frontier regions along the Danube were reorganised into a frontier county, marking the beginning of the Margraviate of Austria.
The Margraviate of Austria reached its greatest height under Leopold III, a friend of the church and founder of abbeys. During this time, the region was populated by a mix of Slavic and native Romano-Germanic peoples, with Bavarian Bishops of Passau colonising and Christianising the surrounding area. The early margraviate included territories such as Carniola, Carinthia, Istria, and Verona, which had been incorporated into Bavaria by 952.
In the 19th century, the idea of a united Austria and Germany, or "Anschluss," emerged, aiming to form a "Greater Germany." This gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, as the new Republic of German-Austria sought to unite with Germany. However, the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 prohibited this union and stripped Austria of territories like the Sudetenland.
In the lead-up to World War II, tensions rose again as Nazi Germany sought to annex Austria. On March 11, 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, invaded Austria, and a Nazi government headed by Arthur Seyss-Inquart was established. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was presented as a "reunification" of Austria with Germany, despite Austria never having been part of the German Empire. The international community largely accepted this union, with only Mexico lodging a protest.
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Frequently asked questions
The March of Austria, also known as the Margraviate of Austria, was a medieval frontier march that existed from around 970 to 1156. It was centred along the river Danube and comprised the lands north and south of it.
The term "March" refers to a border or frontier region. In this case, it refers to the eastern march of the duchy of Bavaria, which was a military district on the Germans' southeast frontier.
The March of Austria existed from around 970 to 1156. It stemmed from earlier frontier structures created for the defence of the eastern Bavarian borders against the Avars.
After 1156, the March of Austria continued to develop and expand. Vienna became the official capital in 1145, and under Margrave Leopold III, the Margravial Austria reached its greatest height.
