Austria

The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in central Europe. It borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The capital is the city of Vienna.

History

Austria and the Holy Roman Empire

The territory of Austria, by then the Celtic kingdom of Noricum, which was a long time ally of Rome, (cattle and early steel) and rather occupied than conquered by the Romans during the reign of Augustus and made the province Noricum in 16 BC. Later it was conquered by Huns, Rugii, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Bavarii, Avars (till about 800), and Franks (in that order). Finally, after 50 years of Hungarian rule (907 to 955), the core territory of Austria was awarded to Leopold of Babenberg in 976. Being part of the Holy Roman Empire the Babenbergs ruled and expanded Austria from the 10th century to the 13th century.

Related Topics:
Celtic - Noricum - Romans - Augustus - 16 BC - Huns - Lombards - Ostrogoth - Bavarii - Avars - Franks - Leopold of Babenberg - 976 - Holy Roman Empire - 10th century - 13th century

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After Duke Frederick II died in 1246 and left no successor, the German King Rudolf I of Habsburg gave the lands to his sons marking the beginning of the line of the Habsburgs, who continued to govern Austria until the 20th century.

Related Topics:
Frederick II - 1246 - Rudolf I of Habsburg - Habsburg - 20th century

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With the short exception of Charles VII Albert of Bavaria, Austrian Habsburgs held the position of German Emperor beginning in 1438 with Albert II of Habsburg until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 14th and 15th century Austria continued to expand its territory until it reached the position of a European superpower at the end of the 15th century until the end of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918.

Related Topics:
Charles VII Albert - Albert II of Habsburg - Holy Roman Empire - 14th - 15th century - 1918

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Modern history

After the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Empire of Austria was founded, which was transformed in 1867 into the double-monarchy Austria-Hungary. The empire was split into several independent states in 1918, after the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I, with most of the German-speaking parts becoming a republic. Between 1918 and 1919 it was officially known as the Republic of German Austria (Republik Deutschösterreich), and then the name was changed to simply Republic of Austria. The democratic republic lasted until 1933 when the chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß established an autocratic regime oriented towards Italian fascism.

Related Topics:
Holy Roman Empire - 1806 - Empire of Austria - 1867 - Austria-Hungary - 1918 - Central Powers - World War I - Republic - 1919 - 1933 - Engelbert Dollfuß

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Austria became part of Germany in 1938 (the Anschluß) amidst popular acclaim. After the defeat of the Axis Powers, the Allies occupied Austria at the end of World War II in Europe until 1955, when the country again became a fully independent republic under the condition that it remained neutral (see also: Austrian State Treaty). In that year it also became a member of the UN. After the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, Austria became increasingly involved in European affairs, and in 1995, Austria joined the European Union, and the Euro monetary system in 1999.

Related Topics:
Germany - 1938 - Anschluß - Axis Power - Allies occupied Austria - End of World War II in Europe - 1955 - Austrian State Treaty - Communism - Eastern Europe - 1995 - European Union - Euro - 1999

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