By Tim Lambert
From the 4th century, BC Celtic people lived in what is now Austria. At the end of the 1st century BC, the Romans conquered the region as far north as the River Danube, and in 45 AD they created the province of Noricum. The Romans built towns such as Vindobona (Vienna) in Austria. They also built roads and introduced the Roman way of life.
Austria in the Middle Ages
However, from the 4th Century, AD waves of tribesmen including Germans and Avars overran Austria. Then Charlemagne, King of the Franks (768-814) conquered the area and made it part of his empire. After Charlemagne’s death, his empire was divided into 3 parts. Louis the German took the eastern section, which included Austria. Under Frankish rule, Austria prospered.
However, in the early 10th century, a people called the Magyars began raiding Austria. The Magyars were utterly defeated by the German king Otto I in 955 after which the Germans regained control of the region and the Magyars became the ancestors of modern Hungarians.
In 1156 the Holy Roman Emperor made Austria a Duchy and its ruler became a Duke. Once again Austria prospered. However, when a Duke of Austria died in 1246 King Ottokar of Bohemia (Czech Republic) was elected Duke and he married the last Duke’s widow.
Then in 1273 Rudolf von Habsburg became Holy Roman Emperor. He defeated the Bohemian (Czech) king and in 1282 he made his son Albert Duke of Austria. The Hapsburgs ruled Austria for centuries. Gradually they acquired more territory and they built up a great empire in Central Europe.
In 1358 Rudolph IV known as The Founder became Duke of Austria. He founded Vienna University. In 1437 Albert II Duke of Austria also became king of Hungary and Bohemia (Czech Republic). In 1438 he became Holy Roman Emperor. Austria was now the dominant power in Central Europe.
Austria 1500-1800
However, in the early 16th century Austria faced a powerful threat from the Turks. In 1529 the Turks besieged Vienna but they failed to capture it.
Despite the Turks, the Austrian Empire prospered during the 16th century, and trade and commerce grew. (Although most of the population remained peasants).
Meanwhile, all of Europe was rocked by the Reformation. A great many people in the Austrian Empire converted to Protestantism. However, the Catholic Counter-reformation won some back. Furthermore, Rudolf II (1576-1612) persecuted Protestants.
Later Austria was involved in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), which caused devastation in many Hapsburg lands. Furthermore, in 1683 the Turks laid siege to Vienna again. However, an army of Germans and Poles relieved Vienna. Afterward, the Turks were slowly driven back.
During the 18th century, Austria prospered despite several long wars. The first of these was the War of the Spanish Succession 1701-1714, which ended with Sardinia and part of Italy being added to the Austrian Empire.
More trouble brewed because Emperor Charles VI (1711-1740) did not have a male heir. He persuaded foreign powers and national assemblies within his empire to accept his daughter as the next ruler. Maria Theresa succeeded him in 1740. However, Frederick the Great of Prussia promptly took Silesia and started the War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748. During the war, Maria Theresa had to fight the Prussians, French, and Spanish.
In 1748 Maria Theresa’s husband Francis of Lorraine was made Emperor Francis I. When he died in 1765 she ruled with her son Joseph II (1765-1790).
At the end of the 18th century, the French Revolution threw Europe into turmoil. From 1792 to 1815 Austria and France fought a series of wars. n During that period, in 1806 Napoleon dissolved the Holy Roman Empire. The ruler of Austria gave up the title Holy Roman Emperor and became Emperor Franz I of Austria.
Austria in the 19th century
After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815 Klemens Metternich, the Foreign Minister became the leading figure in Austrian politics. He introduced a repressive regime opposed to liberal ideas. However, despite the repression, Austria prospered and by the mid-19th century, industrialization was taking place in some areas.
Yet during the 19th century, nationalism was a growing force in the Austrian Empire. The various peoples such as the Hungarians and the Czechs became increasingly dissatisfied with Austrian rule.
Then in 1848, a wave of revolutions washed across Europe including the Austrian Empire. Metternich resigned and at first, the Emperor made concessions. However, the army remained loyal and Emperor Ferdinand I abdicated in favor of his nephew Franz Joseph. The new emperor restored absolute rule in Austria and the old order returned.
However, Austria was defeated by France in a war in 1859. She was also defeated by Prussia in 1866. After that Austria ceased to be the dominant power in Central Europe. That role passed to Prussia.
After the war, in 1867, the Austrian Empire was split into two parts. It became the Austro-Hungarian Empire consisting of Austria on one side and Hungary on the other. Both were ruled by the same Emperor.
In the late 19th century industry in the Vienna area grew rapidly. Furthermore, railways were built across the empire. However, the various ethnic groups in the Austro-Hungarian Empire still yearned for independence.
Austria in the 20th century
Then in 1914 Archduke Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne was assassinated. That event led to the First World War.
In October 1918 even before the war officially ended the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to break up as the various races declared independence. On 11 November 1918, the emperor abdicated, and on 12 November the Republic of Austria was declared.
During the 1920s Austria recovered from the war but in the early 1930s like the rest of the world, Austria suffered in the depression.
In July 1934 the Nazis attempted a coup and they shot Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. However, troops defeated the coup. Yet Hitler was determined to absorb Austria. Early in 1938, Hitler forced the Austrian government to appoint Nazis to important posts. Chancellor Schuschnigg proposed a referendum on the issue of whether Austria should join Germany. However, Hitler was not satisfied, and German troops massed along the border. Schuschnigg resigned and on 12 March 1938 German troops occupied Austria.
Austria suffered greatly during the Second World War. Many Austrian soldiers were killed and the country suffered from Allied bombing and a Russian invasion in 1945. However, in 1943 the Allies decided to restore an independent Austria after the war.
The first provisional government in Austria was formed in April 1945. Then in July 1945, Austria was divided into 4 zones by the allies (the USA, France, Britain, and Russia). The first parliamentary elections were held in November 1945.
In 1955 Austria became an independent nation again. Parliament declared permanent neutrality. Austria joined the UN in December 1955.
The late 20th century was an era of prosperity and economic growth for Austria. Then in 1995, Austria joined the EU. Austria joined the Euro in 1999.
Austria in the 21st century
Like the rest of the world, Austria suffered in the recession of 2009 but it soon recovered. Today Austria is a prosperous country. In 2024 the population of Austria was 9 million.
A Timeline of Austria
4th Century BC Celts live in what is now Austria
45 AD The Romans create the province of Noricum
4th Century AD Waves of tribesmen invade Austria
1156 The Holy Roman Emperor makes Austria a Duchy
1282 Albert of Habsburg becomes Duke of Austria
1438 The Duke of Austria becomes Holy Roman Emperor
1529 The Turks besiege Vienna
1576-1612 Rudolf II persecutes Protestants
1683 The Turks besiege Vienna again
1740 Maria Theresa becomes Empress of Austria
1806 Napoleon dissolves the Holy Roman Empire
1815 Klemens Metternich becomes foreign minister
1848 A wave of revolutions washes across the Austrian Empire. Metternich resigns.
1866 Austria is defeated by Prussia
1914 The heir to the Austrian throne is assassinated
1918 The Austrian Empire disintegrates and the emperor resigns
1934 Dollfuss the Austrian chancellor is shot
1938 Germany absorbs Austria
1945 A provisional government is established in Austria
1955 Austria becomes independent again. Austria joins the UN.
1995 Austria joins the EU
1999 Austria joins the Euro
Last Revised 2024