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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 knights and their tiny estates • Hapsburgs held on to title of Holy Roman Emperor, but the title depended on help from many other German states and principalities 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. A DIVERSE EMPIRE • Austria was not a national state due to its immense diversity. • 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 within Holy Roman Empire, so different laws existed 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. 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. 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 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 LEOPOLD I (R. 1658—1705) • First cousin of Louis XIV of France and Charles II of Spain • Loved poetry and music • A devout Catholicrestricted his Protestant subjects • Employed German and Italian artists to build and decorate baroque churches and palaces 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 “THE BATTLE FOR VIENNA” RESPECT FOR LEOPOLD I • Key figure in the War of Spanish Succession • Austrian 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