Austria–Turkey relations
Encyclopedia
Austrian–Turkish relations are relations between the Austria
and the Turkey
and their predecessor state
s.
until the twentieth century today's Austria and Turkey were the core region
s within much larger empires. Austria was the seat of the House of Habsburg and Turkey was ruled by the House of Osman
(also known as the Ottoman Dynasty
). The Habsburg and Ottoman states were both large multi-ethnic conglomerations sustained by conquest. These rival empires waged frequent wars against each other over control of much Central Europe
and the Balkans.
During its peak, the Ottoman Empire
threatened to conquer the Austrian capital of Vienna
twice: in 1529
and 1683
. After the second Ottoman defeat at Vienna, however, the Habsburgs gained the upper hand, and captured Hungary
and Croatia
from the Ottomans. After these gains, Austria was no longer able to advance into the Balkans, because of the rival influence of Russia
, in a stalemate and dispute known as the Eastern Question
. While Ottoman control in the Balkans declined, the Austrians were not able to annex any new territory until Bosnia
in 1908, and even that caused a diplomatic crisis (the Bosnian crisis
). The the interim Russia had helped several Christian peoples in the Balkans to rebel against the Ottomans and create separate nation-states in the Balkans. After the culmination of all the changes from the Greek War of Independence
(1821–1829) to the Balkan Wars
(1912-1913) the Austrian and Ottoman empires no longer bordered each other. This allowed both to join the Central Powers
as allies during the First World War. The defeat of the Central Powers lead to the overthrow of both monarchies.
to relocate in another country .The Freedom Party called for suspending diplomatic relations and for stopping EU accession talks with Ankara. The extreme right called for Austria's diplomatic relations with Turkey to be severed.
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 the Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and their predecessor state
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...
s.
The Habsburgs and the Ottomans
From the middle agesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
until the twentieth century today's Austria and Turkey were the core region
Core-periphery
Core-periphery theory is based on the notion that as one region or state expands in economic prosperity, it must engulf regions nearby to ensure ongoing economic and political success. The area of high growth or former high growth becomes known as the core, and the neighboring area is the periphery...
s within much larger empires. Austria was the seat of the House of Habsburg and Turkey was ruled by the House of Osman
House of Osman
House of Osman was the name of the administrative structure of the Ottoman Dynasty, part of the state organization of the Ottoman Empire but nonetheless directly linked to the dynasty...
(also known as the Ottoman Dynasty
Ottoman Dynasty
The Ottoman Dynasty ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922, beginning with Osman I , though the dynasty was not proclaimed until Orhan Bey declared himself sultan...
). The Habsburg and Ottoman states were both large multi-ethnic conglomerations sustained by conquest. These rival empires waged frequent wars against each other over control of much Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and the Balkans.
During its peak, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
threatened to conquer the Austrian capital of 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...
twice: in 1529
Siege of Vienna
The Siege of Vienna in 1529 was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, to capture the city of Vienna, Austria. The siege signalled the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire's power, the maximum extent of Ottoman expansion in central Europe, and was the result of a...
and 1683
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
. After the second Ottoman defeat at Vienna, however, the Habsburgs gained the upper hand, and captured Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
from the Ottomans. After these gains, Austria was no longer able to advance into the Balkans, because of the rival influence of Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, in a stalemate and dispute known as the Eastern Question
Eastern Question
The "Eastern Question", in European history, encompasses the diplomatic and political problems posed by the decay of the Ottoman Empire. The expression does not apply to any one particular problem, but instead includes a variety of issues raised during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, including...
. While Ottoman control in the Balkans declined, the Austrians were not able to annex any new territory until Bosnia
Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire
The Bosnia Vilayet was an Ottoman vilayet, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as most of Slavonia, Lika and Dalmatia in present-day Croatia. It bordered Kosovo Vilayet to the south. Before the administrative reform in 1864, it was called the...
in 1908, and even that caused a diplomatic crisis (the Bosnian crisis
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...
). The the interim Russia had helped several Christian peoples in the Balkans to rebel against the Ottomans and create separate nation-states in the Balkans. After the culmination of all the changes from the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
(1821–1829) to the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
(1912-1913) the Austrian and Ottoman empires no longer bordered each other. This allowed both to join the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
as allies during the First World War. The defeat of the Central Powers lead to the overthrow of both monarchies.
Austrian and Turkish republics
Austria currently has normal relations with Turkey. However, there are some minor complications. Austria, which has approximately 250,000 Turks living there (about 3% of Austria's population), has been at the forefront of blocking Turkey's accession to the European Union.November 2010
In 10th of November 2010 relations between the two countries were excessively tensioned after Turkish ambassador in Austria accused public and political elite of xenophobia in Austria and called international organisations which locate their buildings in ViennaVienna
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...
to relocate in another country .The Freedom Party called for suspending diplomatic relations and for stopping EU accession talks with Ankara. The extreme right called for Austria's diplomatic relations with Turkey to be severed.