Austrian Empire 17 th -18 th centuries

I. Effect of the 30 Years War Any hope of unified “German” Empire dashed – Treaty of Westphalia (1648) Austrian ruler in charge of: – Lower/Upper Austria, Carinthia, Carniola, Styria, Tyrol, Bohemia (added during 30 yrs war) – Claimed Hungary too In name only at this point Eastern principality (Transylvania) independent Central Hungary under control of Ottoman Turks

Ferdinand II ( ) reduced power of the Bohemian Estates (which were largely protestant) – Rule over Bohemia solidified (and re-Catholicized) – Serfdom worsened: 3 days a week of unpaid labor required Ferdinand III ( ) centralized government in German-speaking states – Created standing army – Turned Eastward toward Hungary Post Ferdinand III, Austria managed to push Ottomans mostly out of Hungary & Transylvania – This will cause conflict in Hungary!!!

II. Islamic/ Turk Threat 1683 Vienna sieged in 1683 by unhappy Hungarian nobles & Muslims (Ottomans) – Capital of Austria Euro Christian forces combine – Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, and Poland Prince Eugene of Savoy led forces 1687 Turks pushed back Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) – Austria took full control of Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, Slovenia – Eastern Austrian Empire established – HOWEVER, Austria was never able to FULLY extend its control over this region…

III. End of War of Spanish Succession By 1700, Austria had rebuilt some of its strength, but redefined as Eastward expansion rather than Westward Vienna was the cultural center Austria involved in War of Spanish Succession (studied in detail in previous unit) War’s Treaty of Utrecht (1714) – Gave Austria Spanish Netherlands – Formal recognition of Austrian control of Milan, Mantua, Sardinia, Naples

IV. Division within Monarchy never centralized – Too many nationalities – Was a collection of territories held together by personal union (Hapsburg) Austrian ruler was: – Archduke of Austria – King of Bohemia – King of Hungary Each had its own estates-general, sets of laws, and political life

V. Charles VI ( ) Empire seemed fragile due to divisions Charles issued the Pragmatic Sanction in an attempt to preserve the Empire – Hapsburg holdings declared indivisible – Sought internal noble support – Sought international support – Took years – Many damaging concessions made to acquire agreement – Guaranteed Maria Theresa’s claim to throne Charles VI died with no male heir…

Maria Theresa was only direct heir… she claimed the throne No sooner was Charles’ body cold… – Many other claimants to throne arose – PRAMATIC SANCTION IGNORED!!! Prussia (Frederick II) took advantage and took Silesia… Started the war Bavaria took advantage and took Hapsburg territory – They even claimed title of HRE!!! France threw support behind Bavaria (and others)

VI. War of the Austrian Succession Series of wars ( ) – Prussian invasion of Silesia (Silesian Wars) – Bohemian invasion of Hapsburg territory – French invasion of Netherlands – Etc…. – War everywhere! France v England in India France v England in N America Maria Theresa sought support from England – England feared French hegemony in Europe – Balance of Power issue…

Strongest claimant to Austrian throne (other than Maria Theresa) died – Charles Albert died 1745 – His son gave up claims to throne Tired of continued warfare… Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle signed (1748) – All previous territories returned except Silesia (remained in Prussian hands) – Maria Theresa ruler of Austrian Empire

VII. 7-Year’s War

VIII. Maria Theresa & Joseph II Maria Theresa ( ) – Abolished Austrian & Bohemian Chancelleries – Created centralized departments Foreign Affairs, Justice, War, Commerce, Internal Affairs – Reduced role of local diets Clergy & nobles pay taxes to royal officials instead of local diets Territories divided into 10 provinces administered by royal agents rather than local diets – Staunch Catholic not open to philosophes – Mercantilist Policies

Maria Theresa began administrative and economic reforms in 1749, drawing on mercantilist theory and examples provided by Prussian and French reforms. In addition, she undertook reforms in the social, legal, and religious spheres. During the co-regency and after Maria Theresa's death, Joseph continued the reforms along the lines pursued by his mother. But mother and son had sharply different motivations. Maria Theresa was a pious Catholic empress working within the structure of a paternalistic, baroque absolutism and was unsympathetic to the Enlightenment. Joseph, in contrast, gave the reforms an ideological edge reflecting the utilitarian theories of the Enlightenment. Because his reforms were more ideologically driven and thus less flexible and pragmatic, they frequently were also less successful and disrupted the stability of the Habsburg Empire.

Joseph II ( co-rule: ) – Enlightened Despot Idealistic… many reforms were not practical Abolished Serfdom Eliminated Trade barriers, monopolies, guild restrictions (Physiocratic ideology) New penal code – equality before the law Complete religious toleration Adopt German as national language – Many policies failed Alienated Catholic Church Serfs displeased (now free… jobs? Income? Too much change too quickly: Non-German speakers alienate