
The name and form of the political entity that encompassed modern-day Austria in 1886 was Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy, or the Habsburg Monarchy. This constitutional monarchy in Central Europe existed between 1867 and 1918 and was formed by the union of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. The name Austria itself has a long history, with roots in the Celtic, Latin, and Germanic languages. The Latinized name Austria first appeared in the 12th century, derived from earlier forms like Ostarrîchi or Ostmark, meaning eastern realm or eastern borderland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Austria-Hungary |
| Colloquial Names | Austro-Hungarian Empire, Dual Monarchy, Habsburg Monarchy |
| Type of State | Multi-national constitutional monarchy |
| Number of Sovereign States | 2 |
| Monarch's Title | Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary |
| Time Period | 1867–1918 |
| Geographic Size | Second-largest country in Europe |
| Population | Third-most populous country in Europe |
| Global Population Ranking | Among the ten most populous countries worldwide |
| Telephone Calls in 1913 | 568 million |
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What You'll Learn

Austria-Hungary
In 1886, the official name of the state was Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy, or the Habsburg Monarchy. It was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe that existed between 1867 and 1918.
The Austrian and Hungarian kingdoms had a complex relationship. Following Hungary's defeat against the Ottoman Empire in 1526, the Habsburgs assumed the Hungarian throne, but their control was limited to a small north-western portion of the former kingdom's territory. In 1718, all former territories of the Hungarian kingdom were ceded to the Habsburgs, but the Kingdom of Hungary continued to press for greater self-governance and independence. This eventually led to the Compromise of 1867, which established the co-equal union of the two kingdoms.
The union was dissolved in 1918 when Hungary terminated the union with Austria. Notably, the events leading up to World War I began in July 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, with Russia mobilizing in support of Serbia, setting off a series of counter-mobilizations.
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The Austro-Hungarian Empire
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 granted Hungary full internal autonomy and a responsible ministry, in exchange for remaining a single great state for purposes of war and foreign affairs. The "common monarchy" consisted of the emperor and his court, the minister for foreign affairs, and the minister of war. There was no common prime minister or cabinet.
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The Austrian Empire
During its existence, the Austrian Empire was the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom. Geographically, it was the third-largest empire in Europe, after the Russian Empire and the First French Empire. The Austrian Empire was dominated by the House of Habsburg and House of Habsburg-Lorraine from 1273 to 1918. Under the rule of Empress Maria Theresa (1717-1780), the Habsburg holdings were reformed and united.
Following the defeat of the Austrian army in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 was adopted, joining the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria to form Austria-Hungary. This new union 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 Austrian and Hungarian states were co-equal in power, conducting unified diplomatic and defence policies.
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The Kingdom of Hungary
In 1886, the Kingdom of Hungary was part of Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy, or the Habsburg Monarchy. This was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe that existed between 1867 and 1918. The Kingdom of Hungary had a name, a king, and a history of its own, while the rest of the empire was a casual agglomeration of territories without a clear description.
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The Holy Roman Empire
In 1886, the territory that is now known as Austria was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe that existed between 1867 and 1918.
On 25 December 800, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne Roman emperor, reviving the title more than three centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. The title lapsed in 924 but was revived in 962 when Otto I was crowned emperor by Pope John XII, as Charlemagne's and the Carolingian Empire's successor. From 962 until the 12th century, the empire was one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe. It depended on cooperation between the emperor and his vassals. This was disturbed during the Salian period, and the empire reached its apex of territorial expansion and power under the House of Hohenstaufen in the mid-13th century. However, overextension led to a partial collapse.
The exact term "Holy Roman Empire" was not used until the 13th century. Before that, the empire was referred to as "universum regnum" ("the whole kingdom"), "imperium christianum" ("Christian empire"), or "Romanum imperium" ("Roman empire"). The emperor's legitimacy always rested on the concept of translatio imperii, inheriting supreme power from the ancient emperors of Rome. In the modern period, the empire was often informally called the "German Empire" or "Roman-German Empire".
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Frequently asked questions
In 1886, Austria was called Austria-Hungary, or the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was a constitutional monarchy consisting of two sovereign states, the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria, with a single monarch.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe that existed from 1867 to 1918.
The official name of the state was Austria-Hungary, but it was also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy, or the Habsburg Monarchy.
The name 'Austria' comes from the Latin name 'Marchia Orientalis' or 'Marchia austriaca', which means 'eastern borderland'.
The area that is now Austria has been called many things over the centuries. In the late Iron Age, it was occupied by the Hallstatt Celtic culture and was referred to as Noricum. In the 6th century, it was occupied by the Bavarii, a Germanic people. In the 9th century, it fell to the Frankish Empire.




































