Section 5.23 Three Aging Empires Chapter 5: The Transformation of Eastern Europe, 1648- 1740.
The Austrian Habsburgs 1648-1740
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Transcript of The Austrian Habsburgs 1648-1740
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