How and why did the Austrian Empire start to decline in the 18th century?

Answer 1

What do you exactly mean by the Austrian Empire?

* Habsburg Monarchy before 1804: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg_Monarchy
* Austrian Empire from 1804-1867:
* Austro-Hungarian Empire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungary

If you mean empire before 1867, here are the causes of decline: The war with France, which lasted until 1797, proved unsuccessful for Austria. The French overran the Austrian Netherlands in the last months of 1792. While the Austrians were so occupied, their erstwhile Prussian allies stabbed them in the back with the Second Partition of Poland (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitions_of_Poland), from which Austria was entirely excluded.

Though Austria won back some of the territories, in 1794 the Austrian forces were driven out of the Netherlands for good. The war in the west continued to go badly, as most of the coalition made peace, leaving Austria with only Britain and Piedmont-Sardinia as allies.

In 1796, the French Army of Italy, under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte drove the Austrians out of Lombardy and besieged Mantua. By the terms of the Treaty of Campo Formio of 1797, Austria renounced its claims to the Netherlands and Lombardy, in exchange for which it partitioned the territories of the Republic of Venice with the French.

Soon differences emerged between the Austrians and French over the reorganization of Germany, and Austria joined Russia, Britain, and Naples in the War of the Second Coalition in 1799.

The Russians withdrew from the war after a defeat at Zürich (1799) which they blamed on Austrian fecklessness, and the Austrians were defeated by Bonaparte, which forced them to withdraw from Italy, and then in Germany. Austria, led by Ludwig Cobenzl, decided to make peace at Lunéville in early 1801.

Francis I took the new title of Emperor of Austria in 1804. Soon, Napoleon's machinations in Italy, including the annexation of Genoa and Parma, led once again to war in 1805 - the War of the Third Coalition, in which Austria, Britain, Russia, and Sweden took on Napoleon. The Austrian forces were forced to surrender by Napoleon at Ulm, before the main Austro-Russian force was defeated at Austerlitz on December 2. By the Treaty of Pressburg, Austria was forced to give up large amounts of territory.

The defeat meant the end of the old Holy Roman Empire. Over the next three years Austria, now led by Philipp Stadion, attempted to maintain peace with France. But the Habsburg monarchy went to war once again in 1809, this time with no continental allies. Austria was once again defeated. Austria lost Salzburg to Bavaria, some of its Polish lands to Russia, and its remaining territory on the Adriatic (including much of Carinthia and Styria) to Napoleon's Illyrian Provinces.

The title "Empror of Austria" lasted from 1804 to 1918. After the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I in 1918, the empire was split into several independent states.

Refer to Wikipedia links; it might help you get what you are looking for.

Answer 2

It's is relation with the rise of Prussia. The Habsburg Empire wasn't the sole power in the area anymore when Prussia got stronger. Especially when she even lost territories during the 7-year war.

Also, don't forget that the empire couldn't join the great discoveries due to her geographical positions. As a result, feudalism and the agricultural society remained dominant, unlike in England or France where industry developed better creating a strong middle class. In Austria there were lords and servants, and just a small number of burgeois.

The real decline, however, only came in the 19th century with the revlutions.

Answer 3

Austria-Hungary also known as the Dual Monarchy or k.u.k. Monarchy or Dual State, was a dual-monarchic union state in Central Europe from 1867 to 1918, dissolved at the end of World War I.

It replaced the Austrian Empire (1806–1867) on the same territory and originated in a compromise between the ruling Habsburg dynasty and the Hungarians in order to maintain the state. As a multi-national empire and great power in an era of national awakening, it found its political life dominated by disputes among the eleven principal national groups. Its economic and social life was marked by a rapid economic growth through the age of industrialization and social modernization through many liberal and democratic reforms.

The Habsburg dynasty ruled as Emperors of Austria over the western and northern half of the country and as Kings of Hungary over the Kingdom of Hungary which enjoyed some degree of self-government and representation in joint affairs (principally foreign relations and defence). The federation bore the full name of "The Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen".

Capital of the union state was Vienna. According to size it was the second largest country in Europe (after Russia) and according to population the third largest (after Russia and the German Empire).

Answer 4

Another major factor was the rise in nationalism... The Austrian Empire was multinational, and each sect pushed for self rule at some point. Most notably, the Hungarians enjoyed a great amount of autonomy.

Answer 5

In my opinion, it was declining yes, but it could of stayed alive if WW1 hadn't of wrecked it,
But in my opinion, it was always in a state of decline after they annexed Bohemia and Hungary.
The other nations were not loyal to a German gouvernment at all. So they refused to help in war, etc. Unless they got something big in return. And Bohemian and Hungary then were big, so they made up a good portion of the Austrian empire.
So really, they started to decline as soon as they annexed Hungary and Bohemia when the population there was un-cooperative.