Detailled history

History of Austria

From the beginning to the Hapsburg Dynasty:
Romans in Austria between 1st C. BC and 5th C. AD. Charlemagne, king of Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, established territory called Ostmark (Austria) in Danube Valley. Hungarians defeated at Augsburg and Austria re-established around 955. Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph of Hapsburg granted his sons the fiefdoms of Austria and Styria in 1282 and began rule of one of most powerful dynasties in European history. Hapsburgs retain power until 20th C.

The Hapsburg Dynasty:
Founded University of Vienna in 14th C. Friedrich II was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1453 and instigated extremely successful Hapsburg policy of acquiring new lands through political marriages. Dynasty faces serious threat from Turks in 16th and 17th C. Threat induced the move of the royal residence to Vienna in 1533. In 1571, religious freedom was granted to the people, who chose mostly to turn Protestant. Five years later, the new emperor embraced the Counter-Reformation and most of the country reverted to Catholicism (often with coercion). Religious intolerance was major cause of 30 Years War between 1618-48. Vienna became a magnet for musicians and composers during the end of the 17th C.

Maria Theresa (1717-80) pushed through many enlightened reforms and helped develop Austria as a modern state. Centralized control and civil service were established, the army and economy were reformed, Vienne grew as a center for music, and a public education system was introduced. Her rule, which lasted 40 years, is regarded as a golden era for Austria.

Napoleon inflicted major defeats on Austria in early 19th C. and war lasted until Congress of Vienna in 1814-15. Austria was left with control of German Confederation until 1866 after Austro-Prussian War. Thereafter, it was no longer part of new German empire unified by Bismarck in 1871. Emperor Franz Joseph I became leader of Austro-Hungarian monarchy created in 1867 and was in power until he died in 1916. Universal suffrage introduced in 1906. Austria declares war on Serbia in 1914 when heir to throne is assassinated in Sarajevo and WWI begins.

The Republic:
Republic of Austria created in 1918 after WWI. End of rights of monarchy to participate in government. Under Allied peace treaty of 1919, Austria’s planned union with Germany was prohibited and it was forced to recognize the independent states of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, which had been largely under the control of the Hapsburgs. In 1934, political and social tensions, rising unemployment, and economic crisis ended in civil war between the right and left-wing factions. Right-wing triumphs. Hitler, a native of Austria, invades the country in March 1938 and incorporates Austria into the German Reich. The gov’t. became a puppet gov’t. of the Nazis and Austrians were conscripted into the German army. Allied bombing in Vienna was especially heavy during the last 2 years of the war and most major public buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Post-WWII:
Austria returned to its 1937 frontiers and was occupied by the Allies for 10 years. Country and capital were divided into four zones, as in Germany and Berlin. Austria proclaimed its permanent neutrality in 1955 and Allies withdrew. Voted to join EU in 1994 and formally joined on Jan. 1, 1995.