Styria (duchy)

The Duchy of Styria (German: Herzogtum Steiermark) was a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, and a crownland of Austria-Hungary until its dissolution in 1918. This mountainous and scenic region, which became a center for mountaineering in the 19th century, is often called the "green march", because half of the area is covered with forests and one quarter with meadows, grasslands, vineyards and orchards. Styria is also rich in minerals, soft coal and iron, which has been mined at Erzberg since the time of the Romans. The Windisch Buheln is a famous Austrian wine-producing district. Styria was for long the most densely-populated and productive mountain region of Europe.

Steiermark

In the 10th century a part of Styria was separated from Carinthia under the name of the Carinthian March; it was also named the Windic March. The margraves ruling the march (known as the Otakars) took from the name of the fortified castle of Steier the title of Margraves of Styria, and the country received its German name Steiermark. During the reign of Margrave Ottokar IV (1164-92) Styria was raised to a duchy by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, in 1180.

Related Topics:
10th century - Margrave - March - Otakars - Ottokar IV - 1164 - 92 - Duchy - Frederick Barbarossa - 1180

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With the death of Ottokar the first line of rulers of Styria became extinct; the region fell successively to the Babenberg family, rulers of Austria, as stipulated in the Georgenberg Pact; after their extinction to the control of Hungary (1254-60); to King Ottokar of Bohemia; in 1276 to the Habsburgs, who provided it with Habsburgs for Styrian dukes during the years 1379-1439 and 1564-1619.

Related Topics:
Babenberg - Rulers of Austria - Georgenberg Pact - 1254 - 60 - Ottokar of Bohemia - 1276 - Habsburgs - 1379 - 1439 - 1564 - 1619

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At the time of the Ottoman invasions in the 16th and 17th centuries the land suffered severely and was depopulated. The Turks made incursions into Styria nearly twenty times; churches, monasteries, cities, and villages were destroyed and plundered, while the population was either killed or carried away into slavery.

Related Topics:
Ottoman - 16th - 17th

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