Leslie Massey
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as the Dual Monarchy, was a major power in Europe, geographically the second-largest country in the continent and the third most populous. It was formed in 1867 through a compromise between the Austrian emperor and Hungary, which granted Hungary its own parliament and considerable autonomy. The empire lasted 51 years, until its defeat in World War I and the subsequent revolutions by the Czechs, Yugoslavs, and Hungarians led to its collapse in 1918. Following its dissolution, the Austro-Hungarian Empire gave rise to several new states, including German Austria (which became the Republic of Austria), the First Hungarian Republic (which later became the Hungarian Soviet Republic), and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of successor states | 2 |
| First successor state | German Austria, later the Republic of Austria |
| Second successor state | Hungarian Democratic Republic, later the Kingdom of Hungary |
| Year of dissolution | 1918 |
| Reason for dissolution | Defeat in World War I, internal revolutions |
| Year of dual monarchy formation | 1867 |
| Former names | Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austrian Empire |
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What You'll Learn
German Austria became the First Austrian Republic
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I in 1918 led to the creation of German Austria, which became the First Austrian Republic. The empire's collapse left Austria reduced to the mostly German-speaking areas of the former empire.
On 11 November 1918, Emperor Karl I of Austria and IV of Hungary recognised the Austrian people's right to determine the form of the state. The following day, the German-Austrian National Council proclaimed the Republic of German Austria, with Social Democrat Karl Renner named provisional chancellor. A provisional constitution was also drafted, stating that "German-Austria is a democratic republic" and "German-Austria is an integral part of the German reich".
However, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (between the victors of World War I and Austria) and the Treaty of Versailles explicitly forbade a union between Austria and Germany. The treaties also forced German-Austria to change its name to the "Republic of Austria", leading to the creation of the First Austrian Republic. The First Austrian Republic lasted from 1919 to 1933.
The First Austrian Republic was marked by violent strife between those with left-wing and right-wing views, leading to the July Revolt of 1927 and the Austrian Civil War of 1934. The government also faced competition from the growing Austrian Nazi Party, which advocated for Austria to join Germany. In 1933, Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss established an autocratic regime, imposing a new constitution that cemented his power.
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The Kingdom of Hungary was restored
Hungary's status as a constitutional monarchy was reinstated, and a coalition of right-wing political forces united. However, the selection of the new king was delayed due to civil infighting, and a regent was appointed to represent the monarchy. This was former Austro-Hungarian navy admiral, Miklós Horthy. The new borders set in 1920 by the Treaty of Trianon ceded 72% of the territory of the Kingdom of Hungary to neighbouring states, including Romania, Czechoslovakia, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Hungary's history is marked by several periods of occupation and war, which drastically reduced its population. The Kingdom of Hungary, which came into being when Stephen I was crowned king in 1000 or 1001, was a multi-ethnic state that included what is today Hungary, Slovakia, Transylvania, parts of Romania, Ruthenia (now part of Ukraine), Vojvodina (now Serbia), Burgenland (Austria), Međimurje (Croatia), Prekmurje (Slovenia), and villages in Poland.
The kingdom became a dual monarchy in 1867, known as Austria-Hungary, with the Austrian and Hungarian states co-equal in power. The two countries conducted unified diplomatic and defence policies, with common ministries of foreign affairs, defence, and finance maintained under the monarch's direct authority. The kingdom was nominally restored during the "Regency" of 1920–46, ending under the Soviet occupation in 1946.
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The Principality of Liechtenstein formed a customs union with Switzerland
The dissolution of Austria-Hungary in 1918 led to the formation of several new countries and the redrawing of borders. One of the new creations was the Principality of Liechtenstein, which had been closely tied to the Austrian Empire and later to Austria-Hungary.
After the dissolution, Liechtenstein could no longer rely on Austria to meet its monetary and diplomatic needs, so it terminated their customs union. Instead, the Principality of Liechtenstein formed a new customs union with Switzerland, signing the Customs Union Treaty on 29 March 1923. This treaty laid the foundations for the close relationship that the two countries continue to enjoy today.
Liechtenstein and Switzerland share a common language (German) and are both outside the European Union. They also have a common patent system, and Switzerland represents Liechtenstein in many diplomatic matters. For example, Switzerland is empowered to enter into treaties on Liechtenstein's behalf if Liechtenstein is not represented at the negotiations.
The two countries also have a monetary union, with Liechtenstein adopting the Swiss franc as its national currency. This adoption of the Swiss franc occurred in 1920, a few years before the formalisation of the customs union.
In addition to the economic and diplomatic ties, there have been several notable incidents involving the two countries' shared border. On several occasions, the Swiss Army has accidentally entered Liechtenstein, including in 1968 when artillery shells fired by the Swiss army hit Liechtenstein's only ski resort.
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The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs joined the Kingdom of Serbia
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was a political entity constituted in October 1918, at the end of World War I, by Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs residing in the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was the first incarnation of a Yugoslav state founded on Pan-Slavic ideology. However, it did not obtain international diplomatic recognition.
The creation of the state was a result of the activities of pro-Yugoslav forces in the Transleithanian Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, which led to the adoption of the May Declaration by the Yugoslav Club, a group of Croatian and Slovene deputies. The declaration sought the unification of all lands in the Habsburg monarchy populated by Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs into a single independent entity. This was further driven by the escalation of South Slavic nationalism following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by the Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip, and the subsequent invasion and occupation of Serbia by Bulgarian, Austrian, and German forces.
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs intended to unite with Serbia and Montenegro to form a common state. This was recognised by Serbia's prime minister, Nikola Pašić, who, despite initially favouring an enlarged Serbia, agreed to a compromise with the prominent South Slavic leader, Dalmatian Croat politician Ante Trumbić, resulting in the Corfu Declaration of 1917, which advocated for the creation of a united state.
Thirty-three days after its proclamation, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs joined the Kingdom of Serbia to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, also known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. This new kingdom was made up of the formerly independent kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as substantial territory that was formerly part of Austria-Hungary. The union was supported by pan-Slavists and Yugoslav nationalists, fulfilling the Pan-Slavic ideal of uniting all South Slav people into a single state. The United States recognised the new kingdom in February 1919.
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The West Ukrainian People's Republic was formed
The territory claimed by the ZUNR had a population of approximately 5.4 million people, according to the Austro-Hungarian census of 1910. Of these, 60% were Ukrainians, 25% Poles, 12% Jews, and the rest included Germans, Hungarians, Romanians, and others. The ZUNR encompassed the Ukrainian regions of the Austrian crown lands of Galicia and Bukovyna, as well as parts of the Transcarpathian region.
The formation of the West Ukrainian People's Republic was met with resistance from the Polish population, who considered it a rule "by bayonet, cudgel, and axe". Polish officials resigned en masse, and a popular uprising took place in Lviv, where half of the residents were Polish. The Poles also dominated the urban areas of other towns and started an uprising against Ukrainian rule in Drohobych, Peremyshl, Sambir, and Yaroslav. This made it difficult for the West Ukrainian government to exert control over its territory.
In January 1919, the West Ukrainian People's Republic nominally united with the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) as its autonomous Western Oblast region. However, the exiled West Ukrainian government broke with the UPR when the latter decided to trade the territory for an alliance with Poland against Soviet Russia. The exiled West Ukrainian government continued to claim the territory until it dissolved in 1923.
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Frequently asked questions
German Austria, which became the First Austrian Republic, and the Hungarian (People's) Republic, which became the Kingdom of Hungary.
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which later became Yugoslavia, the West Ukrainian People's Republic, the Hutsul Republic, the Lemko Republic, the Komancza Republic, the Galician Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Republic of Czechoslovakia.
The Principality of Liechtenstein, which had formerly looked to Vienna for protection, formed a customs and defense union with Switzerland and adopted the Swiss currency.
