After the defeat of Hungary in 955, a Marche called marchia Orientalis was created and became the foothold of Austria's existence. By 976 she came into her own as a personification going by the name of Ostarrichi . Slowly she began to acquire a population and in 996 her people bestowed upon her the name of Österreich, or Austria, which is the name she is known by today.
Austria's growth and personality developed over the next few centuries as her people settled her lands and elevated her to that of a duchy ruled by a family known as the Babenberg Dukes. They were an influential and powerful family in the region and she benefited greatly from their rule until death of their last remaining heir causing their line to go extinct in 1246. They were instrumental in Austria gaining Vienna as her capital city in 1156, capturing England's king Richard the I in exchange for a ransom in 1192, and using the ransom money in 1194 to fund a fortress to defend herself against Hungary and his advances.
After the Babenbergs died out, Austria went through a period of several decades known as her 'interregnum,' during which her legitimacy as a country was disputed. Then in 1278, the Habsburg Monarchy took control over her and proceeded to rule her for the next 640 years of her existence.
Austria became quite friendly with Switzerland at this time, interacting with her as an ally now that they shared the same Hapsburg ruler. While Switzerland found Austria's shortcomings and naivete annoying and hated having to continually bail her out of confrontations with the surrounding nations, the two shared a certain camaraderie between them and grew to be very close. Austria considered Switzerland to be her best friend, and strived to be as strong and useful as she was.
As time went on however, Switzerland became frustrated with the Hapsburgs and their favoritism of Austria over herself. The Hapsburgs considered Austria the heart of their realm, even though Switzerland had been their home and the original land of their affection. Switzerland grew more and more disillusioned with her second class status and in 1291 the Hapsburgs finally offended her so much that she formed her own league in opposition to them. As a result she ended her friendship with Austria.
The eventual and complete loss of Switzerland hurt Austria deeply, propelling her and the Hapsburgs into a spiral of disarray. By 1485 Austria's capital was taken from her by Hungary, he and his king moved their court into her capital and tried to absorb Austria into Hungarian rule. Austria refused despite her weaken state. Merely fifteen years later, after the death of Hungary's king, she managed to take back Vienna from Hungary through a strategic marriage with Spain.
The Habsburg's increased Austria's influence and power through strategic alliances ratified by marriages. This move gained Austria the Hereditary Lands along with the Franche-Comte and the Netherlands along with Spain and her empire in the Americas. Austria was so notorious for her strategic marriages that it gave rise to the poetic line, "Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nub." Translated it meant, "Let others make war; you, fortunate Austria, marry."
Austria and Spain's union by marriage was not unpleasant for Austria, although she would never say that she considered it a union of hearts. Just merely a union of necessity. Austria was still slightly jaded after Switzerland's betrayal, but understood that the union with Spain was of great importance to her survival as a nation. The two were separated often due to how far away their homes were from one another and Spain's future exploits to colonize the Americas. However, when they were together they got along well enough despite their differences and considered each other friends.
I'm pulling Austria from just after her marriage to Spain.
no subject
Austria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria
History of Austria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Austria
Nyotalia: http://hetalia.wikia.com/wiki/Memes_in_fandom#Nyotalia
After the defeat of Hungary in 955, a Marche called marchia Orientalis was created and became the foothold of Austria's existence. By 976 she came into her own as a personification going by the name of Ostarrichi . Slowly she began to acquire a population and in 996 her people bestowed upon her the name of Österreich, or Austria, which is the name she is known by today.
Austria's growth and personality developed over the next few centuries as her people settled her lands and elevated her to that of a duchy ruled by a family known as the Babenberg Dukes. They were an influential and powerful family in the region and she benefited greatly from their rule until death of their last remaining heir causing their line to go extinct in 1246. They were instrumental in Austria gaining Vienna as her capital city in 1156, capturing England's king Richard the I in exchange for a ransom in 1192, and using the ransom money in 1194 to fund a fortress to defend herself against Hungary and his advances.
After the Babenbergs died out, Austria went through a period of several decades known as her 'interregnum,' during which her legitimacy as a country was disputed. Then in 1278, the Habsburg Monarchy took control over her and proceeded to rule her for the next 640 years of her existence.
Austria became quite friendly with Switzerland at this time, interacting with her as an ally now that they shared the same Hapsburg ruler. While Switzerland found Austria's shortcomings and naivete annoying and hated having to continually bail her out of confrontations with the surrounding nations, the two shared a certain camaraderie between them and grew to be very close. Austria considered Switzerland to be her best friend, and strived to be as strong and useful as she was.
As time went on however, Switzerland became frustrated with the Hapsburgs and their favoritism of Austria over herself. The Hapsburgs considered Austria the heart of their realm, even though Switzerland had been their home and the original land of their affection. Switzerland grew more and more disillusioned with her second class status and in 1291 the Hapsburgs finally offended her so much that she formed her own league in opposition to them. As a result she ended her friendship with Austria.
The eventual and complete loss of Switzerland hurt Austria deeply, propelling her and the Hapsburgs into a spiral of disarray. By 1485 Austria's capital was taken from her by Hungary, he and his king moved their court into her capital and tried to absorb Austria into Hungarian rule. Austria refused despite her weaken state. Merely fifteen years later, after the death of Hungary's king, she managed to take back Vienna from Hungary through a strategic marriage with Spain.
The Habsburg's increased Austria's influence and power through strategic alliances ratified by marriages. This move gained Austria the Hereditary Lands along with the Franche-Comte and the Netherlands along with Spain and her empire in the Americas. Austria was so notorious for her strategic marriages that it gave rise to the poetic line, "Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nub." Translated it meant, "Let others make war; you, fortunate Austria, marry."
Austria and Spain's union by marriage was not unpleasant for Austria, although she would never say that she considered it a union of hearts. Just merely a union of necessity. Austria was still slightly jaded after Switzerland's betrayal, but understood that the union with Spain was of great importance to her survival as a nation. The two were separated often due to how far away their homes were from one another and Spain's future exploits to colonize the Americas. However, when they were together they got along well enough despite their differences and considered each other friends.
I'm pulling Austria from just after her marriage to Spain.