Austria (Principia Moderni III Map Game)

The Archduchy of Austria (German: Erzherzogtum Österreich), is a large and influential state within the Holy Roman Empire, and is the nucleus of the Habsburg Monarchy. Created as an archduchy in 1358 following the creation of the forged Privilegium Maius, a modified version of the Privilegium Minus issued by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1156, which had elevated the former March of Austria to a duchy, the Archduchy of Austria has since grown through a unique connection between the House of Habsburg and Austria following the document, and has managed to shape the political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Archduchy of Austria is a monarchy with its capital in Vienna, its largest and most populous city settled upon the Danube River. The ruling monarch of Austria comes from the House of Habsburg, a vast family named for Habsburg Castle in Habsburg, Switzerland, in the canton of Aargau, near the Aar River, from which the royal family derives. Austria is also an influential member of the Holy Roman Empire, although not an elector.

March of Austria

 * Main Article: March of Austria

The majority of territory that would become the Archduchy of Austria was known as the march(i)a orientalis or "eastern march" during the 800's AD, following the 788 decision by Charlemagne to incorporate the Bavarian stem duchy into the Frankish Empire. Shortly afterword the Avar March would also be established by Charlemagne in the adjacent eastern territories along the Danube. After several campaigns against the Avars this would be extended to the March of Pannonia, a part of East Francia following the 843 Treaty of Verdun. Most of the territory would eventually be lost by the Franks to the Magyars after their defeat of a Bavarian army at the Battle of Brezalauspurc in 907.

In 955 AD the Magyar incursions were finally neutralized by the German King Otto I in the Battle of Lechfeld. In the regained marcha orientalis the early Slavic populations became overwhelmed with German settlers. The territory became one of the marches of the Holy Roman Empire and was given a margrave around 960. In 976 Emperor Otto II appointed Leopold I from the House of Babenberg margrave for his support in the conflict with the insurgent Duke Henry II of Bavaria. In a deed issued by Emperor Otto III in 996, it is noted that the march was referred to as Ostarrîchi in the local dialect. This name is the ancestor of the present-day German name for Austria, Österreich.

Duchy of Austria

 * Main Article: Duchy of Austria

The margravate of Austria would later be raised to the status of a Duchy in 1156 through the Privilegium Minus issued by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. In 1138 Frederick's uncle German King Conrad III of Hohenstaufen had deprived his Welf rival Henry X the Proud of the Bavarian duchy and granted it to the Austrian margrave Leopold IV of Babenberg. Emperor Frederick however wished to settle the dispute with the Welf dynasty and restored the Duchy of Bavaria to Henry the Lion. In compensation, Leopold's brother Henry II of Babenberg, who had inherited Austria and Bavaria in 1141 and now had to resign as Bavarian duke, was raised in his margravate to a "Duke of Austria".

With the death of Duke Frederick II of Austria in 1246, the Babenberg dynasty became extinct. In the course of the following inheritance dispute, the Bohemian prince Ottokar II Přemysl invaded Austria in 1251 and was proclaimed duke by the local nobility. The next year he legitimated his succession by marrying Frederick's sister Margaret of Babenberg, then about thirty years his senior. His rule however was not acknowledged by the Swabian count Rudolph of Habsburg, who after his election as King of the Romans claimed Austria as a reverted fief. He finally defeated Ottokar at the 1278 Battle on the Marchfeld and secured the duchy for the Habsburg dynasty. Austria together with the Duchy of Styria formed the "hereditary lands" bequested to Rudolph's sons Albert and Rudolph II, again enlarged with the acquisition of Carinthia and Carniola by Duke Otto IV the Merry in 1335.

Archduchy of Austria

 * Main Article: Privilegium Maius

Though the Habsburgs already ruled a significant territory by then, their claims were not considered in the Golden Bull of 1356, when Emperor Charles IV, a member of the rivaling Luxembourg dynasty, determined the seven Prince-electors to vote for the German king. In 1359, deprived Duke Rudolf IV of Austria therefore forged the Privilegium Maius to elevate the status of his duchy to that of an "archduchy", making it equal-ranking with an electorate including the right of primogeniture, though the action was not recognized by the Emperor. Rudolf's efforts laid the foundation for the rising of the Habsburg dynasty, and he also gained Tyrol from Countess Margaret Maultasch in 1363. However, after his death in 1365, his brothers quarreled about their heritage and by the 1379 Treaty of Neuberg finally split the Habsburg lands into Austria proper and an Inner Austrian territory consisting of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola. The partition again weakened the position of the House of Habsburg in favour of the Luxembourgish.

Following Duke Rudolf IV’s creation of the forged Privilegium Maius, the nation of Austria would begin increasing the legitimacy of its nation to begin rising through the ranks of the Holy Roman Empire. Like many nations in the region, Austria’s farms remained small and fragmented, accounting for little of the overall agricultural production within its respective trade network. Archduke Albert IV expressed desires to expand this and encouraged expansion of local fields by requiring that all major cities must keep a small supply of grain in case of attack or famine.

In 1400 in an effort to adequately protect the nation, Albert IV called for the creation of a professional army loyal to Austria. Recruits from many of Austria’s provinces began to be called for training in such an army, employing tactics learned from Swiss mercenaries and leading military techniques. The initial army was mostly taken from the medieval levies of central Austria and kept in reserve. With the Austrian levy replaced recruits began to specialize in certain schools of fighting, creating divisions of pikemen and other forms of infantry. Individual county armies were left intact, allowing local counts and rulers subordinate to the archduke to continue utilizing levies and other means of protection. This army would lay the foundation for the Imperial-Royal Landwehr (German: kaiserlich-königliche Landwehr or k.k. Landwehr).

Appensell Wars
In Appensell conflicts over grazing rights, taxes, and tithes would cause Abbot Kuno von Stoffeln to contact the Habsburg Count of Toggenburg asking for help. As Toggenburg prepared for war in what would have been a simple conflict, Albert IV stepped in seeing the conflict as an opportunity to test his new military organization. Hoping to strike down the rebelling peasants before they could gain greater local support, Albert IV ordered the raising of 7,500 Infantry and 3,250 Cavalry, which was to support the 5,500 Infantry and 600 Cavalry in the hands of the local Further Austrian territories. After negotiating a deal with the nearby territory of Sargans, an additional 4,000 men were called into action by the following year.

By 1402 the fighting in Appensell had come to a close, with the last of the small band of rebels being crushed by the Swiss-German army. Albert IV had a treaty arranged to be signed officially establishing St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell, Uznach, Wingegg/Gaster, Sargans, Rheintal, and all other pre existing Habsburg territories and German counties in Switzerland as territory of the Archduchy of Austria. By putting these territories under his direct control, Albert IV hoped to end internal fighting and secure his border. He invited the Swiss Confederation and the Duchy of Milan to the conference to ratify the Treaty of St. Gallen, firmly establishing their current border, ending all previous hostilities, and cementing the three nations' current alliance.

Reign of Albert IV
During his reign Albert IV would also begin military alliances with the states of Milan and the Swiss Confederation to bring down any further insurrection along their common border. In an attempt to further increase the Archduchy’s legitimacy and gain power within the Holy Roman Empire in light of the Privilegium Maius, Albert IV would then propose an alliance with the Archbishop of Mainz, Trier, Cologne, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the County Palatine of the Rhine, the Duchy of Saxony, and the Margraviate of Brandenburg, all of which serving as prince electors within the empire. He stressed that as a Catholic nation it was important to alliance with the Papal States, as well as the nation of Genoa and Naples to further increase Austria’s influence in Italy and the reach of the Empire in case of attack. Positive diplomatic relations were opened with the Byzantines, the successors to the once great Romans. In return Austria would send them aid in their defense against the Ottomans, and ask for a royal marriage. A similar offer was made to the nation of Muscovy, who was believed to be a valuable trade partner in the east, and with Castille, Austria’s Catholic brethren in the Iberian peninsula.

To prevent infighting among states of the Holy Roman Empire Albert IV would begin asking for non aggression pacts with Bayern-Landshut, Oldenburg, and other influential German states, as well as with the nations of Hungary, the Kalmar Union, France, and Burgundy.

Following the outbreak of the Great Northern War the Archduchy of Austria was angered by the loss of a potential trade partner and the growing power of the nation of Poland. In retaliation Austria ended all diplomatic relations with Poland and began considering a military operation into Poland to cut its nation down to size. Joined by the Kingdom of Bohemia and several other German states, Austria prepared for war, but the conflict never came to fruition. Likewise the Archduchy of Austria supported the Teutonic Order following the Treaty of Danzig, which originally increased the power of Poland further. Although hostilities over the treaty would later be quelled following an agreement to amend the treaty, Austria would remain an ally of the Teutonic Order.

Muscovite Crusade
By 1403 many in the region of Muscovy which had been ceded into the hegemony of the Kingdom of Poland began to resist Polish rule. Following the Tarzhestvo Pravoslaviya (the triumph of Orthodoxy), an Orthodox feast, held on the first Sunday of Mass, the unrest of many Orthodox Russians in the newly created Polish dominated state of the Grand Duchy of Muscovy became apparent, and many began to rebel against rule of non-Orthodox heretics. In the city of Moscow a protest descended into an all out rebellion, with the pro-Lithuanian ruler being ousted by the populace. The rebels would declare Muscovy to be an independent state and began an armed insurrection to restore the duchy to the status quo.

The rebellion would also spread to the Grand Principality of Smolensk, where a riot in the city of Smolensk had lead to the destruction of several Polish storefronts. Several Polish leaders in the city were also captured and thrown out windows by the rebels, in an event that would become known as the Defenestrations of Smolensk.

Sensing the rebellion in Poland as the perfect opportunity to strike against their enemy, the Teutonic State, by then known as Prussia, declared war. The official Lithuanian conversion to Christianity had removed the religious rationale for the Order's activities in the area, however the Knights responded by publicly contesting the sincerity of Jogaila's conversion. Territorial disputes also arose over the region of Samogitia, which was hastily and inadequately resolved through the Treaty of Danzig. Following their German ally, the Archduchy of Austria and several other German states allied with the Teutonic Order or linked to the Baltic Sea trade of Russia also declared war, beginning a four year conflict that would later become known as the Muscovite Crusade.

Reign of Albert V
With the Muscovite Crusade underway, in 1404 Albert IV died at Klosterneuburg, Lower Austria. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt in the Stephansdom in Vienna, and was succeeded by his son Albert. At the time of his ascension Albert V was only seven years old, requiring his uncle, Duke William of Inner Austria, then head of the rivaling Leopoldinian line, followed by his brothers Leopold IV and Ernest the Iron in 1406.

In 1410 the reigning emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Rubert II of the County Palantine, died, leaving the electors to elect a new ruler. Albert was unexpectedly elevated to his position as Archduke of Austria, sensing the upcoming election as an opportunity to finally elevate Austria to a position of power, living up to the dream of his ancestors to make Austria a significant part of the empire. Albert would use his favor and influence that his nation had acquired over the last decade to become a valid candidate among the electors, with many of which he has already retained positive relations and alliances which he inherited from his father’s rule. Albert would promise to the German states and many nobles, following the recent uproar over the collapse of Genoa, that he would become a strict ruler of the empire to prevent such a thing happening again. In the meantime propaganda was posted falsely noting that the government of Genoa was the true “false catholic” government, having seemingly harbored an anti pope. Despite the possible inaccuracies, the effort worked to quell some criticism, and even helped Albert gain support and legitimacy.

Albert was unanimously elected by the electors that year. Despite this many were still cautious about his age. His only real opponent, Sigismund of Bohemia, had himself backed Albert, leaving the electors little chose but to support Albert. At the time of his coronation as Albert II of Germany, he would inherit a very delicate situation among the Holy Roman Empire's neighbors. Albert would thank the Kingdom of Bohemia and improve relations greatly by donating 1,000 soldiers to help quell uproar in their nation, and as a gift for their support in his election. Acting on his promise to protect states of the empire from foreign invasion or influence, Albert issued a formal demand to the nations of the Kalmar Union, stating that the United Norse Crown should immediately cease expansion and influence into the north German states of the empire. He would strategically forge alliances with Bremen, Luneburg, and Lübeck, but by then the United Norse Crown had managed to gain some support in northern Germany, leading to an increase in hostilities.

In 1411 Leopold IV died officially solidifying Albert as the undisputed ruler of Austria. That same year, having been elected as emperor the year before, Albert officially recognized the Privilegium Maius and approved Austria's usurpation, making Austria an archduchy. At this time the states of Salzburg, Gorizia, and Aquileia would officially become vassals of the Archduchy of Austria, loyal to Albert II.

Venetian-Padua Conflict
On 1 November 1411 the Serene Republic of Venice invaded the Imperial city state of Padua, on the border of the Holy Roman Empire between Milan and Ferrara. Fearful of another Genoa-like situation, Albert II was pressured to intervene to save Padua from foreign invasion. Albert responded by declaring war on the nation of Venice, and calling all loyal states of the empire to follow suit. Several neighboring Italian states and some major German states would do so, mobilizing their forces and placing command in the hand of the emperor for full coordination against Venice.

Albert II would announce to all nations of Europe that this conflict was to be a purely defensive war, and that Austria would not allow for Venice to be destroyed or sacked. The city of Venice was to remain intact for the nations of Europe to trade with. It was stressed by the empire, however, that Austria would not tolerate aggression against the empire, and would make an example out of Venice by preventing expansion into the Italian mainland at Padua.

In 1412 the Doge of Venice proposed peace between Austria and Venice, in return withdrawing from Padua and allowing for the reinstatement of the status quo. Albert II would accept this offer and further tried to acquire the signing of the Treaty of Trieste, although failed in his attempts. Officially the conflict was resolved. Venice withdrew all soldiers from Padua, leaving Padua as an independent nation within the Holy Roman Empire. Venice was to pay for all damages caused to the city of Padua caused during the invasion by the Venetian army although this never came to fruition due to Venice joining the UNC-HRE war.

Government
The nation of Austria is an archduchy, a title (feminine: Archduchess) (German: Erzherzog, feminine form: Erzherzogin) created by the Habsburg rulers of the Austria. It denotes a rank within the Holy Roman Empire below that of king and above that of duke. This form of government first came into use in 1358 following the creation of the forged Privilegium Maius by Duke Rudolf IV of Austria. This would later be confirmed by Albert II of Germany in 1411 following his election as Holy Roman Emperor the year earlier.

List of Archdukes
The Archduchy of Austria has been ruled by the House of Habsburg from 1282 to the present, and the current ruler is.

Geography
With its capital at Vienna, the archduchy is centered in the Danube basin of the regions of Lower Austria and upper Austria. Located in the southeastern periphery of the Holy Roman Empire, the archduchy borders the Kingdom of Hungary beyond the Leitha river. In the south it is confined by the Duchy of Styria, with the border at the historic Semmering Pass, while in the north the Bohemian Forest and the Thaya river marks the border with Bohemia and Moravia. In the west, the Upper Austrian part borders on the Duchy of Bavaria, whereby the historic Innviertel belongs to the Bavarian dukes, as well as on the Archbishopric of Salzburg in the Salzkammergut region.

King Ottokar II of Bohemia, the Austrian duke from 1251 to 1276, was the first to separate those Austrian lands west of the Enns river, which had belonged to the Bavarian stem duchy since the establishment of the Imperial March of Austria in 976. It stood as the administrative unit of Austria superior (Upper Austria) — a tradition adopted by the later Habsburg rulers.

Military
The military of the Archduchy of Austria is divided into the land forces and naval units. The land forces are primarily consisting of militia and conscripted lower class, as well as royal units trained for border protection and in wartime.

Landwehr
Before the 15th century the army of Austria was almost entirely composed of levies raised from local counties loyal to the Austrian ruler. This tradition would continue will into the 1400's, as levies continued to comprise the backbone of the Austrian army. Beginning in 1400 in an effort to adequately protect the nation, Albert IV called for the creation of a professional army loyal to Austria. Recruits from many of Austria’s provinces began to be called for training in such an army, employing tactics learned from Swiss mercenaries and leading military techniques. The initial army was mostly taken from the medieval levies of central Austria and kept in reserve.

With the Austrian levy replaced recruits began to specialize in certain schools of fighting, creating divisions of pikemen and other forms of infantry. Individual county armies were left intact, allowing local counts and rulers subordinate to the archduke to continue utilizing levies and other means of protection. This army would lay the foundation for the Imperial-Royal Landwehr (German: kaiserlich-königliche Landwehr or k.k. Landwehr). Today the Austrian Landwehr is the largest branch of Austria's military, serving in services to the Archduchy and to the Holy Roman Empire.

Organization
Under Construction


 * Army of Austria
 * 7,500 Infantry
 * 3,250 Cavalry
 * Army of Toggenburg
 * 5,500 Infantry
 * 600 Cavalry
 * Army of Sargans
 * 4,000 Infantry

Kriegsmarine
The Austrian Kriegsmarine, officially known as the kaiserliche und königliche Kriegsmarine (Imperial and Royal War Navy), is the second largest and most developed branch of the Austrian armed forces. The Kriegsmarine comprises all of Austria's naval assets, including warships, military transports, and the emperor's personal ships. Officially founded in 1417 by Albert V, the Kriegsmarine replaced the previous system, reorganizing all naval assets of Austria. Each ship of his existing navy was organized into a specific Einsatzflottille (Flotilla), and sailors began to be trained on naval vessels to ensure that the emperor’s personal vessels were well trained in case of attack. Small hand cannons, which have been in development by the Landwehr for several years at this time, were also mounted on the sides of several Bimereiche ships.

Before the official founding of the Kriegsmarine, the navy of Austria was considered quite small. With only one major maritime port; Trieste, Austria did not have much need to army and facilitate a large navy. The first naval refurbishments began under Albert IV, who commissioned a modern shipyard in the city of Trieste to further trade among the Mediterranean Sea and to facilitate a proper fleet if necessary. Albert IV would also fund the design of a new type of ship for his own personal use. The ship resembled a small European merchant ship with two masts. The mainmast was designed as being lateen-rigged with a trapezoidal mainsail, but with the foremast carrying the conventional square course and square topsail. Displacement was to be under 100 tons. The archduke commissioned the first of these ships, which would become known as the “Bimereiche”, named for its two masts and a combination of the German word for ship and oak. Over the next few decades many of these ships would be commissioned, with the first one being christened the "Habsburg".