Baron Alexander von Bach
Encyclopedia
Baron Alexander von Bach (German
: Alexander Freiherr von Bach; 4 January 1813, Loosdorf
, Austria - 12 November 1893, Schöngrabern, Austria) was an Austria
n politician. His most notable achievement was instituting a system of centralised control at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
.
He served as Minister of Justice in 1848 and 1849 and then Minister of the Interior from 1849 to 1859. A well-known liberal
lawyer, he was first called a "minister of barricades". However, he gradually accepted conservative
views, endorsing the centralizing constitutional program of Prince Schwarzenberg in March 1849 and thus further inflaming Hungarian sentiments.
After the death of Schwarzenberg in 1852, he largely dictated policy in Austria and Hungary
. Bach centralised administrative authority for the Austrian Empire
, but he also endorsed reactionary
policies that reduced freedom of the press
and abandoned public trials. He represented later the Absolutist
(or Klerikalabsolutist) direction, which culminated in the concordat of August 1855 that gave the Roman Catholic Church
control over education and family life.
On the other hand the economic freedom
rose greatly in 1850s. The internal customs duties were abolished.
Bach was created Baron
(Freiherr) in 1854. He was also the guardian of Science Academy (Akademie der Wissenschaften) in 1849 - 1859.
Prisons were full of political prisoners; during his administration, Czech nationalist Karel Havlíček Borovský
was expatriated to Brixen
(1851 - 1855).
The pillars of so-called Bach system (Bachsches System) were, in the words of Adolf Fischhof
, four "armies": a standing army of soldiers, a sitting army of office holders, a kneeling army of priests and a fawning army of sneaks.
His fall in 1859 was highly caused by the failure in Italian war against Kingdom of Sardinia
and Napoleon III. Bach served as Ambassador to the Holy See
in 1859-1867. He died secluded, in 1893.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Alexander Freiherr von Bach; 4 January 1813, Loosdorf
Loosdorf
Loosdorf is a little town in the district of Melk in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. One of its historical buildings is the Hohe Schule , the first school in Central Europe with a written curriculum, founded in 1574 by the Austrian nobleman Hans Wilhelm von Losenstein , the lord of the nearby...
, Austria - 12 November 1893, Schöngrabern, Austria) was an Austria
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...
n politician. His most notable achievement was instituting a system of centralised control at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
.
He served as Minister of Justice in 1848 and 1849 and then Minister of the Interior from 1849 to 1859. A well-known liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
lawyer, he was first called a "minister of barricades". However, he gradually accepted conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
views, endorsing the centralizing constitutional program of Prince Schwarzenberg in March 1849 and thus further inflaming Hungarian sentiments.
After the death of Schwarzenberg in 1852, he largely dictated policy in Austria and 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...
. Bach centralised administrative authority for 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...
, but he also endorsed reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
policies that reduced freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
and abandoned public trials. He represented later the Absolutist
Enlightened absolutism
Enlightened absolutism is a form of absolute monarchy or despotism in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment. Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon rationality, and applied them to their territories...
(or Klerikalabsolutist) direction, which culminated in the concordat of August 1855 that gave the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
control over education and family life.
On the other hand the economic freedom
Economic freedom
Economic freedom is a term used in economic and policy debates. As with freedom generally, there are various definitions, but no universally accepted concept of economic freedom...
rose greatly in 1850s. The internal customs duties were abolished.
Bach was created Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
(Freiherr) in 1854. He was also the guardian of Science Academy (Akademie der Wissenschaften) in 1849 - 1859.
Prisons were full of political prisoners; during his administration, Czech nationalist Karel Havlíček Borovský
Karel Havlícek Borovský
Karel Havlíček Borovský was a Czech writer, poet, critic, politician, journalist, and publisher. He lived and studied at the Gymnasium in Německý Brod , and his house on the main square is today the Havlíček Museum...
was expatriated to Brixen
Brixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
(1851 - 1855).
The pillars of so-called Bach system (Bachsches System) were, in the words of Adolf Fischhof
Adolf Fischhof
Adolf Fischhof was a Hungarian-Austrian writer and politician of Jewish descent....
, four "armies": a standing army of soldiers, a sitting army of office holders, a kneeling army of priests and a fawning army of sneaks.
His fall in 1859 was highly caused by the failure in Italian war against Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
and Napoleon III. Bach served as Ambassador to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1859-1867. He died secluded, in 1893.