Leslie Massey
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period, with the first traces of human settlement dating from the Lower Paleolithic period (Old Stone Age). In the 2nd century BC, a Celtic state called Noricum developed around the region's ironworks. The Romans arrived in 200 BC and by 15 BC they dominated the entire area. In the late 1st century BC, the Romans annexed the area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Austria in German | Österreich |
| Translation of Österreich | Eastern Realm |
| Previous names of Austria | Noricum |
| Previous settlers of Austria | Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes |
| Previous political affiliations | Part of the Holy Roman Empire, Duchy, Archduchy |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's name in German: 'Österreich'
The German name for Austria is Österreich. The name is derived from the Old High German word "Ostarrîchi", which means "eastern realm". The name was first used in 996, referring to the territory of the Babenberg March, the easternmost part of the former Duchy of Bavaria, which is now the northeastern part of the Republic of Austria. The Latinized name "Austria" first appeared in the 12th century.
The area that is now Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and then annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. During the late Roman period, Christianization began in the region, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.
In the 10th century, the core areas that now encompass Austria were bequeathed to the house of Babenberg. The area was known as the "Marchia Orientalis" or "March of Austria", and was given to Leopold of Babenberg in 976. The name "Ostarrîchi" is mentioned in a document issued by Emperor Otto III in 996, referring to the "territory which is known in the vernacular as Ostarrîchi".
In the 12th century, the Margraviate was elevated to the status of a duchy, and in 1453 it became an archduchy. During this time, the name Österreich was retained, along with the Latin name "Austria". After the breakup of the Austrian monarchy following World War I, politicians of the new republic declared its name to be "Deutschösterreich" (Republic of German-Austria) and affirmed its affiliation with the German Republic.
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Austria's name before the Habsburgs
The area of present-day Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and was 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, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.
In the Middle Ages, the area that is now Austria was divided into several duchies and kingdoms, including the Duchy of Styria, the Duchy of Carinthia, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Kingdom of Bohemia. The first Habsburg who can be reliably traced was Radbot of Klettgau, who was born in the late 10th century. The family name originated with the Habsburg Castle in present-day Switzerland, which was built by Radbot. His grandson, Otto II, was the first to take the fortress name as his own, adding "Count of Habsburg" to his title.
In 1156, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa issued the Privilegium Minus, which allowed the Austrian lands to be bequeathed through the female line. In the same year, Austria became a duchy. In 1273, Rudolf of Habsburg was elected King of the Romans. Taking advantage of the extinction of the Babenbergs and his victory over Ottokar II of Bohemia at the Battle on the Marchfeld in 1278, he appointed his sons as Dukes of Austria. From 1282, the Habsburgs were identified with Austria.
In 1453, Frederick III ratified the Habsburgs’ use of the unique title of “Archduke of Austria”, which had first been arrogated for them by Rudolf IV in 1358–59. In 1804, Austria established its own empire, which became a great power and one of the largest states in Europe. The official name of the new Habsburg empire was the Austrian Empire (German: Kaisertum Österreich).
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Austria's unification
In the second century AD, various German tribes began to extend their territory, making incursions into Roman territories. By the mid-500s, the Bavarians controlled the land between the eastern Alps and the Wienerwald region. Charlemagne, the king of the Franks, established a territory in the Danube Valley known as the Ostmark (Eastern March) around 800. This territory was first referred to as "Ostarrichi" in 996, which evolved into the modern German word "Österreich", meaning "eastern empire".
Over the centuries, the region that became Austria was ruled by a succession of different powers, including the Babenberg family, who held extensive feudal possessions in the area from 976 to 1246. In 1156, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa issued the Privilegium Minus, which allowed the Austrian lands to be bequeathed through the female line. This led to a period of turmoil, with various nobles vying for control until the king of Bohemia, Ottokar II Přemysl, became Austria's ruler in 1251.
In the late 13th century, the Habsburg monarchy established its rule in Austria, making it the heartland of their empire. The Habsburgs increased their power through strategic alliances and marriages, and Austria became a major imperial power in Central Europe. However, the country was divided in 1379, and it was not until 1490 that Maximilian reunited all the Austrian lands, establishing peace with Hungary in the process. Despite this unification, the pattern of division and reunification would continue to play out over the coming centuries.
In the 19th century, Austria became a dominant power in Europe, playing a key role in the Congress of Vienna in 1815. However, the country was expelled from the German Confederation in 1866, leading to a shift in policy towards the east. Despite attempts to reconcile with the rebellious Hungarians, the Austro-Hungarian Empire that emerged in 1867 was a compromise between the emperor and Hungary, rather than a true unification of the empire's diverse peoples.
In the early 20th century, Austria's unification became a contentious issue. The idea of grouping all Germans into one nation-state had been debated since the 19th century, and pro-unification activists in Austria pushed for a referendum on unification with Germany. This led to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss. While this unification was forbidden by international treaties and was not universally supported by Austrians, it fulfilled Hitler's vision of a Greater Germany and marked a significant expansion of Nazi power.
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Austria's Roman history
The area of modern-day Austria was settled in the Paleolithic Age, around 8000 BC. By 400 BC, Celtic peoples from Western Europe settled in the eastern Alps, and by the second century BC, a Celtic state called Noricum developed around the region's ironworks. From the 7th century BC onwards, one of the main regions of Celtic occupation was centred around Hallstatt, a large prehistoric salt-mining area. The Hallstatt period, 750 - c.450 BC, is named after this region.
The Romans arrived in 200 BC, and by 15 BC they dominated the entire area. Around the time of the birth of Christ, the Noric kingdom was absorbed by the Romans and became an imperial province along with the other parts of present-day Austria that had been conquered and subdued at the same time: Rhaetia (western Austria) and Pannonia (eastern Lower Austria and Burgenland). The Romans ruled over the region by the Danube for almost 500 years and founded numerous settlements. Carnuntum, in Pannonia, was the most important Roman settlement in Austria and became the centre of Roman fortifications along the Danube.
During the Roman period, the Germanic Bavarians steadily replaced Romansch as the main language, but they adopted many Roman customs and became increasingly Christianized. By the end of the Roman period, the Alpine region had been Christianized by Irish and Scottish monks.
In the mid-500s, the Bavarians controlled the territory between the eastern Alps and the Wienerwald region. In 700, Charlemagne established the Carolingian East March between the rivers Enns, Raab and Drau (Drava) as a bulwark against the Avars. This territory was known as Ostmark, which later became Österreich, the current German word for Austria.
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Austria's Paleolithic history
The area of present-day Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. The first traces of human settlement date from the Lower Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age). The oldest traces of human habitation in Austria, dating back more than 250,000 years, were found in the Repolust Cave at Badl, near Peggau in Styria. These include stone tools, bone tools, and pottery fragments alongside mammalian remains. Evidence dating back 70,000 years was also found in the Gudenus Cave in northwestern Lower Austria. Upper Paleolithic remains are more numerous in Lower Austria, particularly in the Wachau region, which includes the sites of two of the oldest pieces of art in Austria: the Venus of Galgenberg and the Venus of Willendorf, figurative representations of women.
The Alpine lands and the fertile plains of the Danube Valley were settled in prehistoric times. The area's rich deposits of mineral resources, especially salt and iron, facilitated the development of a prosperous Celtic population. By the 1st century BC, the Celts had become an important trading partner of the neighbouring Roman Empire. Around the time of the birth of Christ, the Noric kingdom was absorbed by the Romans and became an imperial province alongside the other parts of present-day Austria that had been conquered: Rhaetia (western Austria) and Pannonia (eastern Lower Austria and Burgenland). The Romans ruled over the region for almost 500 years and founded numerous settlements.
In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture (c. 800 BC). They first organized as a Celtic kingdom referred to by the Romans as Noricum, dating from c. 800 to 400 BC. At the end of the 1st century BC, the lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire.
In 976, Leopold von Babenberg became the margrave of the Ostmark, and the Babenberg family ruled over the region for centuries. The first recorded instance of the name 'Austria' appeared in 996, in a document of King Otto III written as Ostarrîchi, referring to the territory of the Babenberg March. The Latinized name Austria was used in 12th-century writings during the time of Leopold III (1095–1136).
In the Migration Period of the 6th century, the Bavarii, a Germanic people, occupied these lands until they fell to the Frankish Empire in the 9th century.
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Frequently asked questions
The area of today's Austria was inhabited by the Celts around 400 BC and was called Noricum.
The Celts were 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, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.
During the Middle Ages, the area of Austria was divided into three divisions: Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and "Inner Austria".
In German, Austria is called "Österreich", which translates to "eastern realm".
