1. History of the Habsburgs (Austria)
Austrian empire began in 1273 with the election of Rudolph of Habsburg as Holy Roman Emperor
By 18th century, empire consisted of more than 300 states, fifty-one free towns, 1500 free nights and their tiny estates
Population of about 31 million by 18th century
Hapsburgs held on to title of Holy Roman Emperor, but the title depended on help from many other German states and principalities

2. Austria was part of the larger Holy Roman Empire
Austria was part of the larger Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Emperor was almost always elected from Austria because it had the ability to enforce imperial decisions on the empire.

3. The Habsburg Empire in the 18th Century
Following the War of Spanish Succession which saw a Bourbon occupy the Spanish throne, Austria consolidated Habsburg power
Empire included: Naples, Sardinia, and Milan in Italy; the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium); Hungary; and Transylvania
Austrian empire lacked unity: made up of Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Croats, Italians, Serbs, Rumanians, and other
Different languages, customs, and culture
Not all areas of Austrian Empire were with Holy Roman Empire, so different laws existed

4. Austria was part of the larger Holy Roman Empire
Austria was part of the larger Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Emperor was almost always elected from Austria because it had the ability to enforce imperial decisions on the empire.

5. Map 13–3 THE AUSTRIAN HABSBURG EMPIRE, 1521–1772 The empire had three main units—Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary. Expansion was mainly eastward: eastern Hungary from the Ottomans (17th century) and Galicia from Poland (1772). Meantime, Silesia was lost after 1740, but the Habsburgs remained Holy Roman Emperors.

6. Government of Austria’s informal empire
No single constitutional system or administration for all parts of realm
The emperor had different political titles for each part of his empire (Duke, Lord, Count, King)
No central diet (government) for empire only local diets
Local matters such as religion were left alone, as long as the monarch received soldiers, taxes, and support for war from the provinces
Maygars, Hungarian nobility, accepted Habsburg monarchy but did not pay taxes to Vienna
Maintained certain local powers untouched by emperor

7. Music and Vienna
Music was the most famous and popular art of the empire
Emperor Leopold I, a composer himself, was a significant patron to music
Royal concerts, ballets, and operas were part of life in Vienna
Italians would come to Austria to improve their musical productions
The Slavs, Bohemians (Germans), and Magyars (Hungary) excelled in singing and instruments

8. Leopold I (r. 1658—1705)
First cousin of Louis XIV of France and Charles II of Spain
Loved poetry and music
A devout Catholicrestricted his Protestant subjects
Employed German and Italian artists to build and decorate baroque churches and palaces

9. A Foreign Invader
Ottoman Empire (Turks) invaded Austria and attempted a siege of Vienna in 1683
With the help of King Jan Sobieski’s Polish army and Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians, Leopold’s forces drove out the Turks

10. “The Battle for Vienna”

11. Respect for Leopold I Key figure in the War of Spanish Succession
Austria efforts against France proved to turn the tide against France and ended Louis XIV’s bid to have a common prince for France and Spain
Elevated the power of Brandenburg-Prussia during the war to create a strong nation to oppose France
Expanded Austrian territory into southeastern Europe at the expense of the Turks who they were battling with as well

13. Charles VI ( r. 1711—1740) Son of Leopold I
Personally involved in the details in governing
Did not leave a male heir, but had a daughter, Maria Theresa

14. Actions for Charles VI
Pragmatic Sanction (1713)– Charles VI legal basis for a single line of inheritance within the Hapsburg dynasty putting his daughter Maria Theresa in charge
Women rulers were considered to bring instability to a government
Charles went around Europe asking for princes to sign the paper to ensure his daughter’s reignmost did, BUT will be challenged later
Granted Hungarian nobles particular liberties and more autonomy from the Austrian crown
Still part of the empire, but cultural differences will lead to eventual split

15. Maria Theresa (r. 1748—1780)
Was beautiful, courageous, high-minded, pious, and capable ruler
First reform increased Austrian army from 30,000 to 108,000 through tax reforms paying for it
Frederick of Prussia invades Hapsburg Empire to determine supremacy in German states and puts Maria at risk in 1740
Centralized Austrian gov’t and power
Conservative Catholic, BUT believed in political realism when it came to her culturally diverse population

16. Joseph II (R. 1765—1790)
Co-regent with mother, Maria Theresa, for last 15 years of her life
Sought to be an “enlightened despot”
Wanted to govern decisively and forcefully, but rationally, with the interests of his subjects in mind

17. Legacy of Joseph II Centralized power
Create a strong economy, treasury, and military
Although Catholic, granted religious toleration to Protestants and Jews
Opened more state schools of Austria
Died at 49 after suffering military defeats at the hands of the Ottomans, facing an expanding Russian state, and revolts in the Austrian-controlled Netherlands

18. Map 13–3 THE AUSTRIAN HABSBURG EMPIRE, 1521–1772 The empire had three main units—Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary. Expansion was mainly eastward: eastern Hungary from the Ottomans (17th century) and Galicia from Poland (1772). Meantime, Silesia was lost after 1740, but the Habsburgs remained Holy Roman Emperors.