Omari Gates
Austria has a long and complex history, with the territory undergoing numerous drastic changes over time. The area was settled in prehistoric times, with the first traces of human settlement dating from the Lower Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age). The Austrian site of Hallstatt gave its name to the principal culture of the Early Iron Age (c. 1100–450 BCE). In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture (c. 800 BCE), who organized as the Celtic kingdom of Noricum, dating from c. 800 to 400 BCE. The Romans arrived in 200 BCE and by 15 BCE they dominated the entire area, ruling over the region for almost 500 years. After the Romans withdrew, the Bavarians, a Germanic people, occupied the lands until they fell to the Frankish Empire in the 9th century. The name Ostarrîchi (Austria) has been in use since 996 AD, and in 1156, Austria became an independent duchy of the Holy Roman Empire. The history of Austria's conquest and rule by various empires and dynasties, including the Habsburgs, the French under Napoleon, and the Germans during World War II, is a multifaceted and intriguing aspect of European history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conquered by | Roman Empire |
| Date of conquest | Around 15 BC |
| Conquered during | Migration Period |
| Conquered by | Bavarians |
| Date of conquest | 6th century |
| Conquered during | Frankish Empire |
| Conquered by | Magyars |
| Date of conquest | 906 |
| Conquered by | Nazi Germany |
| Date of conquest | 1938 |
| Conquered by | Soviet Union |
| Date of conquest | 1945 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria was annexed to Germany in 1938
Austria has a long and complex history, with its borders and political structure changing drastically over time. In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, marking a significant shift in the country's trajectory.
In the lead-up to this event, Austria had been facing internal struggles between those who favoured independence and those who supported unification with Germany. The Austrofascism movement, led by Engelbert Dollfuss and his successor Kurt Schuschnigg, aimed to maintain Austria's independence, emphasizing the country's unique identity while acknowledging its predominantly German-speaking population. However, economic pressures and the rise of Austrian Nazis posed significant challenges to their efforts.
On March 11, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, and the annexation process began. The Austrian Chancellor, Schuschnigg, had attempted to negotiate with Hitler to preserve Austria's sovereignty but was coerced into naming Nazis to his cabinet and ultimately resigned under pressure. Hitler, himself Austrian-born, delivered a triumphant speech in Vienna, declaring the unification of Austria and Germany as a "Greater German Reich." This event, known as the "Anschluss," was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, with large crowds gathering to support Hitler.
The annexation was also facilitated by propaganda, with the term "Anschluss" itself translating to "joinder," "connection," or "unification." This language was intentionally chosen to create the impression that the union was not coerced and to frame it as a natural, almost inevitable outcome. The international community, however, denounced the annexation, with the Mexican Delegate to the International Office of Labor, Isidro Fabela, voicing a strong protest.
As a result of the annexation, Austria became a federal state of Germany, known as "'Ostarrîchi,'" until the end of World War II. After the German defeat, the Allied powers declared the "Anschluss" void, and Austria once again became an independent republic, known as the Second Austrian Republic, in 1955. This marked the end of a tumultuous period in Austrian history, during which the country's identity and sovereignty were fiercely contested.
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Austria was occupied by the Romans in 15 BC
Austria has a long and complex history, with many different groups occupying the territory now known as the Republic of Austria. The area was settled as early as the Paleolithic Age, and around 400 BC, Celtic peoples from Western Europe settled in the eastern Alps.
In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by the Hallstatt Celtic culture, which first organised as a Celtic kingdom referred to by the Romans as Noricum, dating from c.800 to 400 BC. The territory of present-day Austria corresponded roughly with the Roman province of Noricum, which was annexed by the Roman Empire around 15 BC. This marked the beginning of almost 500 years of Roman rule in the region, known as "Austria Romana" in the 19th century. The Romans founded numerous settlements, including Carnuntum, the capital of the Roman province of Pannonia in what is now Lower Austria.
The Romans arrived in the region around 200 BC, and by 15 BC, they had established dominance over the entire area. The lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire, and the western and eastern extremities of present-day Austria were within the Roman provinces of Raetia and Pannonia, respectively. During this time, the region was a prosperous Celtic kingdom, with rich deposits of mineral resources, especially salt and iron, facilitating trade with the neighbouring Roman Empire.
The Roman province of Noricum was divided along the main Alpine ridge under Diocletian's rule (284-305) into Noricum ripense in the north and Noricum Mediterraneum in the south. The province of Raetia lay across the Ziller in the west, corresponding to the present-day provinces of Vorarlberg and Tyrol. Present-day Burgenland in the east was part of Pannonia.
The Romans eventually withdrew from the Danube region due to tribal migrations, abandoning their once-flourishing cities. After the Roman withdrawal, the area that is now Austria was occupied by various Germanic and Slavic tribes. In the 6th century, the Bavarii, a Germanic people, occupied the lands until they fell to the Frankish Empire in the 9th century.
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Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806
The history of Austria is a complex and lengthy one, with the territory undergoing drastic changes over time. The region that is now known as Austria has been invaded, settled, and fought over by various tribes and empires throughout its history.
In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture, who established the kingdom of Noricum, which became an important trading partner of the neighbouring Roman Empire. Around the time of the birth of Christ, Noricum was absorbed by the Romans and became an imperial province. The Romans ruled over the region for almost 500 years, until they eventually withdrew from the Danube region due to tribal migrations.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, various tribes and empires competed for control of the region. In 976, the Babenbergs, a Bavarian noble family, were entrusted with the administration of the region, and they expanded their power over the following centuries. In 1156, Austria was elevated to the status of a duchy and was granted important privileges. The Babenbergs were followed by the Habsburgs, who constantly expanded their sphere of influence and added new territories to their dominion.
During this time, Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages. The Holy Roman Empire was officially ruled by an elected Emperor, although in practice, the position was often controlled by dynasties such as the Habsburgs, who held the title of Holy Roman Emperor from 1438 to 1740 and again from 1745 to 1806.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Holy Roman Empire underwent significant changes and reforms. In 1804, Holy Roman Emperor Francis II founded the Empire of Austria, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. This was done in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, as Francis II wanted to safeguard his dynasty's imperial status and prevent Napoleon from becoming Holy Roman Emperor.
However, the Holy Roman Empire's existence was threatened by French intervention and victories over the Austrians in the early 1800s. In 1805, Francis II was forced to agree to the Treaty of Pressburg, ceding large amounts of territory to Napoleon's allies and effectively dissolving the Holy Roman Empire. On 6 August 1806, Francis II officially proclaimed the dissolution of the Empire, and Austria became the Austrian Empire. This marked the end of Austria's time as part of the Holy Roman Empire, which had lasted from 962 to 1806.
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Austria was part of the German Confederation until 1866
Austria has a long and complex history, with its territory undergoing drastic changes over time. The country has been conquered and settled by various groups, including the Hallstatt Celtic culture, the Roman Empire, the Bavarii, and the Frankish Empire. In the 13th century, the Duchy of Austria was ruled by the Babenbergs, a Bavarian noble family. After the last male Babenberg died, the Habsburgs took control of the Duchy in 1282.
The Habsburgs, who originated in Swabia, expanded their influence and territory through skillful marital policies, acquiring additional lands and becoming the dominant force within the Holy Roman Empire. In 1440, the House of Habsburg became the ruling family of the Empire, which included territories in present-day Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, northern Italy, and western Poland.
In the 19th century, Austria played a significant role in the German Confederation. The German Confederation was an association of 39 predominantly German-speaking sovereign states in Central Europe, created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as a replacement for the Holy Roman Empire, which had been dissolved in 1806 due to the Napoleonic Wars. Austria was a leading member of the German Confederation, presiding over the Federal Convention and holding one vote in the Federal Assembly. However, the Confederation lacked a central unifying force, leading to diplomatic tension between Prussia and Austria, both of which had ambitions to unify Germany under their respective proposals.
The rivalry between Prussia and Austria intensified, especially after 1859, and culminated in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, which resulted in the dissolution of the German Confederation. Austria was defeated in this war, and as a consequence, it was separated from Germany. The Prussian-dominated North German Confederation was established in the same year, excluding Austria and the other southern German states. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, creating the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which lasted until the end of World War I in 1918.
Thus, Austria was a part of the German Confederation from its formation in 1815 until the Confederation's dissolution in 1866, a period marked by complex power dynamics and tensions between Prussia and Austria.
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Austria was a monarchy with Hungary from 1867-1918
Austria has a long and complex history, with its territory undergoing drastic changes over time. In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture, who organised as the kingdom of Noricum. Over time, this kingdom was absorbed by the Romans, who ruled for almost 500 years. After the fall of the Roman Empire, various groups, including the Bavarians and Slavs, settled in the region.
In the 10th century, the Babenbergs, a Bavarian noble family, took control of the region, and in 996 AD, the name "Ostarrîchi" (Austria) came into use. Over the centuries, the territory of Austria expanded and contracted, with different families and empires vying for control. By the 12th century, Austria had become a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, and in 1273, the House of Habsburg rose to power, dominating the region until 1918.
In 1804, Francis II, the Holy Roman Emperor, proclaimed himself Emperor of Austria, creating the Austrian Empire, or the "Empire of Austria". This empire was officially part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806. The Austrian Empire continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a brief period of alliance.
In 1866, Austria was defeated in the Austro-Prussian War, which led to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. This agreement established a dual monarchy, officially called Austria-Hungary or the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with the Kingdom of Hungary and the Austrian Empire joining to form a single state. This union was a diplomatic and military alliance, with a single monarch who held the titles of Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. The two halves of the empire had their own constitutions, governments, and parliaments, and citizens were treated as foreigners when in the other half.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a multinational constitutional monarchy and was one of Europe's major powers. It was the second-largest country in Europe geographically and the third most populous, after Russia and the German Empire. However, it was not without its challenges, particularly regarding the status of various ethnic groups and the competing aims of Austrian and Hungarian nationalists.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire came to an end in 1918, following World War I. After the empire's collapse, Austria was reduced to its main, mostly German-speaking areas and adopted the name the Republic of German-Austria. This led to the creation of the First Austrian Republic in 1919. Thus, from 1867 to 1918, Austria was part of a dual monarchy with Hungary, marking a significant period in the country's history.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was last conquered in 1938 by Nazi Germany, led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler.
Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany with the support of a large majority of Austrians.
Yes, the Romans conquered the region of modern-day Austria around 15 BC and ruled for almost 500 years.
