The Habsburg Monarchy 1849–1914

Abstract

Between 1849 and 1914 there were recurrent attempts to discover some suitable structural form for the patchwork of Habsburg dynastic territories. To some extent, the objective of these efforts was the maintenance and enhancement of the resources of a huge family estate to continue to play its part in international affairs. However, there also evolved the claim that the Monarchy must fulfil some sort of ‘historic mission’, and that the ‘Austrian idea’ amounted to the persistence of a state in eastern central Europe which could protect and retain the loyalties of a diversity of nationalisms. A variety of organisational forms were tried, and they failed because of their own internal inadequacies and changes in external circumstances. By 1914 the forces of centrifugalism were overwhelming the centripetal pressures and a quick, pre-emptive local war was being urged in some circles as the only residual option. The Great War which was unleashed destroyed the Monarchy. As Metternich had realised, the greatest threat to an international state is an international war.