Habsburg Monarchy and Austro-Hungarian History

These flashcards cover the major political developments, rulers, and reforms of the Habsburg Monarchy and Austro-Hungarian Empire from the 18th century through the early 20th century.

Karel VI. ($1711$-$1740$)

The Habsburg ruler who, having only daughters, issued the Pragmatic Sanction ($1713$) to ensure female succession and the indivisibility of the empire.

Pragmatic Sanction ($1713$)

A decree issued by Karel VI. that guaranteed succession in the female line and the indivisibility of Habsburg territories.

Maria Terezie ($1740$-$1780$)

Habsburg ruler who lost most of Slezska to Prussia but gained Halič; she introduced military conscription, the fortress of Terezín, and centralized the empire.

Theresian Cadaster (tereziánský katastr)

A census and record of residents and houses introduced by Maria Terezie, which also mandated the use of surnames.

Compulsory School Attendance ($1774$)

A reform introduced by Maria Terezie to unify and mandate schooling.

Václav Antonín Kounic

The chancellor who participated in the administrative and educational reforms of Maria Terezie.

Josef II. ($1780$-$1790$)

Ruler who issued the Patent of Toleration and abolished serfdom while introducing German as the sole official language and closing non-utilitarian monasteries.

Patent of Toleration ($1781$)

A decree by Josef II. providing religious freedom for Evangelicals and Jews.

Abolition of Serfdom ($1781$)

The removal of $nevolnictví$ by Josef II., though subjection ($poddanství$) and forced labor ($robota$) remained.

Leopold II. ($1790$-$1792$)

The Habsburg ruler who formed an alliance with Prussia due to fears regarding the spread of the French Revolution.

František II.

The last Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (until $1806$) who then ruled as the first Austrian Emperor under the name František I.

Metternichováký absolutismus

The political system under František I. and Prince Metternich characterized by absolute rule, censorship, and the use of secret police.

Ferdinand I. Dobrotivý ($1835$-$1848$)

The last crowned Czech king; he abdicated in $1848$ following the revolution and lived out his life in Prague.

St. Wenceslas Baths Petition ($1848$)

A petition drafted in Prague demanding equal rights for nationalities and the abolition of serfdom and forced labor.

Maršál Windischgrätz

The military leader who suppressed the Whitsun riots ($svatodušní bouře$) in Prague, effectively ending the revolution in the Czech lands.

July $1848$ Sněm

The assembly (later moved to Kroměříž) where serfdom ($poddanství$) and forced labor ($robota$) were definitively abolished.

František Josef I.

The emperor who took the throne at age $18$ in December $1848$, dispersed the Kroměříž diet, and issued his own constitution.

Alexander Bach

The Minister of the Interior and central figure of neo-absolutism ($1851$-$1859$), known for political censorship and Germanization combined with economic freedom.

Karel Havlíček Borovský

A prominent person persecuted during the Bach neo-absolutism era and exiled to Brixen.

October Diploma ($1860$)

A document issued by the emperor that abolished absolutism, followed by the February Constitution ($1861$) which established a constitutional monarchy.

Battle of Sadová ($1866$)

A battle near Hradec Králové where Austria was defeated by Prussia, leading to a weakening of the empire.

Austro-Hungarian Compromise ($1867$)

The agreement that created a power dualism, dividing the empire into Cisleithania (Předlitavsko) and Transleithania (Zalitavsko).

Cisleithania (Předlitavsko)

The part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire containing Austria and the Czech lands, governed by the liberal December Constitution.

Sokol ($1862$)

A social and gymnastic organization founded by Tyrš and Fügner to promote Czech cultural and physical life.

Universal Male Suffrage ($1907$)

The year universal voting rights were introduced for men in the empire.