Lyla Lindsey
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The territory of present-day Austria was annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC, beginning 500 years of Austria Romana. In 1273, the House of Habsburg came to dominate Austria, and in 1278, Rudolf IV of Habsburg conquered the area, with Habsburg rule lasting until 1918. In 1806, when Emperor Francis II of Austria dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, Austria became the Austrian Empire. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, which collapsed after World War I in 1918.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of formation | 976 |
| First ruler | Leopold I of Babenberg |
| Dynasty | House of Babenberg |
| Dominant house(s) | House of Habsburg, House of Habsburg-Lorraine |
| Year the dominant houses' rule ended | 1918 |
| Year Austria became an independent republic | 1918 |
| Year Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany | 1938 |
| Year Austria became an independent republic again | 1955 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Austria was dominated by the House of Habsburg and House of Habsburg-Lorraine from 1273 to 1918
- The Romans built many Austrian cities, including Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Bregenz
- The Napoleonic Wars ended the Habsburg-controlled Holy Roman Empire in 1806
- Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which started World War I
- The First Austrian Republic was formed in 1919
Austria was dominated by the House of Habsburg and House of Habsburg-Lorraine from 1273 to 1918
In 1273, Radbot's seventh-generation descendant, Rudolph of Habsburg, was elected King of the Romans and took the name Rudolph I of Germany. Rudolph moved the family's power base to the Duchy of Austria, which the Habsburgs ruled until 1918. The throne of the Holy Roman Empire was continuously occupied by the Habsburgs from 1440 until their extinction in the male line in 1740. During this time, the Habsburgs expanded their influence through arranged marriages and by gaining political privileges, especially countship rights in Zürichgau, Aargau, and Thurgau.
In the 16th century, Vienna also served as the Holy Roman Empire's administrative capital. In 1804, two years before the dissolution of the empire, Austria established its own empire, which became a great power and one of the largest states in Europe. The Napoleonic Wars brought about the end of the Habsburg-controlled Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and the emergence of the Austrian Empire.
Franz Joseph (1830-1916) was the last member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to hold any significant political or military authority in Europe. At the beginning of his reign in 1848, Austria was the dominant power in Central Europe. However, his involvement in the Second Italian War of Independence and the Austro-Prussian War led to Austrian defeats, ending Austrian supremacy in Italy and Germany and accelerating the dynasty's decline. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, creating the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The empire collapsed after World War I in 1918, and Austria was reduced to its main, mostly German-speaking areas, adopting the name Republic of German-Austria. The Habsburgs were deposed from both Austria and Hungary, and the last Habsburg ruler, Charles I, issued a proclamation recognizing Austria's right to determine its future.
Austria's Unique Geography: Double Landlocked Nation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Romans built many Austrian cities, including Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Bregenz
The distinct political entity that would become Austria emerged in 976 with Leopold I of Babenberg as margrave. However, the Romans built many Austrian cities long before this, including Vienna (Vindobona), Salzburg (Juvavum), Innsbruck (Valdidena), and Bregenz (Brigantium). Other important towns founded by the Romans include Virunum, Teurnia, and Lauriacum.
The Romans built a series of fortifications (military camps) along the Danube, which later became centres for towns. The Roman Emperor Valentinian I, for example, re-organised the Roman defences along the Danube by building a series of watchtowers or "Burgi", which were sometimes incorporated into earlier fortifications. The walls of Roman towns were also incorporated into later town walls at Linz, St. Pölten, and Wels.
The site of the Roman municipium of Luvarum in Salzburg underlies most of the Altstadt (old city). At Traismauer, the medieval defences almost exactly correspond with the rectangular auxiliary fort, while at Mautern the walls match the auxiliary fort together with the 3rd-century extension to the north side. The large bastion-shaped tower at Mautern has also been identified as Roman, not medieval.
By far the most important Roman settlement in Lower Austria is Carnuntum, which was founded in 6 BC. Carnuntum developed into a central military, administrative, and trading base for the Romans on the Danube and became the capital of the province of Oberpannonien from 103 BC. The city experienced its heyday when it welcomed seven emperors in 300 or 400 AD. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Carnuntum was abandoned and deserted by its inhabitants over the course of 500 years. Today, Carnuntum is an archaeological site and a source of experimental archaeological methods for its meticulous reconstructions.
After the Romans, Germanic tribes began invading the area in the 5th century CE, followed by more Germanic tribes and the Slavs. These groups were eventually subdued by Charlemagne, and the area became ethnically Germanic. In 1278, Rudolf IV of Habsburg conquered the area, and the Habsburgs created a kingdom centred on Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary. The Habsburgs ruled until 1918, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed after World War I.
Austrian Economics vs Classical Economics: What's the Difference?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Napoleonic Wars ended the Habsburg-controlled Holy Roman Empire in 1806
The Holy Roman Empire was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Central Europe that lasted for over a thousand years until its dissolution in 1806. The empire was traditionally ruled by an elected emperor, though frequently dynasties held the position. From the 13th century, the House of Habsburg dominated Austria, and from the 16th century, Vienna served as the Holy Roman Empire's administrative capital.
The Napoleonic Wars brought about the end of the Habsburg-controlled Holy Roman Empire. In 1804, Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor of the French, and in response, Francis II, who was already the Holy Roman Emperor, proclaimed himself Emperor of Austria, attempting to maintain parity with France. However, Austria suffered a series of defeats at the hands of the French and Russians, notably at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. This led to the Treaty of Pressburg, which created ambiguities in the imperial constitution and reduced the authority of the Habsburgs.
In 1806, Napoleon presided over a reorganisation of German territories, drastically reducing the number of states and diminishing the power of the Habsburgs. The formation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a French vassal state, further weakened the Holy Roman Empire. Napoleon's assumption of the title "Emperor of the French" and the threat of him claiming the title of Holy Roman Emperor led to Francis II's abdication in August 1806. This dissolution was seen as necessary to prevent Napoleon from proclaiming himself Holy Roman Emperor, which would have reduced Francis II to a vassal.
The end of the Holy Roman Empire allowed Francis II to focus on his new hereditary empire, the Austrian Empire. The symbols and titles of the Austrian monarchy were altered to emphasise its distinct identity from the Holy Roman Empire. The Austrian Empire became one of the largest states in Europe and a major power.
Austria's Historical Events: A Brief Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which started World War I
Austria was dominated by the House of Habsburg and House of Habsburg-Lorraine from 1273 to 1918. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, creating the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This empire collapsed after World War I in 1918.
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist and member of a Serbian-backed paramilitary group. This assassination followed several years of tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, which had escalated after the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908.
In response to the assassination, Austria-Hungary communicated a list of demands to Serbia, including the suppression of anti-Austrian propaganda and the allowance for Austria-Hungary to investigate the assassination. Serbia accepted all of the demands except one, which would have resulted in a major infringement of its sovereignty. After obtaining guarantees of support from Russia, Serbia rejected the final demand. On July 25, 1914, Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia and began preparing for a possible military invasion. With the support of its powerful ally, Germany, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, marking the start of World War I.
The rest of Europe watched with trepidation, fearing the outbreak of a Balkans conflict that could escalate into a general European war. Russia ordered mobilization in the districts facing Galicia, its common border with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Austrian artillery divisions bombarded Belgrade. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, and France and Germany declared war on each other on August 3. Britain entered the conflict after Germany announced its planned invasion of neutral Belgium on August 4. Thus, within weeks of Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, the major powers of the Western world were drawn into the conflict, marking the start of World War I.
English in Austria: How Common Is It?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The First Austrian Republic was formed in 1919
The First Austrian Republic emerged from the ruins of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had been a dual monarchy between Austria and Hungary established in 1867. The empire's defeat in World War I marked the end of this union, and Austria was reduced to its core, predominantly German-speaking areas. This led to the formation of the Republic of German-Austria in 1918, which was forbidden by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Saint-Germain, signed in 1919, played a significant role in shaping the First Austrian Republic. The treaty ceded German-populated regions, such as Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia and South Tyrol to Italy, reducing the borders of the new Austrian state. Additionally, the treaty forbade the union of Austria with Germany without the consent of the League of Nations, dashing the hopes of many Austrians who favoured a union with Germany.
The First Austrian Republic faced significant challenges from the outset. The aftermath of the war and the collapse of the Habsburg Empire had left the country in economic turmoil and social unrest. The Social Democrats, led by Karl Renner, resisted bolshevism and communist agitation, organizing the Volkswehr (People's Guard) to counter revolutionary activities. The country was governed by coalitions of conservative parties, and political divisions hardened during this period, with no decisive changes occurring in the following years.
The First Austrian Republic existed from 1919 to 1933 and was followed by a period of Austrofascism, as the country sought to maintain its independence from the German Reich. The deep political divide during this era weakened the republic, and it eventually fell to Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, who annexed Austria to Germany in 1938.
Austria's Invasion: A Historical Timeline of Key Events
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Austria emerged as a distinct political entity in 976 with Leopold I of Babenberg as margrave.
Before World War I, Austria was ruled by the House of Habsburg and House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
The Habsburg rule started in 1278 when Rudolf IV of Habsburg conquered the area. The rule ended in 1918.
Before World War I, Austria was called Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy, or the Habsburg Monarchy.
Austria-Hungary was dissolved in 1918, shortly after Hungary terminated the union with Austria.
