Encyclopedia: Habsburg Austria 1635-1703
Ferdinand II ordered the Navy be expanded and rebuilt after the losses in the last war. This would pay off in 1635 when Austria attacked the Republic of Venice for attacking Austria’s vassal the Papal States. Spain agreed to look the other way when Austria attacked its Vassal of Venice. However Spain expected Austria to get Venice to end its war on the Papacy only. When Austria forced Venice to cede Corfu and Crete, Spain slapped a trade embargo on all Austrian merchants in Andalusia. This was a crippling blow to Austrian trade, mercantile revenue plummeted 90%. The notorious 100,000 man Venetian army was destroyed but not without a price. Austria took 60,000 casualties and lost General Von Hatzfeldt.
When Ferdinand III became Archduke in 1637, he was upset with Spain and decided on a plan to end Austria’s reliance on foreign trade. He began to colonize more of North America and decided to take Venice and its important center of trade. He also began to spend vast amounts to build manufactories in Bohemia and Austria to boost infrastructure and the military. In 1645 Austria enraged the Spanish by annexing its vassal Venice. Most of all, this meant Spain no longer could choke off Austrian merchants. The once close relations between the Habsburgs of Austria and Spain became sour.
A man named Dachstein offered his skills to Ferdinand in 1652. He offered to explore North America further to open doors for further colonization. Ferdinand spent half of his treasury to support Dachstein’s mission and settlers that followed him. Domestic Policy was changed to encourage more Germans to settle the new world, non-Germans were excluded.
In 1658, Leopold I became Archduke of Austria and the Habsburg Empire. Leopold would spend even more effort than Ferdinand in colonizing the Americas. During the period of Leopold’s reign, Austria would benefit from all the developments of Ferdinand III. Leopold also was very keen on improving the military to avoid any further embarrassing defeats. Austria became the richest nation, surpassing even the wealth of colonial Spain. During the 1660s Austria colonized so much of North America, they took over the Indian lands of Huron and Iroquois. Austria led the world in Fur trade; the Venetian center of trade surpassed all other nations trade including Spain, Portugal, England and France.
Austria’s glory days of colonization were short lived however. Spain encouraged England and France to sign a Pact against Austria. This led to the colonial wars in the North America that cost Austria 90% of its land. England and France split Austrian and Indian land between them, after the small number of Austrian soldiers surrendered to the far numerous Anglo/French armies, the land was easily taken. By 1684 Austria was left with its original New Foundland colonies and abandoned hopes for much more.
Leopold had to deal with another problem. Hungarian nobles became increasingly resistant to Liberal Austrian rule. Further, Leopold tried to get the Catholic Church to convert the protestant church in Hungary. From 1668 to 1700 there was a great civil war in Hungary. About 325,000 Hungarian rebels were killed with about 100,000 Austrian casualties during the 30 years of revolts. Though Austria subdued the Hungarian Nobles, the Ottoman Turks saw a chance to take advantage of Austria yet again and claim Hungary for itself. The massive Turk Empire began to build its armies for the war against Austria as early as 1700. No one knew about the Turk plot until 1702 when it was too late. The Turks lined up a 200,000 man army on the border with Austria while Leopold had only 50,000 men in his army at the time.
The Ottomans were prepared; they had the navy deployed and another 120,000 reserve soldiers on the way. With a four to one advantage in men, a skilled admiral to lead the fleet the Ottomans launched the attack on a sleeping Austria. Leopold was more prepared than one would think however. He had spent his entire life planning to fight the Turks he just didn’t expect a sudden attack.
Leopold had built his naval flotilla in Istria to over 200 galleys; he had several capable Generals for the Army. Thanks to the many military manufactories, the Army was the most advanced and skilled in the world. Austria began the war with a very stable situation; almost all the nobility was behind the Archduke. Whereas the Ottomans had a very unstable Empire it could barely control. Leopold had a treasury overflowing with money and thousands of young men to draw upon for reserves. Leopold was determined to avenge the loss to the Turks eighty years ago. For him, this was not a nightmare but a godsend to prove that he and Austria were the greatest powers of all. As the war began in 1703, the nations watched as two juggernauts battled it out. Austria was the smaller, more advanced and wealthy Empire, the enemy was a massive Empire, with hordes of men but less money and equipment to support them. Though no one could tell who had the greater advantage, it would be the hundreds of thousands of unfortunate men who would endure the bloodbath that ensued.
Ferdinand II ordered the Navy be expanded and rebuilt after the losses in the last war. This would pay off in 1635 when Austria attacked the Republic of Venice for attacking Austria’s vassal the Papal States. Spain agreed to look the other way when Austria attacked its Vassal of Venice. However Spain expected Austria to get Venice to end its war on the Papacy only. When Austria forced Venice to cede Corfu and Crete, Spain slapped a trade embargo on all Austrian merchants in Andalusia. This was a crippling blow to Austrian trade, mercantile revenue plummeted 90%. The notorious 100,000 man Venetian army was destroyed but not without a price. Austria took 60,000 casualties and lost General Von Hatzfeldt.
When Ferdinand III became Archduke in 1637, he was upset with Spain and decided on a plan to end Austria’s reliance on foreign trade. He began to colonize more of North America and decided to take Venice and its important center of trade. He also began to spend vast amounts to build manufactories in Bohemia and Austria to boost infrastructure and the military. In 1645 Austria enraged the Spanish by annexing its vassal Venice. Most of all, this meant Spain no longer could choke off Austrian merchants. The once close relations between the Habsburgs of Austria and Spain became sour.
A man named Dachstein offered his skills to Ferdinand in 1652. He offered to explore North America further to open doors for further colonization. Ferdinand spent half of his treasury to support Dachstein’s mission and settlers that followed him. Domestic Policy was changed to encourage more Germans to settle the new world, non-Germans were excluded.
In 1658, Leopold I became Archduke of Austria and the Habsburg Empire. Leopold would spend even more effort than Ferdinand in colonizing the Americas. During the period of Leopold’s reign, Austria would benefit from all the developments of Ferdinand III. Leopold also was very keen on improving the military to avoid any further embarrassing defeats. Austria became the richest nation, surpassing even the wealth of colonial Spain. During the 1660s Austria colonized so much of North America, they took over the Indian lands of Huron and Iroquois. Austria led the world in Fur trade; the Venetian center of trade surpassed all other nations trade including Spain, Portugal, England and France.
Austria’s glory days of colonization were short lived however. Spain encouraged England and France to sign a Pact against Austria. This led to the colonial wars in the North America that cost Austria 90% of its land. England and France split Austrian and Indian land between them, after the small number of Austrian soldiers surrendered to the far numerous Anglo/French armies, the land was easily taken. By 1684 Austria was left with its original New Foundland colonies and abandoned hopes for much more.
Leopold had to deal with another problem. Hungarian nobles became increasingly resistant to Liberal Austrian rule. Further, Leopold tried to get the Catholic Church to convert the protestant church in Hungary. From 1668 to 1700 there was a great civil war in Hungary. About 325,000 Hungarian rebels were killed with about 100,000 Austrian casualties during the 30 years of revolts. Though Austria subdued the Hungarian Nobles, the Ottoman Turks saw a chance to take advantage of Austria yet again and claim Hungary for itself. The massive Turk Empire began to build its armies for the war against Austria as early as 1700. No one knew about the Turk plot until 1702 when it was too late. The Turks lined up a 200,000 man army on the border with Austria while Leopold had only 50,000 men in his army at the time.
The Ottomans were prepared; they had the navy deployed and another 120,000 reserve soldiers on the way. With a four to one advantage in men, a skilled admiral to lead the fleet the Ottomans launched the attack on a sleeping Austria. Leopold was more prepared than one would think however. He had spent his entire life planning to fight the Turks he just didn’t expect a sudden attack.
Leopold had built his naval flotilla in Istria to over 200 galleys; he had several capable Generals for the Army. Thanks to the many military manufactories, the Army was the most advanced and skilled in the world. Austria began the war with a very stable situation; almost all the nobility was behind the Archduke. Whereas the Ottomans had a very unstable Empire it could barely control. Leopold had a treasury overflowing with money and thousands of young men to draw upon for reserves. Leopold was determined to avenge the loss to the Turks eighty years ago. For him, this was not a nightmare but a godsend to prove that he and Austria were the greatest powers of all. As the war began in 1703, the nations watched as two juggernauts battled it out. Austria was the smaller, more advanced and wealthy Empire, the enemy was a massive Empire, with hordes of men but less money and equipment to support them. Though no one could tell who had the greater advantage, it would be the hundreds of thousands of unfortunate men who would endure the bloodbath that ensued.