THE AUSTRIAN HABSBURGS 1648-1740

Ch. 16 State Building and the European State System, 1648-1789

Absolutism in Austria Not as successful as in France –WHY?

Habsburgs don’t have the same amount of control as Louis XIV Holy Roman Empire more independent at Thirty

Years’ War Over 10 different nationalities, languages,

traditions represented within the Habsburg lands

Multiple religions (Christian and non-Christian) represented

Double external threat: Louis XIV’s France (west) and the Ottoman Empire (Southeast)

Red, grey, pink, orange, yellow

Leopold I, 1657-1705 Devout Catholic – to be

priest BUT Holy Roman Emperor

and Emperor of Austria at 17

Fathered 16 children with 3 wives

Built Schőnbrunn outside of Vienna

Defender of Vienna 1683 Turkish forces tried to take over Vienna

Louis XIV refused to come to Austria’s aid Rest of Europe outraged – Why wouldn’t he help

another Christian nation? After 2 months under siege Austrian coalition

forces defeat the Turks – Hungary again becomes part of Austrian domain

By 1687 Leopold convinces the Hungarian Diet to make crown of Hungary a hereditary right of the Austrian Habsburgs Hungarians also forfeit their traditional right to

rebel against an unjust ruler!

Austrian Territory Growing BUT… Austrian Emperor does not have

absolute control Religious issues

Catholics; Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, and even Muslim

Ethnic issues Social issues

i.e. in Hungary, Austrian Emperor must work together with Hungarian magnates

Magnates control the land and have dominion over the serfs

Joseph I and Charles VI

Joseph I , 1705-1711 Dies while fighting in the War of

Spanish Succession Charles VI, 1711-1740

He could be the next Charles V (combine Spanish and Austrian Habsburg domains under one individual) BUT

Other European countries want that as much as they want a Bourbon on the throne in Spain!

Charles VI and his Daughter Charles VI concentrates on securing the Austrian

throne for his daughter Maria Theresa PROBLEM #1= No woman has inherited the

Austrian throne SOLUTION #1 = Pragmatic Sanction – Charles

convinces other European rulers and magnates to accept her rule Does this solution hold?

PROBLEM #2 = Holy Roman Emperor CANNOT be a woman

SOLUTION #2 = Maria Theresa’s husband will be HREmperor and “represent” the Habsburgs