But beyond the waltzes, the strudels, the alpine summits, and Habsburg architecture, its modern cities are proof of just how easily Austria combines the … Francis' heir was his son Ferdinand I, but he suffered from an intellectual disability. Francis II agreed to the humiliating Treaty of Pressburg (26 December 1805), which in practice meant the dissolution of the long-lived Holy Roman Empire and a reorganization under a Napoleonic imprint of the German territories lost in the process into a precursor state of what became modern Germany, those possessions nominally having been part of the Holy Roman Empire within the present boundaries of Germany, as well as other measures weakening Austria and the Habsburgs in other ways. After Prussia signed a peace treaty with France on 5 April 1795, Austria was forced to carry the main burden of war with Napoleonic France for almost ten years. The largest lakes—lying partly in the territory of neighbouring countries—are Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake (Neusiedlersee) in the east. The Habsburg Empire in European Affairs: 1814-1918. The French victory resulted in the capture of 20,000 Austrian soldiers and many cannons. But most nationalities of the monarchy remained dissatisfied. Its social and economic institutions too have been characterized by new forms and a spirit of cooperation, and, although political and social problems remain, they have not erupted with the intensity evidenced in other countries of the Continent. The liberal Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire forced Metternich's resignation. The Constitution of 1861 created a House of Lords (Herrenhaus) and a House of Deputies (Abgeordnetenhaus). On 24 March 1803, the Imperial Recess (German: Reichsdeputationshauptschluss) was declared, which reduced the number of ecclesiastical states from 81 to only 3 and the free imperial cities from 51 to 6. Tuncer, Huner. During this time, Metternich was able to maintain an elaborate balance between Prussia, the lesser German states, and Austria in the German Confederation. Every city has its own unique feel and vibe, which is determined by a number of things. During its existence, it was the third most populous empire after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom in Europe. For the Habsburg realms more generally, see, The Austrian Empire in 1815, with the boundaries of the, The Austrian Empire at its greatest extent (1850s), "Vor dem Jahr 1848 is[t] das Kaisertum Österreich verfassungsrechtlich als ein monarchischer Einheitsstaat auf differenziert föderalistischer Grundlage zu sehen, wobei die besondere Stel[l]ung Ungarns im Rahmen dieses Gesamtstaates stets offenkundig war. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. No refund from IBIS BUDGET WIEN MESSE in Covid-19 situation. Thanks to his efforts, Austria was seen as the senior partner with Prussia keeping watch over Germany as a whole. Around 980,000 British nationals visit Austria each year. Following the Napoleonic Wars, Metternich was the chief architect of the Congress of Vienna in 1815. After the second war with Denmark in 1864, Holstein came under Austrian, Schleswig and Lauenburg under Prussian administration.