Editing History of Austria (section)

=== Biedermaier period (1815–1848) ===
{{Main|Austrian Empire|German Confederation}}
[[File:Prince Metternich by Lawrence.jpeg|thumb|[[Metternich|Prince Metternich]], by [[Thomas Lawrence]] {{Circa}} 1820]]
The period following the Congress of Vienna was one of relative political stability and is better known for its culture ([[Biedermeier]]). Other names for the years 1815–1848 include ''[[Vormärz]]'' ("before March") referring to period before the revolution of March 1848 and "The Age of Metternich" referring to his dominant position in European politics. Under the control of [[Metternich]] (who became [[Chancellor of Austria|Chancellor]] in 1821), the Austrian Empire entered a period of [[censorship]] and a [[police state]], with surveillance spying and imprisonment of the opposition, while others emigrated. For Europe it was a period characterised by increasing [[industrialisation]], the social consequences of economic cycles, population mobility and [[nationalism]]. All of these were regarded warily by governments intent on preserving the existing order.{{Sfn|Encyclopædia Britannica|2022|p=The Age of Metternich, 1815–48}}{{Sfn|Pohanka|2011|p=60}}

In 1823, the Emperor of Austria made the five [[Rothschild family|Rothschild]] brothers barons. [[Nathan Mayer Rothschild]] in London chose not to take up the title. The family became famous as bankers in the major countries of Europe.<ref>Joan Comay, ''Who's Who in Jewish History'' (2001) pp. 305–314</ref>

==== Foreign policy ====

The Congress of Vienna was followed by a series of other congresses, referred to as the [[Concert of Europe|Congress System]], including the Congresses of [[Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)|Aix-la-Chapelle]] (1818), [[Congress of Troppau|Troppau]] (1820), [[Congress of Laibach|Laibach]] (1821) and [[Congress of Verona|Verona]] (1822). These largely served to further suppress change, though a notable exception was the reintegration of France at the first of these, resulting in the [[Quintuple Alliance]] of the five great powers (Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia and then France). Within the Quintuple Alliance, the more conservative Holy Alliance of Russia, Austria and Prussia tended to dominate the discourse. The Congress System of dispute resolution did not survive the 1820s, and in particular the intervention in the [[Greek War of Independence|War of Greek Independence]] (1821-1832) over Metternich's objections, revealed the limits of his power. Further cracks in the old order appeared as South America broke away from Spain and Portugal, a liberal regime appeared in Portugal, and [[July Revolution|French Revolution]] and the [[Belgian Revolution|independence of Belgium]] in 1830. Throughout there had been a division within the Quintuple Alliance between the more liberal western nations of Britain and France and the more conservative Holy Alliance in the east. The [[London Conference of 1830|London conference of 1830]] to decide on Belgian independence from the Netherlands effectively led to Britain's withdrawal from the Alliance. 1840 saw a number of related events that reflected on the unity of the Great Powers. Austria relied on Russia over the [[Eastern question|Eastern Question]], and the [[Oriental crisis]] of that year split those powers, at least temporarily. While in the west, the [[Rhine crisis]] between France and the German Confederation, further fuelled the nascent German nationalism movement, typified by ''[[Die Wacht am Rhein]]''{{Sfn|Beller|2006|pp=114-115}}

Closer to home, Metternich exerted his influence in suppressing [[German nationalism]]. The [[Wartburg Festival]] of 1817 with its calls for German unity and condemnation of conservatism created alarm. Metternich prevented Austrian universities participating and further activism in 1819 with the assassination of [[August von Kotzebue]] in 1819 resulted in the [[Carlsbad Decrees]] of that year, suppressing free speech, and the [[Vienna Final Act]]{{Efn|Final Act of the Ministerial Conference to Complete and Consolidate the Organization of the German Confederation}} of 1820 empowering the German Confederation to act against member states. Neither fully succeeded in delaying the nationalist movement for long.{{Sfn|Beller|2006|pp=114-115}}

==== Domestic policy and the rise of nationalism ====

Early efforts among the Italians to [[Italian nationalism|create a unified nation]], including the [[Carbonari]] in Lombardy-Venetia were put down by Metternich with military intervention, similarly in Poland. Meanwhile, the minority populations within the empire, such as the Slavs and Poles were seeking national identities, distinct from Austria. Metternich sought to deflect these movements into cultural identity. Similarly in Germany, a Prussian led [[German Customs Union]] of the German states was formed in 1833, but Austria did not join, identifying within it German nationalism.{{Sfn|Pohanka|2011|p=60}}{{Sfn|Beller|2006|p=115}} One of the few administrative reforms was the granting of a [[diet (assembly)|diet]] to [[Galicia (Eastern Europe)|Galicia]].{{Sfn|Beller|2006|p=116}}

Metternich kept a firm hand on government resisting the constitutional freedoms demanded by the liberals. Government was by custom and by imperial decree. He was both an oppressive reactionary opportunist but also a true conservative politician. His role in directing European affairs gave the Habsburgs a disproportionate influence relative to their actual powers.{{Sfn|Encyclopædia Britannica|2022|p=The Age of Metternich, 1815–48}} The extensive security mechanism was headed by Count [[Joseph Sedlnitzky]], under Metternich's personal supervision, while religion was seen merely as a tool for supporting authority.{{Sfn|Beller|2006|p=116}}

==== Economy ====

State intervention in fiscal matters was relatively restrained, although the [[Oesterreichische Nationalbank|National Bank of Austria]] was established in 1816 to restore the nation's credit status. Taxation was largely left to the provinces and uneven within the empire, Hungary paying disproportionally less. The aristocrats were also undertaxed. One of the results was that the military budget was relatively small, and thus unable to give much force to Metternich's foreign policies. Economic growth was relatively small and did not keep pace with population growth.{{Sfn|Beller|2006|pp=115-116}} Industrialisation in Austria began around 1830, primarily in Vienna and Vorarlberg. 1838 saw the first railway, connecting Vienna and [[Deutsch-Wagram]], a distance of about 15&nbsp;km, and construction on the [[Austrian Southern Railway]] (''Österreichische Südbahn'') started the following year. In shipping, the [[Danube Steam Navigation Company]] was established in 1829, while [[Austrian Lloyd Ship Management|Austrian Lloyd]] became the largest shipping company in the Mediterranean. These economic developments came at a cost as large numbers of farm workers migrated to the growing urban industries to form an expanding [[proletariat]].{{Sfn|Pohanka|2011|pp=61-62}}

==== Monarchy ====
{{Main|Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I of Austria|l1=Francis|l2=Ferdinand I}}
Francis firmly resisted Metternich's proposals for overhauling the Monarchy.{{Sfn| Beller | 2006| p=116}} When Francis died in 1835, his son Ferdinand I (1835-1848) "Ferdinand the Benign" succeeded him, but proved unfit to govern due to illness, with much of the decision making falling to his uncle [[Archduke Louis of Austria]] and Metternich. Consequently, Austria entered a period of political stagnation with Francis being unwilling to make reforms and Ferdinand being incapable of so doing, and Metternich committed to preserving the status quo.{{Sfn|Pohanka|2011|pp=60-61}}