The Decline and Fall of the Habsburg Empire - Essay Example

?Summary of Chapter 6: THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HABSBURG EMPIRE A lot of European history are of the view that the Habsburg Monarchy was already on the verge of collapsing between the years 1867 and 1914. The First World War merely served to exacerbate the situation. Everyone who was a part of the Monarchy was seeking a republic at this time, and they were averse to see the Monarchy collapse. The most vehement dissidents were the German nationalists, led by von Schonar, who wanted Austria’s Germans to secede and amalgamate with the German Empire of the Hohenzoclners. Defeat in the war led to the break-up of the Monarchy, and this was unforeseen even until the summer of 1918 (Sked, 1989 ). The Habsurg army persevered till the very end. Had they been victorious, their Monarchy would not only have survived, but would also have expanded. In The Dual Monarchy chapter of the Decline and Fall of the Habsburg Empire, analyzes the position of Hungary within the Empire, the nationalist and economic growth problems, the rise of fresh political and social forces, cultural pessimism, and the foreign policy issues prior to 1914. These analyses are conducted in the light of the commonly known weaknesses that afflicted the Dual Monarchy, and it is meant to deduce what condition the Habsburg Empire was in before its collapse. The Habsburg Monarchy stretched from the territories that were under the rule of the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg (1278–1780). This branch of rulers was succeeded by House of Habsburg-Lorraine (from 1780), between 1526 and 1867/1918. Vienna was the official capital until it was temporarily replaced from 1583 to 1611, with Prague. The Habsburg ruled over the Austrian Empire from 1804 to 1867 the Habsburgs and the they moved onto ruling Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918 ruled the Austrian Empire and from 1867 to 1918 Austria-Hungary. The Austo-Hungarian Compromise, which started the empire's dual structure, took place at a time Austrian strength had dwindled considerably. This was the case in the Italian Peninsula as well as among the German Federation. Several constitutional changes took places, the chief reason for which was the perpetual dissatisfaction of Hungary about being ruled from Vienna. Additionally, the national consciousness of other natives of the Austran Empire was getting enhanced. The Hungarians were agitated significantly owing to the suppression they felt was being exerted on their call for a revolution. This suppression was backed by the Russians. However, the entire Hungarian agitation with Austria had been festering for many years, and the reasons for this were manifold. Towards the end of the 1850’s, a lot of Hungarian practiced a change of attitude, inclined to recognize the Habsburg dominion and scavenge the idea of a revolt. Their validation for this rest in the fact that while Hungary had right to full independence and self-government, the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 foreign affairs were the similar for Austria and Hungary, When the Austrians were beaten at Koniggratz, it became crucial for them to counterfeit reconciliatory ties with Hungary in order to accomplish their lost esteem and power. The new foreign minister wanted to substantiate the previously stalled round of discussions with the previously delayed round of consultations with the Hungarians. In order seek Hungary’s hold up for the Monarchy, Emperor Franz Joseph compiled a deal with Hungarian powers yielding them the popular coronation as King, a separate parliament at Budapest, and the powers to set up laws for the lands that were to be governed by the Hungarian Crown. Initiating from1867, the allocation of common spending was set at 70% for Austria and 30% for the Hungarians. It was decided that this allocation would be revisited every 10 years, and by the year 1907, the Hungarian allocation was raised to 36.4% common expenditure was allocated 70% to Austria and 30% to Hungary. This split had to be discussed every 10 years, and, by 1907, the Hungarian allocation had risen to 36.4%.The negotiations in 1917 ended with the dissolution of the Dual Monarchy. By the late 1860s, Austrian objectives in both Italy and Germany had been choked off by the augment of new national powers. With the turn down and failed reforms of the Ottoman Empire, Slavic resistance in the occupied Balkans grew and both Russia and Austria-Hungary observed a prospect to increase in this region. In 1876, Russia presented to partition the Balkans, but Andrassy declined for Austria-Hungary was previously a "drenched" state and it could not cope with supplementary territories. The whole kingdom was thus strained into a new style of diplomatic brinkmanship, first conceived of by Andrassy, centering on the province of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a principally Slavic area of the Ottoman Empire, which was moved to Austro-Hungarian control in 1878, by the Congress of Berlin. It was a treacherous game to play in a dangerous place. A road was thus mapped out, with a terminus at Sarajevo in 1914. The Austro-Hungarian economy changed dramatically during the existence of the Dual Monarchy. The capitalist way of production spread throughout the Empire during its 50-year existence replacing medieval institutions. Technological change accelerated industrialization and urbanization. The GNP per capita grew roughly 1.76% per year from 1870–1913. That level of development compared very constructively to that of other European nations such as Britain (1%), France (1.06%), and Germany (1.51%). However, in a contrast with Germany and Britain, the Austro-Hungarian economy as an entire still lagged significantly, as continued modernization had started much later. In 1873, the old wealth Buda and Obuda (Ancient Buda) were legitimately merged with the third city, Pest, thus forming the new metropolis of Budapest. The dynamic Pest grew into Hungary's directorial, political, economic, trade and cultural hub. Many of the state institutions and the recent administrative system of Hungary were recognized during this period. Economic growth centered on Vienna and Budapest, the Austrian lands (areas of modern Austria), the Alpine area and the Bohemian lands. In the subsequent years of the 19th century, quick economic growth spread to the central Hungarian plain and to the Carpathian lands. As a result, wide inequality of growth existed within the Empire. In general, the western areas became more developed than the eastern. However, by the end of the 19th century, financial differences steadily began to even out as economic growth in the eastern areas of the Empire over and over again surpassed that in the western. The strong agriculture and food business of the Kingdom of Hungary with the center of Budapest became major within the Empire and made up a large section of the export to the rest of Europe. In the meantime, western areas, resolute mostly around Prague and Vienna, excelled in various developed industries. This separation of labor between the east and west, besides the existing economic and monetary union, lead to an even more speedy economic growth throughout Austria-Hungary by the early 20th century. The most significant trading partner was Germany (1910: 48% of all exports, 39% of all imports), followed by Great Britain (1910: almost 10% of all exports, 8% of all imports). Trade with the geographically adjoining Russia, however, had a relatively low weight (1910: 3% of all exports /mainly machinery for Russia, 7% of all imports /mainly raw materials from Russia). Dissolution of the Dual Monarchy in Habsburg: The Role of Hungary Austria Hungary sustained for as long as possible during the First World War. The Hungarians managed to contribute half the military equipment that was required for the war. This was demonstrated in a transfer of power following which the Hungarian Prime Minister, Count Tisza and his foreign Minsiter, Count Burian exercised considerable authority over all the internal and external affairs of the Habsburg Empire. As 1916 drew to an end, the supply of food from Hungary became erratic and the government requested a ceasefire with the Entente powers. This proved to be futile since Britain and France no longer place any trust in the Habsburg empie owing to its support of Germany, A Review of the Defeat in the War The disappointment that the Austrian army experienced through 1914 and 1915 was largely the result of Austria-Hungary becoming a military satellite of Germany since the inception of the war. This situation was exacerbated by the ineptitude of the Austrian high command. Following their attack on Serbia, the Austrian forces has to be taken away to safeguard their eastern part from a possible invasion from Russia. Meanwhile, the Germans were occupied in war on the Western part. This unfortunately resulted in a foreseen sacrifice of Austrian men, while they were invading Serbia. Moreover, it became apparent that the Austrian High Command had not been prepared for a war in all of Europe. The strength of its army and navy was too weak to manage a conflict on a large scale. The former ambassador and foreign minister, Count Aerhrenthal had complacently thought that any war in the future would be waged in the Balkans. In 1917, the Eastern part of the Entente Powers totally fell apart. The Austro-Hungarian Empire then left all the defeated nations. Inspite of considerable victory in the East, Germany too was completely defeated on the west. By the year 1918, the economic predicament had dwindled. The Leftist and pacifist political campaigns put up strikes in several factories, and mutiny in the army was nothing unusual. During the battles in Italy, the Czechoslovaks and the Slavs from the south declared their autonomy as independent nations. On October 31 Hungary put an end to the personal union, thereby officially finishing off the Austro-Hungarian state. At the last Italian confrontation, the Austro-Hungarian Army arrived at the battlefield sans food and munition, and combated without any political backing for the took to the field without any food and munition supply, and fought without any political support from what was left of the defunct Empire. At the culmination of the critical Italian, British, and French cooperating offensive at Vittorio Veneto, the dismantled Austria-Hungary Empire officially inked a truce Padua on 3 November 1918. Dissolution of the Empire The Communists ruled the multiethnic city of Budapest from March 21 1919 to August 1 1919. The statues of the ‘Heroes Square of Budapest’ are cloaked with the Communist signs for May Day. At the bottom of the authentic obelisk, another statue was built – Marx along with a laborer and a peasant. The Statues of heroic figures who symbolize Hungary, were banned on the grounds of internationalization. .The Austo-Hungarian Monarchy fell in the fall of 1918. In Vienna and Budapest, the leftist and liberal campaigns as well as the politicians from the opposition, solidified and endorsed the division of the people that comprised the minority. These forces who also favored the Entente maverick political groups, were opposed to the monarchy, talking of it as kind of government and thought of themselves as internationalists rather than patriotic. Ultimately, the German defeat and the small scale revolutions in both Vienna and Budapest lent political clout to the leftist and liberal political parties. As it became obvious that the Allied powers of the British Empire, France, Italy, and the United States of America would be victorious in World War I, the nationalist campaigns which had hitherto been calling for a larger extent of freedom for several areas, started to lay emphasis on complete independence. One of American President Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points insisted that the citizenship of the Austro- Hungarian Empire have "freest opportunity to autonomous development". Retorting to this, Karl I conceded to reestablish the imperial parliament in 1917 and let the formation of a confederation, with every national group possessing the right to self-govern. Alas, the leaders of the national groups had no confidence in Vienna and were determined to procure independence. On October 14 1918, the Foreign Minister Baron Istavan Burian von Rajecz requested for a truce on the basis of Wilson’s 14 points. In a bid to show good faith, Karl I issued a proclamation a couple of day afterward which was have considerably changed the form of the Austrian part of the Monarchy. The densely populated regions of Galicia and Lodomeria were given independence and it was agreed that they would become a part of their ethnic people in Russia and Germany. This would contribute in forming a Polish State. Chapter 6: Critique: THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HABSBURG EMPIRE There have been decades of histories reflecting the rises and falls of great empires, powerful dynasties, kingdoms of gold and silver and duchies. All of these histories have their own special chronological importance but there are some histories or more appropriately some empires that are unforgettable due to their dauntless rulers, peril less governments and unstopped, uninterrupted conquers. The Habsburg Empire is one of the same histories that have been discussed again and again and have been emphasized on and off to make people understand what these people were and how they lived. The most interesting fact about the Habsburg Empire is that they ruled for six centuries in a row. Although the Empire was subjected to many episodes of rise and fall, the Habsburg Empire is accounted for its successes and victories in the ancient era of fearsome rulers. What is lost becomes precious. This is human nature, we may not live in it but we love to live with it for the rest of our lives. Same is the case with the history of the decline and fall of the Habsburg Empire. Habsburg has been the greatest imperial dynasty that ever existed on the earth and the dilemma is to sum up the heights of the golden era is too difficult to be done. Expanded on an account of six decades, the fall of the Habsburg should perhaps be the borderline of the prominent European freedom but actually the case had been otherwise. The decline of the great Habsburg dynasty propelled to steer the state into the hands of the dictators. Starting off with the name, the Habsburg, the question is where these people came from (Emil Brix, 2001 ). The ancient legends reveal that they adopted their name from their home the Habitchsburg. This meant “The Hawk’s Castle”. They indeed lived like hawks, tearing away all that hindered in their flight, be it human or inhuman. Some literature states Count Werner I to be the name bearer of the family but more authentic information that I believe is that the first Habsburg of a real note is Rudolf, the Great Roman Emperor who was crowned emperor in 1273. This began the great rule of the Habsburgs in Europe. They started expanding through dynasty marriages and conquer all over the world. We see and we do believe that the charms of the ruling eras do not last longer. Empires build up and disintegrate, sometimes, leaving literally no marks at all. The same happened with the fearless rule of the Habsburg emperors. Officially, the literature suggests that the fall of the Great Habsburg Empire occurred by the end of the year 1918 when the Emperor Charles I (Karl Franz Joseph),the King of Hungary, the King of Bohemia andCroatia, and that of Galicia and Lodomeria, made his most famous declaration that changed the course of history for the great dynasty. The people of the land under this rule were surprised at the king’s words when he asserted: "Filled now as ever with unchangeable love for my people I will no longer set my person as a barrier to their free development ... The people has now taken over the government through its representatives (Healy, 2004)." In the actual history, however, the nonattendance of the Habsburg Empire opened the doors to the Nazi conquests of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland in 1939, to the German domination or the invasion of Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia in 1940 leading to the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and to the Holocaust in 1941 (chronological order). And as a final point, after the Soviet Army at the end of the daywon out over the German Wehrmacht in the longest and the most deadly military campaign in the history, it gushed into almost all of the Mitteleuropa. This brought with it rape and plunder, death and destruction, blood and assault, and the most talked of, the Communist revolution. Some researchers believe that among the many other reasons of the decline of the Habsburg Empire, a dominant factor that triggered the downfall was the multiethnic nature of the Empire. However, one factor that seemed to have played a major role in the Empire’s decline is the disease that spread. The disease was said to be a cholera epidemic that severely exhausted the Germanized populations in Hapsburg cities. The other issue that came to surface was the industrialization that created a need for a large factory work force which was not quite possible in the reign of the Great Habsburg rulers. Together these reasons triggered a huge invasion of Slavic migrants into the cities. This population in the cities proved too much for the Germanized ruling classes to enthrall as they had done it before. It also generated a fear that Slavic culture would overwhelm the German culture. This created a growing conservative repercussion against the Slavs. That in turn led to a much larger growing resistance by Slavic nationalist groups against the Germanized ruling classes which merely caused more conservative reactions and so on.Last war of the Hapsburg Empire was the World War I (1914-1918). At the conclusion of the World War One, the empire of the Habsburgs was ended, diminished, and dashed to the grounds, with new, independent nations arising out of the Slavic portions of the old empire. This change resulted with Rumania taking control of Transylvania and the comparatively small varieties of Austria and Hungary (Healy, 2004). All these reason which were apparent are thought to be responsible for the decline of the Empire. But I do believe that there must be some underline factors, some intricacies in the management of the rulers that would have been responsible for the immediate downfall of such a big and strong rooted empire. The Habsburg Empire today is long ago and very far away, but as I said earlier, the worth is realized when the jewel is lost in the sands of time. Today we think of the Habsburgs and cherish their great rule. References EMIL B, Klaus K, Elisabeth V. 2001. The Decline of Empires. Oldenbourg Verlag. HEALY, M. 2004. Vienna and the Fall of the Habsburg Empire: Total War and Everyday Life in World War I. Cambridge University Press. SKED, A. 1989. The decline and fall of the Habsburg Empire, 1815-1918. Dorset Press. Read More