Austrian Empire

Empire of Austria
Kaisertum Österreich (German)
1804–1867
Anthem: Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
"God Save Emperor Francis"

The Austrian Empire in 1815, with the boundaries of the German Confederation in dotted lines
The Austrian Empire in 1815, with the boundaries of the German Confederation in dotted lines
Greatest extent of the Austrian Empire (1846–1859)
Greatest extent of the Austrian Empire
(1846–1859)
CapitalVienna
Common languagesGerman, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Ruthenian, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, Lombard, Venetian, Friulian, Ladin, Italian, Ukrainian, Yiddish
Religion
Majority:
Roman Catholic (official)
Minorities:
Lutheranism, Calvinist, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Judaism
Demonym(s)Austrian
Government
Emperor 
• 1804–1835
Francis I
• 1835–1848
Ferdinand I
• 1848–1916
Franz Joseph I
Minister-President 
• 1821–1848
Klemens von Metternich (first)
• 1867
Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust (last)
LegislatureImperial Council
House of Lords
House of Deputies
Historical era19th century
• Proclamation
11 August 1804
6 August 1806
8 June 1815
13 March 1848
20 October 1860
14 June 1866
30 March 1867
Area
• Total
698,700 km2 (269,800 sq mi)
Population
• 1843 estimate
37,500,000
Currency
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Holy Roman Empire
Archduchy of Austria
Electorate of Salzburg
Kingdom of Hungary
Bohemian Crown
Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Slavonia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
Principality of Transylvania
Austria-Hungary
Cisleithania
Transleithania
Kingdom of Italy
1: Territories of Austria and Bohemia only.

The Austrian Empire,[a] officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a multinational European great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, it was the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom, while geographically, it was the third-largest empire in Europe after the Russian Empire and the First French Empire.

The empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. It remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806. It continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period between 1809 and 1813, when Austria was first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia and later neutral during the first few weeks of the Sixth Coalition War. Austria and its allies emerged victorious in the war, leading to the Congress of Vienna, which reaffirmed the empire as one of the great powers of the 19th century.

The Kingdom of Hungary—as Regnum Independens—was administered by its own institutions separately from the rest of the empire. After Austria was defeated in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 was adopted, joining the Kingdom of Hungary and the Empire of Austria to form Austria-Hungary.


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