Austria–Serbia relations
Encyclopedia
Austrian-Serbian relations are foreign relations between Austria
and Serbia
and their predecessor states
. Austria has an embassy in Belgrade
. Serbia has an embassy in Vienna
and a general consulate in Salzburg
.
The history of relations between the two countries goes back the era when the Kingdom of Serbia (1718–1739) had been a province of the Habsburg Monarchy
. But foreign relations, as such, date from the proclamation of the Austrian Empire
in 1804 and the formation in 1817 of the Principality of Serbia, an autonomous state within the Ottoman Empire. The Habsburg recognized the independence of Serbia and established diplomatic relations in diplomatic relations in 1874, supported by the Treaty of Berlin (1878).
The history of relations between the two states was dominated by tension over Serbian ethnic irredentist claims on the regions, such as the Vojvodina, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
, as well as Serbian sympathy for other South Slav minorities in the Habsburg Empire, combined with Austrian (and Hungarian) fears of pan-Slavism
and Russian influence. Hungarian suppression of Serbian revolts during the 1848 Revolutions were not opposed by the Hapsburg rulers. Serbian claims were not recognized by Hungary was eventually placated with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, further angering Serbian nationalists. One notable flare-up between the two countries was the 1906-1909 economic conflict known as the Pig War
which occurred simultaneously with the diplomatic and military crisis over the Austrian annexation of Bosnia
. Ultimately, the tensions between the two countries could not withstand the strain of Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
by Bosnian Serbs in 1914. Following the July Crisis, Austria invaded Serbia
to punish it for supposedly supporting the assassins.
The resulting war eventually destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leaving a shrunken First Austrian Republic
as a rump state. Serbia annexed much of the former Austrian holdings in the Balkans to become the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Austria was eventually annexed by Germany, ending its separate foreign relations.
Following the restoration of Austrian independence by the Austrian State Treaty
in 1955, Austria became officially neutral in the emerging Cold War
There are between 200,000 and 300,000 people of Serbian descent
living in Austria. The Serbs are either the largest or second-largest foreign population in Austria, although they are much less visible than the similarly-sized Turkish minority
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and their predecessor states
Succession of states
Succession of states is a theory and practice in international relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created sovereign state by other states, based on a perceived historical relationship the new state has with a prior state...
. Austria has an embassy in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. Serbia has an embassy in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and a general consulate in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
.
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
. But foreign relations, as such, date from the proclamation of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
in 1804 and the formation in 1817 of the Principality of Serbia, an autonomous state within the Ottoman Empire. The Habsburg recognized the independence of Serbia and established diplomatic relations in diplomatic relations in 1874, supported by the Treaty of Berlin (1878).
The history of relations between the two states was dominated by tension over Serbian ethnic irredentist claims on the regions, such as the Vojvodina, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Austro-Hungarian condominium)
The Austro-Hungarian condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina was a condominium established after the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908, following its occupation in 1878 under the terms of the Treaty of Berlin.-History:...
, as well as Serbian sympathy for other South Slav minorities in the Habsburg Empire, combined with Austrian (and Hungarian) fears of pan-Slavism
Pan-Slavism
Pan-Slavism was a movement in the mid-19th century aimed at unity of all the Slavic peoples. The main focus was in the Balkans where the South Slavs had been ruled for centuries by other empires, Byzantine Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Venice...
and Russian influence. Hungarian suppression of Serbian revolts during the 1848 Revolutions were not opposed by the Hapsburg rulers. Serbian claims were not recognized by Hungary was eventually placated with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, further angering Serbian nationalists. One notable flare-up between the two countries was the 1906-1909 economic conflict known as the Pig War
Pig War (Serbia)
The term Pig War is used to refer to an economic conflict in which the Habsburg Empire imposed a customs blockade on Serbia. It is known as the Customs War in Serbia.- Background :...
which occurred simultaneously with the diplomatic and military crisis over the Austrian annexation of Bosnia
Bosnian crisis
The Bosnian Crisis of 1908–1909, also known as the Annexation crisis, or the First Balkan Crisis, erupted into public view when on 6 October 1908, Austria-Hungary announced the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, Germany and France...
. Ultimately, the tensions between the two countries could not withstand the strain of Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip, one of a group of six Bosnian Serb assassins coordinated by Danilo Ilić...
by Bosnian Serbs in 1914. Following the July Crisis, Austria invaded Serbia
Serbian Campaign (World War I)
The Serbian Campaign was fought from late July 1914, when Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia at the outset of the First World War, until late 1915, when the Macedonian Front was formed...
to punish it for supposedly supporting the assassins.
The resulting war eventually destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leaving a shrunken First Austrian Republic
First Austrian Republic
The Republic of Austria encompasses the period of Austrian history following the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye of September 1919, the settlement after the end of World War I which put an end to the Republic of German Austria, continuing up to World War II...
as a rump state. Serbia annexed much of the former Austrian holdings in the Balkans to become the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Austria was eventually annexed by Germany, ending its separate foreign relations.
Following the restoration of Austrian independence by the Austrian State Treaty
Austrian State Treaty
The Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government...
in 1955, Austria became officially neutral in the emerging Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
There are between 200,000 and 300,000 people of Serbian descent
Serbian diaspora
There are currently more than 3.5 million Serbs in diaspora throughout the world...
living in Austria. The Serbs are either the largest or second-largest foreign population in Austria, although they are much less visible than the similarly-sized Turkish minority
Turks in Austria
Turks in Austria are people of Turkish ethnicity living in Austria who form the largest ethnic minority in Austria.- History :-Early settlement:...
.
External links
- Austrian Foreign Ministry: list of bilateral treaties with Serbia (in German only)
- Austrian embassy in Belgrade (in German and Serbian only)
- Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Austria
- Serbian embassy in Vienna (in German and Serbian only)
- Serbian general consulate in Salzburg (in German and Serbian only)