Age of Bismarck #16: The End of Austria
Added 2025-05-01 05:30:03 +0000 UTC[PATRONS]
From 1867, Austria as Europe had known it for centuries abruptly ceased to exist. In its place was the Dual Monarchy, a curious compromise designed to appease the Hungarian contingent of the Empire. Unfortunately for what remained of Austrian power, the Augsleich was neither very well thought through nor very stable. It essentially threw a wrench into Austrian policy-making, and would require the assent of a thankless Hungarian parliament if anything meaningful was to be done. Massive holes existed in the project, and Vienna's other nationalities were kicked to the curb, fostering resentment which would reverberate all the way to 1914. Such disorder would have been bad enough, but to take place at a time when Prussia was rising, the new Austrian Chancellor Count Beust scarcely stood a chance...
Comments
This “tangential “ episode is welcome . I didn’t know I needed it, but an in depth discussion of post war Austria is fascinating and crucial to the Bismarck story. It cleared up many questions, and made me think about the importance of the downward spiral of Austria-Hungry to the terrible events of the early twentieth century. Great episode 👍
Ronald Henry
2025-05-01 17:25:03 +0000 UTC
