History of Austria

Introduction
Prehistory and Roman times
Early Middle Ages
- Germanic and Slavic settlement
- Early Babenberg period
- Later Babenberg period
Late Middle Ages
- Contest for the Babenberg heritage
- Accession of the Habsburgs
- Division of the Habsburg lands
- Burgundian and Spanish marriages
Reformation and Counter-Reformation
- Acquisition of Bohemia
- Advance of Protestantism
- Rudolf II and Matthias
- The Bohemian rising and the victory of the Counter-Reformation
- Struggle with Sweden and France
Austria as a great power
- War of the Spanish Succession
- Problem of the Austrian succession
- New conflicts with the Turks and the Bourbons
- Social, economic, and cultural trends in the Baroque period
From the accession of Maria Theresa to the Congress of Vienna
- War of the Austrian Succession, 1740–48
- First reforms, 1748–56
- Seven Years’ War, 1756–63
- Reforms, 1763–80
- Foreign affairs, 1763–80
- Early reign of Joseph II, 1780–85
- Late reign of Joseph II, 1785–90
- Conflicts with revolutionary France, 1790–1805
- Conflicts with Napoleonic France
The Age of Metternich, 1815–48
Revolution and counterrevolution, 1848–59
Neoabsolutist era, 1849–60
Constitutional experimentation, 1860–67
Austria-Hungary, 1867–1918
- Ausgleich of 1867
- Domestic affairs, 1867–73
- International relations: the Balkan orientation
- Domestic affairs, 1879–1908
  - Political realignment
  - Political turmoil
  - Electoral reform
- Foreign policy, 1878–1908
- Last years of peace
  - Conflicts of nationality
  - Party rivalries
  - Conflict with Serbia
- World War I
- End of the Habsburg empire
First Republic and the Anschluss
- Early postwar years
- Economic reconstruction and political strife
- Authoritarianism: Dollfuss and Schuschnigg
- Anschluss and World War II
Second Republic
- Allied occupation
- Restoration of sovereignty
- Austria in the European Union

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Political map of Austria showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The map highlights Austrian states such as Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria, Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, and Burgenland, with Vienna marked as the capital. An inset locator map in the upper left shows Austria's position within Europe.

Map of Europe about 800 CE showing the extent of the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne in light purple, covering much of present-day France, Germany, northern Italy, and neighboring regions. Areas inhabited by Slavic peoples who were tributary to Charlemagne are shaded in a darker purple to the east of the Frankish kingdom, including groups such as the Bohemians, Moravians, and Croats. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring kingdoms are labeled for context.

Medieval manuscript miniature showing Frederick I as a crowned crusader holding an orb and scepter, with Henry of Schaftlarn kneeling and presenting a book to him.

Historical map of Central Europe showing territorial changes resulting from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 at the end of the Thirty Years' War. Areas transferred to Sweden, Brandenburg, Transylvania, Saxony, France, the United Provinces, Bavaria, and Poland are color-coded. The map also marks the boundary of the Holy Roman Empire, key battle sites, and the route of Gustavus Adolphus's campaign from 1631 to 1632. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring countries such as France, Poland, Sweden, and

Black and white historical map of south-central Europe during the War of the Spanish Succession, showing the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire and other regional borders. Key locations such as Switzerland, Savoy, Venice, and various cities and passes are labeled throughout the region.

Map of Europe in 1813 highlighting the member countries of the Quadruple Alliance-Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia-in tan shading. The map shows their historical boundaries, with surrounding nations and major bodies of water labeled for context.

History of Austria: References & Edit History

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Karl A. Roider
Reinhold F. Wagnleitner
Fritz Fellner
Erich Zöllner
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Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Article title updated for style.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Nov 11, 2026
	Changed spelling of “anti-Semitism” to “antisemitism.”	Mindy Johnston	Mar 10, 2025
	Media updated.	Mindy Johnston	Nov 28, 2023
	New article added.	Michael Ray	Aug 14, 2023