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The German States (Holy Roman Empire till 1806) Austria When Charlemagne’s Empire was divided into three parts at the Treaty of Verdun in 843, the Eastern Frankish lands developed into what may be called Germany. Various German tribes, like the Saxons, Franconians, Bavarians, and Austrians formed a tribal (Stem) monarchy that came to be called the Holy Roman Empire. Otto I the Great (936-973) is often considered to be the founder of the Holy Roman Empire, which included Northern and Central Italy. He was crowned emperor by the pope in 962. During the Middle Ages until 1250, this Empire was the most powerful state in Europe. When the Popes successfully asserted their independence from the Emperor, the Empire went into decline. It became a loose confederation of over 300 free cities, bishoprics, duchies, and small kingdoms headed by an Emperor chosen by seven Electors. Since the fifteenth century, Habsburgs were usually elected to this position. An elective monarchy is usually less domineering than an hereditary monarchy. The electors in an elective monarchy usually choose a candidate who will not threaten their independence. For many reasons, the Holy Roman Empire never became the kind of centralized state like France, Spain, or England. The Habsburg rulers were not only elective emperors but also hereditary rulers of their own crown lands centered on Austria.. Through successful marriages, the Habsburgs became the dominant royal family in Europe during the 16th century. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was also King Charles I of Spain. It fell to Charles V to deal with the initial phase of the Protestant Reformation. He failed to squash the Protestant Reformation due in part to other concerns. His great political rival was King Francis I of France against whom he waged many wars. When Charles V resigned in 1556, his empire was divided between is son and his brother. His son, Philip II, remained ruler of Spain, the Netherlands, and most of Italy. His brother, Ferdinand I, received the Austrian territories of the Habsburg family and the elective title of Holy Roman Emperor. During the wars of religion in Germany, the Habsburgs were the primary champions of Catholicism. They were the primary losers when it became clear that Protestantism could not be wiped out by force of arms. Both Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs failed in their bids to create a dominant position in Europe. If the Austrian Habsburgs had won the Thirty Years War (1618 - 1648) in Germany, they would not only have restored Catholicism as the official religion but they would also have unified Germany (the Holy Roman Empire) under their domination. A strong centralized and unified state might have been created. But the Austrian Habsburgs lost the Thirty Years War. Catholic France aided the Protestant Princes of Germany to prevent a Habsburg victory. Having lost out in their power struggle with the Bourbons of France and in their struggle to gain dominance within the Holy Roman Empire, the Austrian Habsburgs concentrated on enlarging their hereditary lands at the expense of the declining Muslim Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Austria gained control of Hungary and expanded into the Balkans. With its new found strength in the Danube region, it also reasserted its influence within the Germanies and remained the dominant state within the Holy Roman Empire until replaced by Prussia in 1866. Even after that defeat, the Austrian Habsburgs remained a Great European Power by forming the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867. This Austro-Hungarian Empire was abolished at the end of World War I. Holy Roman Emperors of the Habsburg Dynasty (marked by *), elective position *Albert II, 1438 - 1439 Maria Theresa, 1740 - 1780 *Charles VII (not a Habsburg), 1742 - 1745, H.R. Emperor Emperors of Austria (Habsburg Dynasty, hereditary title) Francis I, 1804 - 1835 (same man as Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor) Ferdinand I, 1835 - 1848 Habsburg Dynasty Comes to an End After World War One in 1918 Republic of Austria, 1918 - 1938 (dictatorship after 1934) Anschluss to Nazi Germany, 1938 - 1945 Republic restored, under Allied occupation, 1945 - 1956 Free Republic, 1956 - Updated April 29, 2003 |