Lata reform
The death of Karol II, Last Habsburg from the Spanish line, It coincided with the moment of involvement of Austria in the war for Spanish succession (1701-1714). As a result, the emperor Karol VI survived only dependent Spanish estates (m.in. Netherlands and some of the wioch), which forced him to take action, which would guarantee the throne of his daughter Maria Teresa (Karol did not have male descendants). By virtue of the so -called. pragmatic sanctions, signed by the main forces of Europe, Maria Teresa joined the Habsburg throne (w 1740 r.), However, it was not without the succession war won by her (1740-1748).
Maria Teresa, Supported by England and the Netherlands, She had to beat three rivals to the throne, including a Bavarian elector. Prussia took advantage of this conflict situation, which took control of Silesia, By keeping the rights to it under a later peace treaty. During the seven -year war (1756-1763) European powers have changed their allies and efforts of Austria (having a strong opponent in the form of England) In favor of regaining Silesia, they failed.
Maria Teresa's reign 40 years – This period was widely recognized as a golden age in the history of Austria as a modern state. During its rule, the state administration was centralized, The army and economy were reformed and the state education system was introduced. The role of Vienna as a city of music also increased significantly.
Son of Maria Teresa, Józef II, which reigned in the years 1780-1790 (and together with the mother from 1765 r.), He became an even urgent reformer. He published, among others. edict about religious tolerance, nationalized church goods and abolished the serfdom of the peasants. Unfortunately, he acted too quickly and was finally forced to annul some of his decisions.
Crumbling empire
The greatest threat to the Habsburg Empire turned out to be the increase in the power of France during Napoleon's rule. This "great little man” Austria inflicted the biggest blows in the years 1803, 1805 i 1809. Franciszek II, Grandson of Maria Teresa, which in 1804 r. took over the Austrian crown, Two years later, he was forced by Napoleon to resign from both the German crown, as well as from the emperor of the Roman Empire of the German nation.
In year 1809 The position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria was taken by Klemens von Metternich (1773-1859), which without stopping in strenuous treatments to maintain peace, He shit in 1810 r. daughter of Franciszek II, Maria Ludwika, from Napoleon. However, it was too late, The war with France broke out, and its effect was the bankruptcy of the state and the economic crash in 1811 r.
The European conflict lasted to the Congress of Vienna, which met in the years 1814-1815. One of the people who had a decisive influence on the Congress's deliberations was Metternich, which managed to partially restore the former strong position of Austria at the international arena. This efficient politician provided his state with hegemony in the German Union, which it enjoyed until the Austrian-Prussian war in 1866 r. As a result of this conflict, Austria was outside the newly created German state, united in 1871 r. under Bismarck's rule.
However, in Austria alone 1815 r. Not everything was going well. Although art and culture flourished (the so-called. styl biedermeier), supported by the middle class, but most of the population experienced a difficult period. Metternich created a police state and liquidated civil law. Low earnings and lack of apartments led in March 1848 r. Until the outbreak of the revolution in Vienna (Spring of Nations). The minister of war was hung on a street lamp, Padernicha Wypędzono, and Emperor Ferdinand and abdicated. The period of liberalism, however, lasted briefly and with the help of the army an absolute monarchy was efficiently restored. Franciszek Józef became the new emperor and (1830-1916), Ferdinand's nephew, who joined the throne, having only 18 years.
The improvement of the economic situation of the country was due to rapid technological development. Franciszek Józef and became the head of Austro-Hungary – dualistic monarchy created in 1867 r. on the basis of equality of Austria and Hungary (After the defeat of Austria in the war with Prussia in 1866 r.). Both countries also had a common army, foreign and economic policy, Only parliaments remained separate. The next flourishing period began, on which Vienna especially benefited. W 1906 r. All Austro-Hungarian citizens were granted voting rights.
Peace in Europe was maintained by groups of allies (Austro-Hungary with the German and Italy belonged to the Tri-Triple). The situation has changed into 1914 r., when 28 The Archduke Franciszek Ferdynand -Bratanek Franciszek Józef I and the heir of the Austro -Hungarian throne was murdered in Sarajevo. A month later, the Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia and the World War I began.