Austria

Preface

ACCORDING to the plan followed by the publishers of this eminently instructive series, the " Story of Austria " is restricted to the record of that particular portion of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire which from time immemorial has, to a great extent, been German in race and character ; and thus forms a product and part of German history and civilisation. Austria is to-day joined to the German Empire only by bonds of friendly alliance, but its " Story," bound up as it is with the history of the great ruling dynasty of Habsburg from which have sprung sovereigns for so long a series, overlaps a wide and heterogeneous historical area. In view of the shifting political configuration of the subject, the writer has regarded the " Story of Austria " as in the main the story of the dominant House, with its centre of interest based upon the events of those particular provinces of the Austrian Empire which (with Bohemia) now compose the Cisleithanic Empire, and which at all times have formed the home provinces of Habsburg Austria. It is these provinces which in the present day form

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the south-eastward wedge of Teuton blood and civilisation against the extension of which the Slavonic Bohemian and the Magyar Hungarian are waging a passive but determined opposition. Thus, from the point of view of the politician, Austria Proper presents in our time one of the most interesting fields for studying those endless problems of race and nationality which confront modern men more or less all over the world : the struggle of the survival of the fittest or strongest. 1

This by way of reflection on the present. The past speaks for itself in the following pages. In dealing w r ith my theme I had two alternatives before me — either to treat of the principal historical events in proportion to their relative importance, or to give a succinct but unbroken record of the history of Austria as connected with the Imperial House. The former would have been a far more grateful task. On the other hand, the partly didactic character of this series and the almost incredible fact that no consecutive history of Austria such as this is exists in any language led me to forego the idea. Those who may desire to inform themselves more fully on such epoch-making phases of Austrian history as the strueele between Catholicism and Protestantism or the Seven Years' War, I would refer to existing works of a more special character, of which the number is legion.

1 For more detailed treatment of these features of political Austria I venture to refer the reader to my earlier work, "The Realm of the Habsburgs." London : W. Heinemann. Leipzig : Tauchnitz Edition of British Authors.

PREFACE

IX

It will be observed that in the spelling of place names in general the local custom has been followed, but the better known localities have been indicated by the English equivalents.

I am indebted to the authorities of the Imperial Hofbibliothek of Vienna, who have kindly granted me an unprecedented privilege by allowing me to select a number of beautiful illustrations from the late Archduke Rudolfs monumental work, " Die Oesterreichisdi-Uugarische Monarchie in Wort and Bi/d," for reproduction in the present volume.

SIDNEY WHITMAN.

I. Page

Diverse Races — Austrian Scenery — Lakes and Rivers — Roads and Railways — Parliamentary Institutions — Law Courts.

II. 16-24

The Cimbri and Teutones — The Marcomanni — The Romans in Austria.

Ill

From the Appearance of the Goths to the

Reign of Charlemagne .... 25-44

Incursions by Attila — Alboin — Attacks by the Avars — Bavaria and the Tyrol — Virgilius — Siege of Pa via — Submission of the Avars.

Ferdinand II. and Ferdinand III. — The Thirty

Years' War 175-193

Successes by Tilly — Gustavus Adolphus — Battle of Liitzen — Peace of Heilbronn — Death of the Archduke Ferdinand.

XV. Leopold I. (the Great) and Joseph I. — The War

of the Spanish Succession . . . 194-2 11

League of the Rhine — Peace of Nijmegen — War with France — John Sobieski — Peace of Carlovitz — Marlborough's Campaigns — Pacification of Hungary — Accession of Charles VI.

XIV CONTENTS

XVI. Page

Charles VI. — Attacks by the Turks . 212-226

Peace of Utrecht — Prince Eugene and the Turks — The Pragmatic Sanction — Peace with European Powers — The Polish Succession— Maria Theresia's Marriage ■ — Siege of Belgrade.

PAGE

Francis II. (/. of Austria — continued). — Austria

made an Empire ..... 293-307

Combination against France — Battle of Austerlitz-— Peace of Tilsit — Andreas Hofer — Birth of Napoleon's Heir.

XXII. Francis I., Emperor of Austria {continued)

Rivalry with Prussia .... 308-324

War Renewed with France — Abdication of Murat — Austrian Emperor and Germany — Affairs in Italy — Neapolitan Revolt — Hungarian Grievances — Troubles in Italy — Death of Francis.

Francis Joseph {continued). — War with Prussia 354-3 62

Schleswig-Holstein Question — Prussian Alliance with Italy — Battle of Koniggriitz — Attitude of France.

XVI CONTENTS

XXVI. Page

Francis Joseph (continued). — Recent Events 363-381

War between Prussia and France — Agitation in Bohemia — Change of Ministry — Parliamentary Measures — Congress of Berlin — Menace on part of Russia — Growth of Anarchism — Assassination of the Empress.