Lexi Webster
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since the 12th century when Henry II, Duke of Austria, moved the Babenberg family residence there. Vienna is Austria's most populous city and one of its nine federal states. It is the country's cultural, economic, and political centre, and it has served as the capital of various Austrian predecessor states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Capital of Austria before WW2 | Vienna |
| Country | Austria |
| Status of Vienna | Capital, most populous city, and one of nine federal states of Austria |
| Population of Vienna | 2 million |
| Population of Vienna's metropolitan area | 2.9 million |
| Vienna's location | On the eastern edge of the Vienna Woods, surrounded by Lower Austria |
| Vienna's distance from other cities | 50 km west of Slovakia's capital Bratislava, 60 km northwest of Hungary, 60 km south of Moravia (Czech Republic) |
| History | Vienna was a Celtic settlement called Vedunia, converted by the Romans into the castrum Vindobona in the 1st century |
| History | Vienna was the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246 |
| History | Vienna was granted city rights in 1221 |
| History | Vienna was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire from the 16th century until 1806 |
| History | Vienna was the capital of the newly formed Austrian Empire in 1804 |
| History | Vienna was the capital of the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 |
| History | Vienna was the capital of the First Republic of Austria in 1919 |
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What You'll Learn
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since 1155
During the Babenberg rule, Vienna became a prominent city, with the construction of St. Stephen's Cathedral in the 12th century, which served as a visible landmark. Henry II also founded the Schottenstift monastery, where a statue of him can still be found today.
In the centuries that followed, Vienna continued to be a significant city and was established as the seat of the Aulic Council at the turn of the 16th century. The Habsburgs, who succeeded the Babenbergs, made Vienna their seat, and it became the administrative capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The city remained an important centre of the empire, even after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
Vienna played a crucial role in defending against Ottoman armies during the 16th and 17th centuries, with the siege of Vienna in 1529 and the Battle of Vienna in 1683. The city also faced challenges, such as the Great Plague in 1679, which caused significant loss of life.
In the 19th century, Vienna underwent significant development, transforming its bastions and glacis into the Ringstraße, a grand boulevard surrounding the historical town. The city's cultural scene flourished, particularly in music, attracting composers such as Johannes Brahms and Gustav Mahler.
Vienna's status as the capital of Austria continued through the interwar period and into World War II. After the liberation of Austria in 1945, the country regained its sovereignty and declared its neutrality in 1955. Vienna remains the capital of the Republic of Austria today and serves as its cultural, economic, and political centre.
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Vienna was the former seat of the Holy Roman Empire
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since the 12th century, when Henry II, Duke of Austria, moved the Babenberg family residence to the city. However, its history goes back much further, with traces of human occupation in the area dating to the Paleolithic period.
In the 1st century, the Roman Empire established a military camp in the area now covered by Vienna's city centre. Known as Vindobona, the settlement was strategically located in the foothills of the Alps and grew to a population of about 15,000. It was elevated to a municipium with Roman city rights in 212.
In 1155, Vienna became the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246. During this time, Vienna received the rights of a city and became an important trading site. In 1221, Vienna was granted city rights and established as a staple port, meaning that all traders passing through had to offer their goods in the city. This allowed Vienna to create a network of far-reaching trade relations and become one of the most important cities in the Holy Roman Empire.
In the 16th century, Vienna became the seat of the Habsburg emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, a position it held until the empire's dissolution in 1806. The Habsburgs had succeeded the Babenbergs as rulers of Austria, and under them, Vienna became one of Europe's cultural hubs. During this time, Vienna was a centre of science and the fine arts, and the university, founded in 1365, was a centre of humanism.
In summary, Vienna was a significant city long before it became the capital of Austria, and its status as the former seat of the Holy Roman Empire reflects its long history and cultural importance.
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Austria's predecessor states date back to the late Iron Age
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since the 12th century, when Henry II moved his residence there. However, Austria's predecessor states date back to the late Iron Age. The Iron Age in Austria is represented by the Hallstatt culture, which was influenced by Mediterranean civilisations and Steppe peoples. This transitioned into the Celtic La Tène culture, which gave rise to the first recorded local tribes and place names.
Out of this arose Noricum, a confederation of twelve Alpine Celtic tribes under the leadership of the Norici. This was confined to present-day southern and eastern Austria and part of Slovenia. The western part of what is now Austria was settled by the Raeti. The area was rich in natural resources, with high-quality iron ore mined and processed in eastern Styria and the Burgenland, and salt mines in Hallstatt.
During the late Roman period, the region was Christianised, and numerous Germanic tribes arrived during the Migration Period. In the late first century BC, the area that is now Austria was annexed by the Romans and became known as "Austria Romana". The most important Roman settlement was Carnuntum, capital of the Roman province of Pannonia in what is now Lower Austria.
In the 5th century, the area was invaded by the Germanic Rugii, and later by the Ostrogoths. In 788, Charlemagne, King of the Franks, conquered the area and encouraged colonisation, as well as introducing Christianity. As part of Eastern Francia, the core areas that now make up Austria were bequeathed to the House of Babenberg. In 976, Leopold von Babenberg became the margrave of the Ostmark, and the Babenbergs ruled Austria until 1246.
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Vienna was the centre of the Babenberg dynasty
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since the 12th century, when it became the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled from 976 to 1246. The Babenbergs were a noble dynasty of Austrian dukes and margraves, descending from the Popponids of Bamberg in the Duchy of Franconia (present-day Bavaria).
In 1155, Henry II, Duke of Austria, moved the Babenberg family residence from Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria to Vienna, establishing the city as the centre of the Babenberg dynasty. This move followed the founding of the Schottenstift monastery in Vienna by Henry II. The Babenberg family can be divided into two groups: the Elder or Franconian House of Babenberg, and the Younger or Austrian House of Babenberg, or simply the House of Babenberg. The latter group consists of the descendants of Margrave Leopold I, who ruled Austria from 976 onwards.
The Babenbergs ruled the imperial Margraviate of Austria from its creation in 976 until it became a duchy in 1156, and they continued to rule until the extinction of their line in 1246. With the death of Duke Frederick II in 1246, the male line of the Babenbergs ended, and the family's power declined rapidly. They were succeeded by the House of Habsburg, who established Vienna as the seat of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire in the 16th century.
Vienna has remained the capital of Austria throughout its history, serving as the administrative capital of the Holy Roman Empire and, later, the Republic of German-Austria and the First Republic of Austria. The city is located in the northeastern foothills of the Alps and is traversed by the Vienna River. It is Austria's primate city, with a population of over two million people in its metropolitan area, representing nearly one-third of the country's population.
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Vienna is Austria's primate city
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since the 12th century, when Henry II, Duke of Austria, moved the Babenberg family residence to the city. Vienna is Austria's primate city, with a population of over two million people. It is the country's cultural, economic, and political centre and is surrounded by Lower Austria.
The city's history is long and varied. It was first established as a Celtic settlement, Vedunia, which was converted by the Romans into the castrum Vindobona in the 1st century. The Romans held the area until the fall of the Roman Empire, after which it was invaded by Germanic tribes. In the 8th century, the region was settled by the Baiuvarii. Vienna became the seat of the Babenbergs in 1155, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246. In 1221, Vienna was granted city rights, and in the 16th century, it became the seat of the Holy Roman Empire under the Habsburgs, who succeeded the Babenbergs.
Vienna remained the secret capital of the Holy Roman Empire until the empire's dissolution in 1806. In 1804, during the Napoleonic Wars, Vienna became the capital of the newly formed Austrian Empire. It retained this status through the Austrian Empire's various iterations, including the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until World War I. After the war, Vienna became the capital of the First Austrian Republic in 1919.
Vienna has always been a cultural hub, particularly for music, art, and philosophy. It played host to many famous composers, including Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, and Richard Strauss. The city's cultural contributions also include the Vienna Secession movement in art, the Second Viennese School, and the architecture of Adolf Loos. Vienna is also known for its philosophical legacy, with the likes of Ludwig Wittgenstein calling the city home.
Today, Vienna is a federal state of Austria and remains the country's capital and most populous city. It is host to several major international organizations, including the United Nations, OPEC, and the OSCE. The city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and is known for its architectural and cultural significance.
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Frequently asked questions
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since the 12th century.
Vienna is Austria's cultural, economic, and political centre. It is renowned for its architecture and was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire.
Yes, Linz served as the capital of Upper Austria when Hungary occupied Eastern Austria in the late 15th century.
Vienna is home to just over two million people, with its larger metropolitan area having a population of nearly 2.9 million.
