Chronography of Austria
Page last
modified 18 August 2023
See also Albania
See also Bulgaria
See also Germany
See also Greece/Turkey
See also Italy
See also Poland
See also Romania
(see here for Moldova)
See also Russia/USSR
See also Yugoslavia
2 November 2020, A major terror attack took place in Vienna. 4
people were killed and 23 injured, several seriously, when an Islamist
radicalised Austrian-North Macedonian man went on the rampage with a gun and a
knife.
15 October 2017, Elections in
Austria produced gains for the far-right
party, over issues of immigration.
22 May 2016, In
Austrian Presidential elections, Mr Norbert Hofer of the far-Right lost to Mr Alexander Van der Bellen of the Greens by
the narrow margin of 0.6%. The result was connected to rising concern about
migration into Europe from Asia and Africa.
26 April 2008, Police
arrested Josef
Fritzl in Amstetten, Austria, after he held women and children for
years in a dungeon below his home. He was jailed for life in March 2009.
14 June 2007, Kurt
Waldheim, President of Austria from 1985, also UN Secretary General
1972-82, died (born 21 December 1918).
20 February 2006, British historian David
Irving was sentenced to three years in prison by an Austrian court
for Holocaust denial.
11 November 2000, A fire on
a funicular railway
in the Austrian ski resort of Kaprun
killed 155 holidaymakers.
3 October 2000, In Austrian Parliamentary elections, the radical Right-wing Freedom Party (FPO) became the second-largest Party.
5 February 2000, Jorg Haider�s extreme Right wing Freedom Party joined the Austrian coalition Government. There was international
condemnation.
8 July 1992, Thomas Klestil
became President of Austria
24 September 1991, A mummified 5,000 year old corpse was found in the Austrian Alps. It
was named �Otzi�, and revealed much about Bronze Age life in Europe.
21 January 1987, In
Austria, a coalition government under Dr Franz Ranitzky took office.
8 June 1986, Kurt Waldheim
was elected president of Austria, amid controversy
over his alleged collaboration with the Nazis in World War Two.� He was inaugurated on 8 July 1986.
18 November 1977, Kurt von
Schuschnigg, Austrian politician, died.
21 December 1975, Left wing terrorists, including Carlos
The Jackal, kidnapped delegates of an OPEC conference in Vienna.
They killed three hostages, extorted US$ 3 million, and vanished into the
Middle East.
1 March 1970, Socialists won an unexpected victory in Austrian general
elections.
22 June 1956, In
Austria, following the general election of 13 May 1956, Julius Raab formed a coalition
government of the People�s Party and the Socialists.
26 October 1955, Last
foreign troops left Austria.
15 May 1955. Austria became de jure an independent
state within its 1937 borders under the Austrian
State Treaty, signed by the USA, USSR, France, and Britain (see 7 January 1946). All
the four-power occupation forces were withdrawn by 26 October 1955. On 5 November 1955 Austria declared itself
constitutionally to be permanently neutral.
30 December 1954, Archduke Eugen,
Austrian Field Marshal, died aged 91.
30 October 1953,
Demonstrations in Austria against continued Allied occupation.
1950, An attempted Communist coup in Austria failed.
7 January 1946. Austria was established as a de facto
independent state, divided into four zones of military occupation, as was
Germany. See 15 May 1955. Vienna was also divided into four zones, apart from
the Innere Stadt district which was occupied jointly by all four powers
(Britain, France, the USA, and the USSR).
For more events of World War Two
in Europe see World War Two
11 August 1939, The Axis
Conference opened at Salzburg.
4 July 1939, In
Austria, Nazi thugs beat up the Archbishop of Vienna.
For Austrian referendum 1939 on
joining Germany, see France-Germany
22 April 1937. The
Austrian Chancellor, Schuschnigg, met Mussolini.
14 February 1937, In Austria, Suschnigg claimed the right to decide on
whether the Hapsburg monarchy should be restored. Restoration was vehemently
opposed by Hitler
and the Nazis, who staged several demonstrations against the idea.
21 May 1936, In Austria, Kurt Schusnigg
was made leader of the Fatherland Front, the only permitted Party.
1 April 1936. Austria
introduced conscription.
4 July 1935, Austria,
encouraged by Mussolini,
abolished anti-Hapsburg laws and restored some imperial property.
14 March 1935, Anton Rintelen
was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the July Putsch.
30 April 1934, Chancellor
Dollfuss became dictator of Austria.
28 March 1934, Austria
banned jokes about the small size of Chancellor Dolfuss.
17 February 1934. A
Socialist revolt in Austria was brutally crushed.
30 January 1934. All
Austrian political parties were banned except the 'Fatherland Front'.�
10 November 1933. Dollfuss
declared martial law in Austria.
29 March 1933, Austrian
Nazis staged a large demonstration, in defiance of Chancellor Dollfuss. Meanwhile
Germany instituted a punitive 1,000 Mark tourist tax on any German visiting
Austria, which severely damaged the Austrian tourist industry.
7 March 1933. Chancellor
Dollfuss suspended the Austrian Parliament.
4 November 1932, Thomas Klestil,
10th President of Austria, was born in Vienna (died 2004).
27 July 1932, Archduchess
Gisela of Austria died, aged 76.
20 May 1932, Engelbert
Dolfuss, Austrian Chancellor, formed a coalition government of
Christian Socialists and Agrarians.
13 September 1931, In
Austria, an attempted Fascist coup
by the Heimwehr under Dr Pfrimer failed.
9 November 1930. Social
Democrats won elections to the Austrian Parliament.
26 September 1929, John Schrober
became chancellor of Austria.
30 April 1929, Ernst
Streeruwitz was appointed Chancellor of Austria.
5 December 1928, Wilhelm Miklas
was elected President of Austria, succeeding Michael Hainish.
15 July 1927. Vienna faced
a General Strike as Socialists rioted. The left wing was upset that
Austrian courts were much more lenient on offences committed by right-wing
offenders, even up to murder.
15 October 1926, Ignaz Seipel
formed a Christian Socialist Government in Austria, replacing Rudolf Ramek.
15 July 1926, In
Vienna, 2 Right-wing militia men were acquitted of murder., this led to riots
between Socialist and Right wing groups in which 85 protestors and 4 policemen
died.
9 December 1920, Michael Hainish
elected first President of Austria.
10 September 1919, The Treaty
of St Germain was signed by the Allies with Austria at the Paris Peace Conference. Austria had to pay large reparations to
the Allies, and recognise the independence of Yugoslavia, Poland,
Czechoslovakia and Hungary.
10 June 1919, Austria
protested against the terms of the Paris Peace Conference.
11 May 1919, The
population of Vorarlberg, the
westernmost province of Austria, voted for union with Switzerland by a large
majority.� However this transfer was not
supported by the Allies or the Swiss Government, and Vorarlberg became one of
the nine Austrian Bundeslander.
21 December 1918, Kurt Waldheim, President of Austria from 1985,
also UN Secretary General 1972-82, was born (died 14 June 2007).
12 November 1918, The Republic of Austria was declared, ending the Hapsburg Dynasty, as Emperor Charles
abdicated.
10 April 1918, A congress of Austrian-subject peoples was held in
Rome.
For main
European events of World War One see France-Germany
21 November 1916. Emperor Franz Josef,
ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire since 1848, died.
He was succeeded by his 29-year old grandson, Charles I.
23 July 1914. Austria determined that the government of Serbia
was involved in the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, and
sent an ultimatum to the President of Serbia, Narodna Odbrana, drafted so as
to prepare for war with Serbia. The terms were designed to be too humiliating
for Serbia to accept. In fact Serbia accepted most of the terms, but insisted
that an Austro-Serbian judicial enquiry into the assassination would be subject
to Serbian law, and Austria rejected this condition. See 28 July 1914. Austria�s real issue with Serbia was that
it blocked potential Austrian territorial expansion southwards into the
Balkans, to give Austria domination of the Aegean Sea.
5 December 1912, Italy, Germany and Austria renewed their
Triple alliance for a further six years.
15 November 1908. Austria sent troops to the Serbian frontier.
7 October 1908. Austria
annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, taking advantage of instability within the Ottoman
Empire. Though formally part of the Ottoman Empire, its Serb-Croat population
favoured union with Serbia. Other European countries were shocked at Austria�s
move. Serbia was especially angry that Serbs in the region had not got
autonomy. However Russia agreed with
Austria not to oppose this annexation in return for Austria supporting the
opening of the Dardanelles to Russian warships. Turkey accepted cash
compensation for the loss of Bosnia and Hercegovina on 12 January 1909. See 1
December 1908.
13 August 1908, King Edward VII
of Britain met with Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria at Ischl. Edward
tried to persuade the Emperor to advise the German Kaiser against aggressive
policies aimed at Britain.
7 July 1907, Germany,
Austro-Hungary and Italy renewed their Triple Alliance for
another 6 years.
26 January 1907, Austria
introduced universal male suffrage, for men aged over 24.
10 January 1907, Austria
passed a Bill giving the vote to all males aged 24 and over.
13 July 1903, Benjamin von
Kallay, Austro-Hungarian statesman, died (born 22 December 1839).
23 June 1902, Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy renewed the Triple Alliance.
Nationalist
tensions rising within Austro-Hungary, especially with the Czechs
11 March 1904, The Army
Bill was passed in Hungary (see 16 September 1903), despite Magyar obstruction,
using the guillotine. See 16 September 1903.
16 September 1903, Franz Joseph
of Austria proposed to bring Hungarian Army regiments in under a unified
military command. This provoked opposition from the Magyars. However see 11
March 1904.
13 September 1900, Emperor Franz
Josef of the Austro-Hungarian Empire received a deputation from the
Poles, demanding more autonomy, but�
Franz Josef threatened a harsher rule if these demands continued.
8 August 1900, Czech members of the
Austrian Reichsrat disrupted the sitting for 7 hours with noisy cymbals and
trumpets.
13 January 1900, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef I
informed the Czech leader, Dr Stransky, that German must remain the
language of all members of the Austro-Hungarian Army. Nationalist tensions were
rising within the Empire.
26 February 1899, Johann Rechberg-Rothenlowen, Austrian
statesman, died near Vienna (born 1806)
10 September 1898, Elizabeth, consort of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria,
was stabbed to death by anarchist Luigi Luccheni.
14 December 1897, Kurt Schusnigg,
Austrian politician, was born.
30 July 1897, Alfred Arneth,
Austrian historian, died (born 10 July 1819).
18 February 1895, Friedrich Albert, Austrian Field Marshal, died (born 3 August 1817
in Vienna)
23 May 1893, Anton von Schmerling, Austrian statesman, died
in Vienna (born 23 August 1805 in Vienna)
4 October 1892, Engelbert Dolfuss, Austrian dictator, was
born.
6 May 1891, The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria, and Italy was
renewed.
2 December 1889, Aloys Karolyi, Austro-Hungarian diplomat, died
(born 8 August 1825).
30 January 1889, Archduke Rudolph of Austria was found deat at
his hunting lodge at Mayerling outside Vienna. He had shot his 17-year-old
mistress Baroness
Marie Vetser and then himself. He left no direct heir, so his
25-year-old nephew Franz Ferdinand became heir-apparent.
24 October 1886, Friedrich Beust, Austrian statesman, died near
Vienna (born in Dresden 13 January 1809).
20 May 1882, Austria formed a Triple Alliance with Germany and
Italy; this threatened Russia.
27 April 1881, Ludwig Benedek, Austrian General, died in Graz
( born in Odenburg, Hungary 14 July 1804).
20 February 1887, The Triple Alliance between Germany,
Austria and Italy was renewed for a further 5 years.
8 July 1876, The Austrian
and Russian
foreign Ministers, Andrassy and Gorchakov, met at the Reichstadt
in Bohemia to discuss the future of the Balkans on the conclusion of the
current conflict.
29 June 1875, Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria, died (born 19
April 1793)
7 April 1871, Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, Austrian Admiral, died
(born in Marburg, Styria 23 December 1827)
Dual
Austro-Hungarian administration established, 1867
15 March 1867, Austria and Hungary buried their differences and agreed to
joint rule, sharing defence, foreign, and financial matters but with separate
parliaments. However the Czechs, annoyed by the minor role they were given in
this arrangement, walked out of the Parliament on 22 August 1868.
8 February 1867, As Prussia became
increasingly powerful under Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck and King Wilhelm I,
political differences between Germany and the Hapsburgs of Austria, who had
ruled Austria since 1278, increased. This weakened Austria to the point where
Hungary threatened to break away. To save the unity of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire, Austria was forced (the �ausgliech�
or �compromise�) to agree to a Dual Monarchy, where each State had a separate
government and a convoluted system of joint Ministers to oversee the Empire. However this in
turn alienated ethnic minorities within Austro-Hungary, ultimately sparking off
demands for Serbian independence and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
that led to World War One.
3 October 1866, A peace treaty was concluded between Austria and Italy.�
Austria surrendered Venetia to Italy.�
23 August 1866. The Treaty of Prague was signed, ending the war between Austria and Prussia.
Austria agreed to
withdraw from the German Confederation, renounced its claim on
Schleswig-Holstein, and ceded Venetia to Italy.
26 July 1866, The preliminary Peace Treaty of Nikolsburg was
signed between Austria and Prussia.
24 June 1866, The Italians fighting the Austrians were defeated at Custozza.
14 June 1866, The brief Austro-Prussian
War began,
over a dispute between Prussia and Austria over the Duchies of Schleswig and
Holstein. For
more details see
Germany 1866
Austro-Piedmont
War 1859, for more details see Italy
10 November 1859, A peace
treaty signed at Zurich ended the war between France, allied
to Piedmont, and Austria. The effects of the treaty were crucial in the
unification of Italy. Under its terms, Lombardy passed from Austria to
Piedmont, with the exception of the Quadrilateral forts (see 24 June 1859)
which were retained by Austria. Piedmont compensated France 60 million lire
for the cost of the war with Austria. Plebiscites were held in various
territories to determine which State they would join.
10 July 1859, The Treaty of
Villafranca was signed between France and Austria.
24 June 1859, At the Battle
of Solferino, Lombardy, Italy, the French under Napoleon III defeated the
Austrians.
4 June 1859, The Battle of
Magenta. France defeated Austrian forces and captured Milan.
30 May 1859, Battle of
Palestro; Austria defeated by Piedmont.
20 May 1859, Italian Wars of independence, Austria
defeated by Piedmont.
See Italy for War of Italian Independence against Austria
For more on Austro-Piedmont War 1859 see Italy
3 May 1859. France declared war on Austria.
11 June 1859, Clemens Metternich, Austrian
statesman, died.
5 January 1858, Joseph Radedtsky, Austrian Field-Marshal and
national hero, died in Milan aged 91.
2 December 1854, Austria formed a strategic alliance with Britain
and France.
24 April 1854, Elizabeth married Archduke Ferdinand, Emperor of
Austria.
14 March 1853, Julius Haynau, Austrian general, died (born
1786).
24 June 1852, Viktor Adler, Austrian politician (died 12
November 1918) was born.
25 March 1849, Agenor Goluchowski, Austrian statesman, was
born.
Demands for
Austrian constitutional reform, ultimately watered down, 1848-49
4 March 1849, A final new constitution
was introduced in Austria, with watered-down reforms including limited
siuffrage, a reformed judiciary and the abolition of feudalism and serfdom. The
population was coereced into accepting this by the invitation to Russian troops
(issued 5/1849) to �protect� Austro-Hungasry.
2 December 1848,
Emperor
Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated in favour of his nephew, Francis Joseph. The Reichstag was moved out to Moravia, then dismissed entirely.
6
October 1848, Renewed popular uprising in Vienna,
as reforms stalled. It was harshly suppressed three days later.
8
April 1848, A new Austrian constitution, the Pillersdorf Constitution, was prepared.
This proposed a constitutional monarchy and universal
suffrage. However the Austrian Prime Minister attempted to block its
implementatoion by dissolving trhe Reichstag and arresting reformers. The
entire reforming process then stalled because Austria was facing regional
problems.
15
March 1848, Emperor Ferdinand of Austria
made concessions to the agitants, promising a liberal conasitution amnd freedom
of the press.
13
August 1848, Peaceful demonstrationa in central
Vienna demanding political reform turned violent and spread to the suburbs. The
Austrian Metternich
Government was frightened.
30 April 1847, Charles, Archduke of Austria, died (born 5
September 1771).
6 November 1846, Following uprisings in March 1846, the
small republic of Cracow was annexed to Austrian-controlled
Galicia, losing its independence.
22 December 1839, Benjamin von Kallay, Austro-Hungarian
statesman, was born (died 23 July 1903).
24 December 1837, Elizabeth, consort of Emperor Franz Joseph
of Austria, was born.
2 March 1835, Francis II, last Holy
Roman Emperor, died. He was
succeeded, as Emperor of Austria only, by his 4-year-old son, Ferdinand I.
24 February 1833, Eduard Taaffe, Austrian statesaman, was born
in Vienna (died 29 November 1895 in Bohemia)
29 December 1832, Gustav Kalnocky, Austro-Hungarian statesman,
was born (died 13 February 1898).
18 August 1830, Birth of Franz-Joseph I,
Emperor of Austria who invaded Serbia, ultimately starting World War One.
22 October 1828, Karl Mack von Leiberich, Austrian soldier,
died (born 25 August 1752)
23 December 1827, Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, Austrian Admiral, was
born in Marburg, Styria (died 7 April 1871)
8 August 1825, Aloys Karolyi, Austro-Hungarian diplomat, was
born (died 2 December 1889).
3 August 1817, Friedrich Albert, Austrian Field Marshal, was
born in Vienna (died 18 February 1895).
10 July 1819, Alfred Arneth, Austrian historian, was born in
Vienna (died 1897).
20 February 1810, Andreas Hofer, Austrian patriot, died (born 22
November 1767).
13 January 1809, Friedrich Beust, Austrian statesman, was born
Dresden (died near Vienna 24 October 1886).
Austria and
the Napoleonic Wars, 1805-09
16 March 1812, Austria, concerned at the
growth of Russian influence in the Balkans, agreed to provide military support
for France, and France guaranteed the integrity of the Ottoman empire. France
also promised to restore the Illyrian Provinces (Carniola, Trieste, Carinthia,
Croatia and Dalmatia) to Austria.
15 March 1811, The Austrian state was
bankrupt, due to inflation caused by soaring military expenditure.
20 February 1811, Austria declared itself
bankrupt, due to the huge expense of military mobilisations and the decline in
revenues following the Treaty of Schonbrunn, 1809.
14 October 1809. Austria signed the Peace of Schonbrunn, ceding its Illyrian provinces
to France.� Austria lost Galicia, Salzburg, and Istria.
8 October 1809, Metternich was appointed
Austrian Foreign Minister.
13 May 1809, French forces took the Austrian capital
Vienna.
4 April 1809, Britain agreed to provide
Austria with a monthly subsidy of �150,000 for the war against France, and for
Austria to invade the Schedlt region of the French-dominated Kingdom of
Holland.
8 February 1809, Emperor Francis I of Austria,
fearing that Napoleon would overrun and dismember Austria, launched a
pre-emptive attack on France.
28 February 1808, Austria joined the
Continental system of Napoleon I against Britain.
12 July 1806, The ruler of Austria, then
Francis II,
dropped the title Holy Roman Emperor, at Napoleon�s insistence, after 1,000 years of
possessing this title.
26 December 1805, Austria abandoned the Third Coalition by signing the Peace of
Pressburg with France.� Austria was forced to surrender Venetia to
the Kingdom of Italy, newly founded by Napoleon.� Austria also surrendered Tyrol to Bavaria and
its remaining Swabian lands to Wurttemberg and Baden.
See
France-Germany for more events of Napoleonic Wars
20 October 1805, The
outnumbered French army of Napoleon
defeated an Austrian army at Ulm. Napoleon
had already realised he cold not gain control of the English Channel, or
overcome British naval supremacy, so before the Battle of Trafalgar he had
directed his forces eastwards, against Austria. Austria had to submit to
the Treaty of Pressburg, by which
Venetia was ceded to the French Kingdom of Italy and the States of the Lower
Rhine were forced into the Confederation of the Rhine, a French dependency. The
Electors of Bavaria and Wurttemberg became Kings independent of Austria, and
Austria had to pay Napoleon a war contribution of 40 million
francs.
9 August 1805,
Austria joined Britain, Russia and Sweden as a signatory to the Treaty of St
Petersburg, an alliance against France.
23 August 1805, Anton von Schmerling, Austrian
statesman, was born in Vienna (died 2q3 May 1893 in Vienna)
11 August 1804, Francis II of Austria assumed the
title of hereditary emperor of Austrian possessions, although he still retained
the title of |Holy Roman Emperor.
14 July 1804, Ludwig Benedek, Austrian General, was born in
Odenburg, Hungary (died in Graz 27 April 1881).
24 November 1801, Franz Lacy,
Austrian Field Marshal, died (born 21 October 1725).
27 June 1794, Wenzel Kaunitz-Rietburg, Austrian Chancellor
1753-92, died (born 2 February 1711).
19 April 1793, Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria, was born
(died 29 June 1875).
20 February 1790, Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, died. His
reforms had provoked rebellion in Belgium and Hungary. He was succeeded by his
brother, Archduke
Leopold, the Grand Duke of Tuscany; in July 1790 he was elected Holy
Roman Emperor as Leopold II.
13 October 1781, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II gramted a patent of
religious tolerance within the empire, along with freedom of the press.
29 November 1780, Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, wife of Emperor Francis
I (1745-65) died in Vienna. Her son, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II,
became sole ruler of the Hapsburg lands.
13 May 1779, At the Peace
of Teschen, Austria made peace with Frederick of Prussia.� Austria received a small part of Bavaria, the
Innvertiel, and renounced all claims to
the Bavarian inheritance.
5 September 1771, Charles, Archduke of Austria, was born (died
30 April 1847)
15 April 1771, Karl Philipp Schwartzenberg, Austrian Field
Marshal, was born in Vienna (died 15 October 1820 in Leipzig)
6 May 1769, Ferdinand III, Archduke of Austria, was born
(died 6/1824).
22 November 1767, Andreas Hofer, Austrian patriot, was born
(died 20 February 1810).
2 November 1766, Joseph Radetsky, Austrian Field Marshal, was
born in Trebnitz, near Tabor.
5 February 1766, Leopold Daun, Austrian Field Marshal, died
(born 24 September 1705).
Seven Years
War1756-63
15 February 1763, Austria, seeing hope for a
decisive victory over Prussia recede with peace between Russia and Prussia, made peace with Prussia
at Hubertusberg this day.� Frederick
evacuated Saxony but retained Silesia.� Austria
had failed to destroy Prussia before Prussian power was consolidated.
10 February 1763, The end
of the Seven Years War. France ceded Canada
to Britain at the Treaty of Paris. See 26 July 1758 and
13 September 1759. The same treaty gave Florida to Britain in exchange for
Britain returning Cuba,
which it had invaded on 12 August 1762, to Spain; Spain also regained Louisiana and the
Philippines. Britain gained all of America east of the Mississippi. Britain also gained
Minorca, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Tobago, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, and
Senegal, as well as becoming pre-eminent in India; Britain therefore became
the world�s major colonising power. Frederick of Prussia retained Silesia,
which set Prussia on the road to also becoming a major European power.
29 October 1762, The
Austrians were defeated at the Battle of Freiburg.� The
war was making Austria bankrupt and Austria was questioning whether the war was
worth it for the recovery of one province.�
Austria and Prussia agreed on an armistice on 24 November 1762� for the winter of 1762/3.
See also France-Germany for Seven Years War
9 October 1762, The
Austrians under Daun
were defeated by Prussia at Schweidnitz.
16 August 1762, The
Austrians under Daun
were defeated by Prussia at Reichenbach.
21 July 1762, The
Austrians under Daun
were defeated by Prussia at Burkersdorf.
16 December 1761 The
Russians under Pyotr
Aleksandrovitch Rumyantsev captured the Prussian port and fort of
Kolberg. It had been a bad year for Frederick of Prussia, with French forces
making progress eastwards in south western Germany, and the Austrians under Laudon
capturing Schweidnitz on 1 October 1761, ensuring they could over-winter in
Silesia. Frederick
had failed to prevent the Russian Army, 50,000 strong, joining up with the
72,000-strong Austrian Army on 23 August 1761. Frederick�s biggest concern was that since the change of monarch
and the resignation of Pitt in
Britain, he could no longer rely on British support. Without a major change of
fortune, Prussia faced certain defeat in 1762.
3 November 1760
Frederick of
Prussia won the Battle of Torgau against the Austrians but failed to
follow up this success and achieve his objective of capturing Dresden.
26 July 1760,
The Austrians under Laudon captured Glatz from Prussia.
23 June 1760,
The Austrians under Laudon defeated the Prussians at Landshut.
14 September 1759, The
Austrians under Daun
took Dresden from the Prussians.
12 August 1759, Frederick,
who had been unable to prevent the Austrians under Daun and the Russians under Saltykov
joining forces, was heavily defeated by them at Kunersdorf. Frederick
lost 18,000 men in six hours. The Russians did not capitalise on this victory,
but Daun
then marched on Dresden.
21 November 1758, Austrian
forces under Daun surrounded a Prussian force under General Finck at Maxen,
forcing its surrender.
14 October 1758, The
Austrians under Daun
launched an unexpected counter-attack against the Prussians at Hochkirk;
Prussian losses were 9,500 against 7,500 for the Austrians. Daun
began an advance on Dresden, but fell back to Pirna when he heard of Frederick�s
march on Lusatia. However the Austrian victory at Hochkirk raised French
morale; they had been inclined to abandon the war against Prussia.
25 August 1758, Frederick of
Prussia moved around Fermor�s east flank and his 36,000 men
attacked the Russians at Zorndorf (Sarbinowo). Prussian losses were 13,500,
against Russian casualties of 42,000 (21,000 killed). Frederick now left Christoph von
Dohna to pursue the defeated Russians; Frederick moved south to assist
his brother, Prince
Henry, against the Austrians under Daun at Dresden.
16 April 1758, Frederick of
Prussia defeated the Austrians at Schweidnitz, Silesia.
5 December 1757, Frederick of
Prussia, now confronted by an Austrian army which had invaded
Silesia and seized Breslau, defeated them this day at Leuthen and recovered Breslau, capital of Silesia. Frederick�s
43,000 men attacked the 72,000 Austrians under Charles of Lorraine with a
sudden cavalry charge followed by a heavy artillery bombardment. Frederick�s
losses amounted to 6,000, against 22,000 lost by Charles, including 12,000 taken
prisoner. Meanwhile the Swedes, who had invaded Prussian Pomerania in September
1757 (without Russian approval), were also forced back into Swedish Pomerania,
where they held against the Prussians at Stralsund. With the Russians under Apraksin
also having retreated (see 30 August 1757), the was began to turn in Prussia�s
favour.
22 November 1757, In
Silesia, Austria took Breslau (Wroclaw) from Prussia.
11 November 1757, In
Silesia, Austria took Schweidnitz (Swidnica) from Prussia.
7 September 1757, Prussian
forces under Fredrick
Francis of Brunswick-Bevern were defeated at Moys (Zgorzelec) in
Silesia by the Austrians.
26 June 1757, Maximillian
Browne, Austrian Field-Marshal, died (born 23 October 1705).
18 June 1757, Frederick,
ruler of Prussia, sought to turn back an advancing Austrian army,
50,000 strong under von Daun, but was heavily defeated at Kolin
this day.� Frederick had to give up Bohemia
and raise the siege of Prague.
6 May 1757, The
Battle of Prague. Frederick�s Prussian Army of 64,000 routed an
Austrian Army of 66,000 under Browne and Prince Charles of Lorraine. This
defeat came before the Austrians could be reinforced by more troops under Leopold Joseph,
Graf von Daun. 14,000 Austrians were killed, 16,000 escaped to join von Daun,
and the rest fled into Prague itself where they were besieged by Frederick.
1 May 1757, Austria
and France signed the Second Treaty of Versailles, allying themselves for an
offensive against Prussia. Under this Treaty, Austria would regain Silesia
(from Prussia) but would cede the Austrian Netherlands (to be divided between King Louis XV
of France and his Spanish Bourbon cousin Philip Duke of Parma). Philip�s
Italian possessions would revert to Austrian rule. France would garrison
105,000 of its troops in Prussia, in addition to supplying 30,000 men to the
Austrian Army (increased from an earlier figure of 24,000). France would
provide an annual subsidy to Austria of 12,000,000 livres. Meanwhile on 11
January 1757 France had concluded a secret treaty with Russia whereby France
agreed to help Russia in the event of any attack on Russia by Turkey
(contravening a long-standing detente between France and Turkey). In return for
this Russia would supply 80,000 men against Prussia. All parties swore not to make
separate peaces with Prussia, which was to be partitioned between the Allies.
1 October 1756, The
Battle of Lobositz (midway between Dresden and Prague).� The Prussians defeated the Austrians. Russia
would have marched to help Austria against Prussia, but this would entail
Russian troops crossing Poland. Although France would nominally have welcomed
this, as it would relieve the French from helping Austria, and Poland was
allied to France, in secret the French would not welcome any Russian influence upon
Poland.
25 August 1752, Karl Mack von
Leiberich, Austrian soldier, was born (died 22 October 1828)
4 Otober 1749, Franz Trenck,
Austrian soldier, died (born 1 ujanuary 1711)
18 February 1748, Otto Ferdinand
Traun, Austrian Field Marshal, died in Hermannstadt (born 21 August
1677 in Oldenburg)
War of the Austrian Succession 1740-48 See
also France-Germany
1748, Comclusion of
the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). On the sudden death of
Emperor Charles VI, Bavaria, Saxony and Spain, backed by France, refused to
recognise the Pragmatic Sanction and invaded Bohemia and Upper Austria. Prussia
put in a claim, and then invaded Silesia (Second Silesian War ended 1745).
Bavaria withdrew its claim, and under
the 1748 Treaty of Aachen the Hapsburgs retained all their dominions, excepting
Silesia.
25 December
1745, The Peace of Dresden concluded the Second
Silesian War.� Frederick of Prussia
retained Silesia, and recognised Francis
as ruler of Austria.
15 December
1745, Frederick
invaded Bohemia,
and occupied most of Saxony.� On this day
his chief general, Leopold
of Anhalt-Dessau, defeated the Austrians and Saxons
at Kesselsdorf, near Dresden.
4 June 1745, The Austrians
attacked Silesia, allied with troops from Saxony,� but were defeated by Prussia at Hohenfriedburg.
26 January 1744, Ludwig Khevenhuller, Austrian
Field Marshal, died.
8 February 1743, Battle of Campo Santo, War of the Austrian Succession, Inconclusive
fight between Spain, under Moertemar, and the Imperialists under Count Traum.
28 July 1742, Maria Theresa of Austria made
peace with Prussia; ceding control of all of Silesia to Prussia.
11 June 1742, The Peace of Breslau
concluded the First Silesian War.�
Austria ceded most of Silesia along with Glatz to Prussia, retaining
only the principalities of Troppau and Teschen.�
In return Frederick promised his neutrality.
17 May 1742, The Prussian cavalry
defeated the Austrians at the Battle of
Chotusitz.
10 April 1741, The German Emperor
crossed the Silesian frontier, advanced as far as Breslau, and this day
defeated an Austrian Army near Mollwitz.� This was during the War of the Austrian
Succession.
8 February 1741. Neisse and
Brieg still held out but the Prussians stormed and occupied Glogau on 9 March 1741.
At the Battle of Mollwitz, 10 April 1741, the Prussians narrowly won the day. Europe
realised that Prussia was now a major military power and France sent an
envoy, Marshal
Belleisle, to negotiate an alliance with Frederick.� The �Silesian adventure� now became the War
of the Austrian Succession. France supported the Elector of Bavaria. Sweden
was supposed to stop Russia attacking Prussia but on 3 September 1742 the
Swedes were heavily defeated by the Russians at Wilmanstrand, and Sweden
capitulated in 1742 at Helsingfors, the Swedish capital. At the Peace of
Dresden, 25 December 1745 Frederick recognised the Elector of Bavaria as ruler of
Austria in return for his acquiring Silesia. The war of the Austrian Succession
ended on 18 October 1748 with the Peace of Aachen (Aix la Chapelle).
16 December 1740. Without a
declaration of war. Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia, an Austrian
province. He occupied Silesia quite easily, besieging the few towns of
Glogau, Breig, and Neisse still held by the Austrians.
In February 1741 Austria prepared to
reconquer Silesia.
See also events in Germany
20 October 1740, Emperor
Charles VI died unexpectedly. Maria Theresa,
aged 23, became ruler of Austria. Frederick II of Prussia, taking advantage of
Austria having a young female ruler, prepared to invade the wealthy Austrian
provoince of Silesia. Meanwhile Bavaria and Saxony also had claims on
Austrian lands (their claims supported by France), and Spain wanted the Italian
provinces of Austria. Hungary supported Austria.
24 May 1736, Johann Thugut, Austrian diplomat,
was born in Linz (died 28 May 1818 in Vienna)
21 October 1725, Franz Lacy, Austrian Field
Marshal, was born (died 24 November 1801).
2 February 1717, Ernst Loudon, Austrian soldier,
was born (died 14 July 1789).
13 May 1717, Maria Theresa,
Empress of Austria, was born in Vienna.
Accession of Maria Theresa, aged 23.
Austria
defeats Ottoman Turkey, saves Vienna, annexes Hungary
22 August 1717. Austrian forces took Belgrade from the Ottoman Turks.
30 April 1711, The Peace of Szatmar
effected a reconciliation between the absolutist Hapsburg Austrian monarchy and
the Hungarians.
2 February 1711, Wenzel Kaunitz-Rietburg,
Austrian statesman, was born (died 27 June 1794).
1691, Austria took Transylvania from the Ottomans,
6 July 1686. The Austrians took Buda from the Ottoman Turks and annexed
Hungary.
11 September 1683. The
conquering armies of Islam under Vizier Kara Mustafa were defeated at the gates
of Vienna. The Turks had been besieging Vienna since July 1683. Relief
came under Poland�s King John III and Charles, Duke of Normandy. The
Ottoman Sultan ordered Mustafa to commit suicide.
1 January 1711, Franz Trenck,
Austrian soldier, was born (died 4 October 1749)
23 October 1705, Maximillian
Browne, Austrian Field-Marshal, was born (died 26 June 1757).
16 October 1680, Raimondo
Montecucculi, Austrian General, died.
17 September 1679, Don John
the Younger of Austria died (born 1629)
27 August 1677, Otto Ferdinand
Traun, Austrian Field Marshal, was born in Oldenburg (died 18
February 1748 in Hermannstadt)
11 August 1656, Prince Octavio
Piccolomini, Austrian General, died (born in Florence 11 November
1599)
18 October 1634, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, Austrian statesman
(born 1568) died at Laibach.
22 July 1634, Johann Aldringer, Austrian
military commander, died at the defence of Landshut against the Swedes on the
Danube.
18 September 1630, Melchior Klesl, Austrian statesman, died.
11 July 1624, Savoy and Venice joined the alliance against the
Austrian Hapsburgs. The Alpine passes could now be blocked, preventing
effective Spanish-Hapsburg co-operation.
9 July 1624, Sweden and Denmark joined the alliance against the
Austrian Hapsburgs.
15 June 1624, England joined the alliance of France and Holland
against Hapsburg Austria.
10 June 1624, Treaty of
Compeigne. France and Holland allied against the Hapsburgs.
1/1624, France, already at war
with Spain, now declared war on the Austrian Hapsburgs.
23 July 1620, Maximillian of
Bavaria, with the 25,000 strong army of the Catholic League led by General John
Tserclaes, Count Tilly, crossed the Austrian frontier to support the
Holy Roman Emperor against the Protestant Bohemians.
11 November 1606, The
Treaty of Zsitvatorok ended the Long War between the Hapsburgs and the
Ottoman Empire.
11 November 1599, Prince Octavio Piccolomini, Austrian General,
was born in Florence (died 11 August 1656)
24 January 1595, Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria of Austria died.
1 October 1578, Don John of Austria died (born 24 February 1545).
24 February 1545, Don John of Austria was born (died 1 October 1578).
29 August 1526, The
Battle of Mohacs.� The Turkish
army under Suleiman
I defeated the Hungarians
under King
Loius II, who was killed whilst retreating.� Suleiman took Buda, whilst Archduke
Ferdinand of Austria and John Zapolya, Prince of
Transylvania, disputed over the succession. As a result of this dispute, Dubrovnik achieved independence,
although it recognised Turkish overlordship. The Hapsburgs now ruled Bohemia and
Hungary.
28 April 1521, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V granted his brother Archduke
Ferdinand I of Austria the Habsburg possessions in Lower Austria,
Carinthia, Styria and Carniola.
3 December 1463, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, united
Upper and Lower Austria on the death of his brother Albert I, Grand Duke of Austria.
3 October 1369, Margaret Maultasch, Countess of Tirol, died.
1 November 1339, Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, was born.
2 April 1335, Following the death of Henry Duke of Carinthia, Holy
Roman Emperor Louis
IV conferred the Duchy and South Tyrol on the Habsburgs. His sons
received North Tyrol.
Start of
the Habsburg Dynasty, ;lasting until 1918
25 August 1278, Ottokar II, King of Bohemia, was killed in the
Battle of Durnkrut. Ottokar II had previously lost a battle with Rudolf I of
Hapsburg (Habichtsburg, or Hawk�s castle, a town now in Switzerland)
in 1276; refusing to accept this defeat, he prepared to attack again. However Rudolf
launched a pre-emptive strike, with 2,000 horsemen, and the support of Ladislav of
Hungary. This battle paved
the way for the rise of the Hapsburg Dynasty.
25 November 1276, Rudolf of Habsburg, King of the Romans,
besieged Vienna. Bohemia rebelled, and Ottakar surrendered� all his lands, including Austria and Styria,
except for Bohemia and Moravia. Rudolf made Vienna his capital, founding the
Habsburg Dynasty, which endured until 1918.
17 September 1156, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa confirmed
Austria as a Duchy by the Priveligium Miuns Decree. For early Holy Roman Emperors see Germany
1155, The Margravate of Austria was made a Duchy after 180 years of
rule by the Babenberg family.
976,
The start of modern-day Austria, as a
Margravate on the Danube granted by Holy Roman Emperor Otto II to the
Franconian Count Leopold
(Luipold); Leopold�s
Babenberg family ruled the Margravate
until 1246.