Leslie Massey
Between 1901 and 1917 (de jure 1920), Austria-Hungary occupied a territory in the Chinese port city of Tianjin. The Austro-Hungarian concession, as it was known, was a result of the country's participation in the Eight-Nation Alliance that quelled the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901). The territory, spanning 108 to 150 acres, was relatively small and lasted for only 14 to 16 years, making it one of the shortest-lived concessions in China. Despite its limited size and duration, the Austrians left their mark on the area, with Austrian architecture still visible in the city today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Years of occupation | 1902-1920 (de jure) |
| Area | 108 hectares or 150 acres |
| Population | 30,000 |
| Location | North of the Chinese city of Tianjin, at the intersection of the Grand Canal and the Hai River |
| Administration | A town council composed of local high-class noblemen, the Austro-Hungarian consul, and the military commander |
| Security | 40 Austro-Hungarian marines and 80 Chinese militia |
| Buildings | Thermae, theatre, pawnshop, school, barracks, prison, cemetery, hospital, consulate |
| Trade | Limited |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary's colonial ambitions
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, the Habsburg monarchy, Austrian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (from 1867 to 1918) made a few small and short-lived attempts to expand overseas colonial trade through the acquisition of factories. During this period, the Austrian ruler also separately ruled Spain, which had a large colonial empire. However, no other Austrians were involved in governing this empire, and the Spanish colonies were not linked to Austria.
Austria-Hungary participated in the Eight-Nation Alliance from 1899 to 1901 to suppress the Boxer Rebellion in China. As a reward, on 27 December 1902, Austria-Hungary gained a concession zone in Tianjin, China. This zone was 150 acres (0.61 km2) in area, with a population of around 30,000 people. It was a self-contained zone with its own prison, school, barracks, and hospital, and its citizens were under Austrian rule. However, Austria-Hungary's trade with China was extremely limited, and the concession was not a significant financial or trading area. During World War I, Austria-Hungary was unable to maintain control of its concession in Tianjin, and it was occupied by China in 1917. Austria-Hungary abandoned all claims to the concession in 1919, and it was placed under the permanent administration of the Chinese government.
In summary, Austria-Hungary had limited success in its colonial ambitions, with short-lived attempts to establish colonies and concessions in various parts of the world, facing challenges due to international pressure, lack of interest from the Imperial government, and opposition from Hungarian officials.
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The Boxer Rebellion
The Yihequan society originally aimed to overthrow the ruling Qing dynasty and expel privileged Westerners in China. However, anti-foreign forces within the Chinese government persuaded the Boxers to join them in their cause to destroy foreign influence in the country. The rebellion began in 1899 as a mass movement, with Boxers attacking and destroying foreign property such as railroads, as well as targeting Christian missionaries and Chinese converts to Christianity. The governor of the province of Shandong began to enrol Boxer bands as local militia groups, and the movement spread across Shandong and the North China Plain.
In response to the rebellion, an Eight-Nation Alliance of foreign powers was formed to intervene. Austria-Hungary was a part of this alliance, contributing a small force of four cruisers and 296 marines. The alliance brought 20,000 armed troops to China and defeated the Imperial Army in Tianjin, capturing Beijing in August 1900. The Boxer Rebellion officially ended with the signing of the Boxer Protocol on September 7, 1901, which provided for the execution of government officials who supported the Boxers, the stationing of foreign troops in Beijing, and a hefty indemnity to be paid by the Chinese government to the invading nations.
As a reward for its participation in the Eight-Nation Alliance, Austria-Hungary gained a concession zone in Tianjin, China, in 1902. This concession zone was 150 acres (0.61 km2) in area and was located near the Pei-Ho river. It had its own administrative structures, including a town council composed of local nobles, the Austro-Hungarian consul, and a military commander. The concession zone also had its own thermae, theatre, pawnshop, school, barracks, prison, cemetery, and hospital. However, due to World War I, Austria-Hungary was unable to maintain control of its concession, and it was occupied by China in 1917 when China declared war on the Central Powers. Austria-Hungary eventually abandoned all claims to the concession in 1919, and the former concession was placed under the permanent administration of the Chinese government.
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The Eight-Nation Alliance
Austria-Hungary participated in the Eight-Nation Alliance from 1899 to 1901 and contributed the smallest force of any nation, with only four cruisers and a force of 296 marines dispatched. Despite their limited participation, Austria-Hungary was rewarded with a concession zone in Tianjin, China, in 1902. The Austro-Hungarian concession zone was 150 acres (0.61 km2) in area and was situated next to the Pei-Ho river. It had its own prison, school, barracks, and hospital, and its citizens were under Austro-Hungarian rule. However, due to World War I, Austria-Hungary was unable to maintain control of its concession, and it was occupied by China in 1917.
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The Austro-Hungarian concession zone
The Austro-Hungarian concession was located at the northernmost end of the Haihe River, which was not ideal for shipping. As a result, the concession was not a significant financial or trading hub. However, the Austrian Concession was situated between the old city and the Tianjin Railway Station, and soon after it was established, a tram line was built from the old city to the railway station, improving connectivity.
During World War I, the Austro-Hungarian concession became relatively isolated. With the outbreak of war in 1914, China entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers, which included Austria-Hungary. In 1917, China occupied the Austro-Hungarian concession, and on 14 August, the lease was terminated. After the war, with the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, separate treaties were signed with Austria and Hungary to ratify the revocation of the concession. Austria abandoned all claims to the concession on 10 September 1919, and Hungary followed suit in 1920.
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The revocation of the concession
The revocation of the Austro-Hungarian concession in Tianjin, China, was a result of World War I and the subsequent dissolution of Austria-Hungary. The concession, obtained after the Boxer Rebellion of 1901, was a source of pride for Austria-Hungary, but its isolation during the war left it vulnerable.
On 14 August 1917, China, having joined the Triple Entente, declared war on the Central Powers, which included Austria-Hungary and Germany. China swiftly occupied the Austro-Hungarian and German concessions in Tianjin, marking the revocation of the leases. The Austro-Hungarian concession was relatively small, with a population of around 30,000 people, and its loss was a blow to the empire's prestige.
The revocation was formalised by two separate treaties: the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, signed by Austria on 10 September 1919, and the Treaty of Trianon, signed by Hungary on 4 June 1920. These treaties ratified the end of the concession and the abandonment of any claims to Tianjin by Austria and Hungary, respectively.
The former Austro-Hungarian concession was renamed the Second Special District and placed under the permanent administration of the Chinese government, marking the end of foreign control in the area. The revocation of the concession highlights the fragile nature of colonial endeavours and the impact of global conflicts on the redistribution of power and territory.
The Austro-Hungarian concession in Tianjin, though short-lived, left a mark on the city's architecture and urban landscape, reflecting the empire's attempts to remodel the concession as a representation of its state power and colonial ambitions.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary wanted a territorial foothold in China, and its participation in the Eight-Nation Alliance that suppressed the Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) gave it the opportunity to gain one.
The Austro-Hungarian concession in Tianjin was a 150-acre (0.61 sq km) zone in the Chinese port city of Tianjin occupied by Austria-Hungary between 1902 and 1920. It was one of eight international zones established in the city by the Alliance powers.
The Austro-Hungarian concession was not an important financial or trading area. Instead, it was used as a form of display colonialism, with the aim of enticing further settlement and investment.
