Habsburg Studies

“Empires and warfare in east-central Europe, 1550-1750: The Ottoman-Habsburg rivalry and military transformation,”

by Gabor Agoston

published in Frank Tallett and D. J. B. Trim eds., European Warfare, 1350-1750 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010), pp. 110-134.

The Multilingual Pleasures of Slavic Worlds

by Anne Dwyer

Forthcoming in _Comparative Literature_2013

Des Kaisers süße Propaganda. Ein Habsburgerwappenmodel für Festbäckerei aus der Burg Grafendorf in Stockerau, Niederösterreich

by Ronald Salzer

publlished in "Beiträge zur Mittelalterarchäologie" 27, 2011, 135-144.

The Habsburg Legacy: Rokkanian perspectives on East Central European politics between the two wars

by Vit Simral

- Ragion di Stato e politica internazionale. Guido Bentivoglio ed altri interpreti italiani della tregua dei dodici anni (1609), “Dimensioni e problemi della ricerca storica”, 2 (2009), pp. 65-101.

by Alberto Clerici

Cruzada y dinastía: Las mujeres de la Casa de Austria ante la larga guerra de Hungria

by Rubén González Cuerva

Hasta hace apenas una década, el reinado de Felipe III se había caracterizado historiográficamente como una “inmensa... more Hasta hace apenas una década, el reinado de Felipe III se había caracterizado historiográficamente como una “inmensa laguna” de la que afortunadamente se está saliendo. Una de las facetas de esta época que ha merecido atención ha sido la influencia política desempeñada por las mujeres de la Casa de Austria en el entorno del Rey Católico, superando una visión tradicional que condenaba a las reinas del Antiguo Régimen a ser meras figuras piadosas y reproductoras al lado de sus esposos e hijos . Muy al contrario, llegaron a alcanzar un papel de gran relevancia en las decisiones regias, si bien desde unos cauces más discretos e indirectos que, obviamente, la documentación oficial no recoge pormenorizadamente . En este estudio vamos a analizar la mediación de la esposa, la abuela y la tía de Felipe III, a saber, la reina Margarita de Austria, la emperatriz madre María de Austria y su hija la infanta Margarita de la Cruz, en un caso muy poco tratado pero con una trascendencia nada desdeñable: la participación española en la Larga guerra de Hungría (1592-1606) .

Italia y la Casa de Austria en los prolegómenos de la Guerra de los Treinta Años

by Rubén González Cuerva

El conflicto que marcó el siglo XVII y la evolución política, ideológica y socioeconómica de la Europa moderna tuvo un... more El conflicto que marcó el siglo XVII y la evolución política, ideológica y socioeconómica de la Europa moderna tuvo un amplio abanico de causas y condicionantes. Entre ellos hay una constante fundamental, que es la firmeza y unidad de uno de los bandos enfrentados, el liderado por la Casa de Austria. Su peculiaridad residía en que estaba dividido en dos ramas, la hispana y la imperial, que colaboraron con una destacada sintonía. Pero para llegar a este clima de colaboración fue precisa una fase precedente de confluencia de intereses y polarización de las posiciones, que tuvo por protagonista al escenario italiano. Este fue el verdadero laboratorio del acercamiento de las cortes de Madrid y Viena.

La mediación entre las dos cortes de la Casa de Austria: Baltasar de Zúñiga

by Rubén González Cuerva

Para explicar la respuesta que se articuló desde la Corte española a la crisis de autoridad del emperador Rodolfo II... more Para explicar la respuesta que se articuló desde la Corte española a la crisis de autoridad del emperador Rodolfo II (1576-1612) y el progresivo camino hacia la Guerra de los Treinta Años, vamos a tomar por hilo de referencia al embajador de Felipe III en Praga, Baltasar de Zúñiga. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar su papel como mediador entre las cortes de la Casa de Austria en Madrid y Praga. Su relevancia estriba en la calidad y variedad de lazos político que centralizó. En estos años críticos, don Baltasar era el único ministro español con la suficiente autoridad y conocimiento como para forzar definitivamente el rumbo de la Monarquía hispana a una estrategia bélica global basada en la defensa de la Casa de Austria.

From Genoese Lodge to Potato Chip Museum: The Acoustic Desacralisation of a Medieval Landmark

by etienne boumans

Submission to Borderlines XVI Conference on 'Site and Sound' @ Queen's University Belfast. Accepted

It may have been Chaucer’s Shipman’s Tale that inspired the merchants of Genoa to build a Lodge (1399-1441) on the... more It may have been Chaucer’s Shipman’s Tale that inspired the merchants of Genoa to build a Lodge (1399-1441) on the very square where the notion of stock exchange (‘Beurze’) sprang and the pleasing sound of languages spoken simultaneously (Latin, then national and local vernaculars) resounded. The edifice became the privileged witness of: the music, amplified as years went by, of trumpeters and pipers accompanying the Holy Blood procession; the cries and whispers of medieval pageants; the sounding of church bells of joy and sorrow “as if the streets were consecrated ground” (Wordsworth) and the Carillon’s “beautiful wild chimes” (H.W. Longfellow), which “seemed to drape the assembled faithful with […] catafalques of sound” (Rodenbach); later, the worldly sirens of the fire brigade leaving its nearby quarters, and the sound of the long gone tramway and horse-drawn carriages; much later, the clicking of boots worn by German troops marching the cobblestones of Vlamingstraat; contemporary sounds of laughter, a drunk babbling, cars, bicycles, and tourist guides.
The Lodge’s medieval cellar used to host rare spices, expensive fabrics and cloths, and exquisite southern wines; where 400 years earlier his ancestors ruled, Otto von Habsburg hosted a Paneuropa Union meeting; nowadays, the cellar is equipped of a frying kitchen where one can enjoy the sizzling – and penetrating smell - of potato chips.
It seems as if Bruges, which fell into decay in the 16th Century, wanted to avoid making a mistake it made 400 years ago, by trading a cultural landmark for a commercial one.

Mellőzött magyarok? Hadikonferenciák ülésrendjei 1660–1662-ből és 1681-ből [Omitted Hungarians? War Conference Sittings from 1660–1662 and 1681]. In: Levéltári Közlemények, 75. (2004) 1. sz. p. 47–63.

by Géza Pálffy

Omitted Hungarians? War Conference Sittings from 1660–1662 and 1681. It is a recurrent topic of Hungarian... more Omitted Hungarians? War Conference Sittings from 1660–1662 and 1681. It is a recurrent topic of Hungarian historiography to describe the Viennese imperial court as distrustful of Hungarian aristocrats, and omitting them when taking the most important decisions concerning Hungary. It is especially since the second half of the 19th century that the suspicion and mistrust towards the Hungarian political elite is expressed almost with no exception. The study below strives to prove — by presenting war conference sittings — that the opinion of the most influential members of the Hungarian political elite (loyal to the imperial court, of course) and — in case of economic matters — of Hungarian financial institutes was almost always taken into consideration. The “omission-theory” of Hungarian Romantic historiography, surviving until our days even in the historical conscience, is not based properly on sources and lacks ground in the light of recent investigation. The author would like to draw attention to the complexity of the problem and to the future tasks with the present source publication.

Várfeladók feletti ítélkezés a XVI–XVII. századi Magyarországon (A magyar rendek hadügyi jogkörének kérdéséhez) [Administering Justice on Soldiers who had given up Border Fortresses in the 16th and 17th Century Hungary (Contribution to the debate concerning the importance of the Hungarian estates in military jurisdiction)] In: Levéltári Közlemények, 68. (1997) 1–2. sz. p. 199–221.

by Géza Pálffy

Administering Justice on Soldiers who had given up Border Fortresses in the 16th and 17th Century Hungary... more Administering Justice on Soldiers who had given up Border Fortresses in the 16th and 17th Century Hungary (Contribution to the debate concerning the importance of the Hungarian estates in military jurisdiction): Just as in the other parts of Europe the independent military jurisdiction evolved within the central European Habsburg Monarchy on the Hungarian seat of war against the Ottomans in the 16th century. The dispensation of justice to those soldiers who had given up a border fortress, however, developed in a special way. The German mercenary soldiers just as in other areas of operations in Europe was judged in a court-martial, deputed by the War Council of the Viennense court (Wiener Hofkriegsrat). On the Hungarian soldiers, however, judgement was passed by a special court of the Hungarian Diet (dieta). This special system of jurisdiction consolidated as the result of long ongoing struggle fought in the bipolar state structure between the Hungarian estates and the War Council, the central government office representing the kings in military matters. The goal of the struggle was to maintain, at least partially, the political and military influence the Hungarian estates enjoyed before the Battle of Mohács (1526).

A Man and His Environment, on the Border between Habsburg and Ottoman Empires; Podravina (the River Drava Valley) at Crossroads with Multiple Borders in Early Modern Period

by Hrvoje Petric

Published in Journal Podravina.Vol.4, No. 7, 2005.

This paper shows an interrelation between man and his environment, on the Habsburg-Ottoman imperial borders in early... more This paper shows an interrelation between man and his environment, on the Habsburg-Ottoman imperial borders in early modern period. As an example, we researched borderline areas alongside Drava River on the Habsburg Monarchy side of the border. This region is primarily the river Drava valley, the term ‘Podravina’, ‘Podravina multiborder area’ (region alongside Drava) was chosen. The center of this region is area surrounding the free royal town of Koprivnica, being the Military Frontier stronghold and administrative seat at the same time. This »case stud«y is an example of a man and his environment in border territory oin early modern period. Chronology data focus on 16th and 17th century, when this area was a frontier to both the Ottoman and Habsburg Empires. The paper focuses on borderline character, which influenced both man and his environment.

A magyar korona megjelenése a kora újkori képzőművészetben. [The so-called Holy Crown of Hungary in Early Modern Art.]

by Kees Teszelszky

Published in: Művészettörténeti Értesítő, 60/1 (2010), 1-10.

The so-called holy crown of Hungary has been one of the most important elements in early modern Hungarian political... more The so-called holy crown of Hungary has been one of the most important elements in early modern Hungarian political thought, which resulted in countless images from medieval till modern times. This article treats the connection between the various crown images and descriptions of the exterior of the crown and the change of the political meaning of the crown between 1572 and 1665. Using a constructivist method of research, an attempt is made to answer the question of how the crown was depicted in art, what was the function and meaning of this depiction, how this image and function of the crown changed, and how this change can be explained. The focus of the author is on the political developments around 1608 in Hungary, in which the crown, its meaning and image played a dominant role. The function of the crown changed between 1572 and 1608 from a symbol of legitimacy of royal Habsburg power to that of the political claims of the estates of the Kingdom of Hungary. This can be observed in the work of István Illésházy, Elias Berger, János Jessenius, Lucas Kilian, Wolfgang Kilian, Péter Révay, Christoph Lackner, Márton Schödel, Hieronymus Ortelius and others. The change of use, image and meaning of the crown can be explained by the “visual turn”, which according to Peter Burke occurred in the beginning of the 17th century. The attention of historians of that period was drawn to artefacts and images of the past which were used as sources of political legitimacy and incorporated in political thought. The change of the image and meaning of the crown in Hungary was thus a part of a European development in the history of art and political thought.

The Habsburg Defense System in Hungary Against the Ottomans in Sixteenth Century: A Catalyst of Military Development in Central Europe. In: Warfare in Eastern Europe, 1500–1800. Ed. Brian J. Davies. Leiden–Boston : Brill, 2012. (History of Warfare, 72.) p. 35–61.

by Géza Pálffy

http://www.brill.nl/warfare-eastern-europe-1500-1800

The Flyspecks on Palivec’s Portrait: Francis Joseph, the Symbols of Monarchy, and Czech Popular Loyalty

by Hugh Agnew

Published in Laurence Cole and Daniel L. Unowsky, eds., The Limits of Loyalty: Imperial symbolism, popular allegiances, and state patriotism in the late Habsburg Monarchy (New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books, 2007), pp. 86-112.

Developing further from the contribution to the Havranek memorial volume, this paper explores Czech attitudes to... more Developing further from the contribution to the Havranek memorial volume, this paper explores Czech attitudes to Francis Joseph and the monarchy throughout his lengthy reign.

Michael Wögerbauer: La vernacularisation comme alternative au concept d’ « éveil national » ? L’exemple de la Bohême.

by Michael Wögerbauer

in: Histoire et civilisation du livre. Revue internationale, rédacteur en chef Frédéric Barbier, IV (2008) (« Imprimer la langue »), 149–173.

This study introduces the concept of vernacularization in the context of the literary history of Bohemia around 1800.... more This study introduces the concept of vernacularization in the context of the literary history of Bohemia around 1800. National philologists, to some extent until today, examine this literature
based on 19th-century national and aesthetic criteria (i.e. the notion of „genius“, originality etc.) which, as the author argues, do not suit an analysis of multi-lingual pre-Romantic culture. Without intending to replace the popular and politically relevant narrative of the National Revival, the concept of vernacularization attempts to generate a comparatively oriented discussion regarding the transition (beginning around 1760) from the multi-lingual cultures of a stratified society (the nobility, the clergy, the common people etc.) into separate, linguistically defined regional and subsequently national cultures and especially national literatures in the first half of the 19th century.
Vernacularization is defined as a form of knowledge transfer between cultures considered to have different places in a European cultural hierarchy. The „higher“ or „classical“ cultures serve as the vehicles for the transfer of culture; they are supposed to be quite independent of regional contexts and thus can be interregionally recognized as exemplary; in a stratified society they are accessible mainly to the elites. That redestines them to serve as a means of representation.
„Vernacularization“ indicates the efforts by a region’s intellectual elites to make this arcane knowledge (or at least its „useful“ arts) accessible to their uneducated compatriots (in the Middle Ages mainly to the secular elite, in the 18th and 19th centuries above all to the „folk“). This dissemination of useful knowledge in support of the general good is described aptly by Joseph Anton Riegger as the obligation of the ideal „enlightened patriot.“
Therefore, the „logic“ of vernacularization should not be limited to one country or one era; on the contrary, the concept should ncourage comparison and simultaneously provide insight into the inner hierarchy of European cultures into which regional culture would be integrated.
In this context, all „mature“ cultures (not only those of antiquity) can be considered exemplary or model cultures. The theme of knowledge transfer as a service to the homeland, in spite of significant differences determined by time and place, can be traced through various examples: from Cicero (Greece-Rome) to Dante Alighieri (Roman and Provençal culture to Italy), Du Bellay
(Roman and Italian culture to France) and finally to Frederick II (Italian, English and French culture to protestant Germany), through the inaugural lecture (1765) of the Freiburg (and later
Prague) professor of law Joseph Anton Riegger, whose detailed defense of his decision to lecture in German rather than in Latin is a central text in this study. Vernacularization is motivated not only by a enlightened utilitarian knowledge transfer to serve the own land, but also by the desire to see one’s own land included in the the hierarchy of „enlightened“ nations.
The author also suggests that vernacularization, in the sense of adapting an already established high culture to a regional level, should not be limited to the medium of language. The role of language is admittedly as important as it is problematic; for example, in the case of the multi-ethnic Bohemian lands, a linguistic doubling took place. This problem is illustrated by the not uncontested introduction of German-language lectures at the university in Prague, „identity politics“-motivated attempts to establish the equivalence of local languages (F. J. von Kinský’s
1773 call, written in German, to regard Czech as the language of the „Czech lands“) or other – Czech and German – defenses of vernacular language(s), literature(s) and culture(s) versus
the established elite cultures such as Latin, French or (north) German. Especially significant are institutions that are either vernacularized by the „enlightened“ higher classes for utilitarian
reasons (e.g. originally Latin-based educational institutions, as well as their libraries, which are opened to the public) or institutions that were created for the transfer of knowledge and, usually (co-) established by the secular elite, combine both patriotic motives: compulsory education in the vernacular language, semi-public associations and institutions such as the Freemasons,
reading and lending libraries, newspaper associations, museums (e.g. the „patriotic“ museum
of the Prague typographer J. F. Schönfeld) etc.

La rotta del Ferruccio. Nuove evidenze sulla battaglia di Gavinana (3 agosto 1530)

by Alessandro Monti

Published in 'Bullettino Storico Pistoiese', vol. CXIII (2011): pp. 61-92.
ISSN 0007-5809

I fatti di Arezzo durante l'assedio di Firenze (1529-1530): un contributo documentario

by Alessandro Monti

Published in 'Medicea', n. 3 (2009): pp. 86-91.
ISSN 1974-7004

Defending and administering the frontier: The case of Ottoman Hungary

by Gabor Agoston

Published in Woodhead, Christine. The Ottoman World. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2012, pp. 220-236.
The chapter examines geopolitics and the creation of the Ottoman-Habsburg frontier in Hungary, Ottoman provincial administration and administrative strategies, Ottoman forts and garrisons, the limits to sultanic authority and the Hungaro-Ottoman condominium, as well as regional-social networks and economic opportunities along the frontier.

"Des fonds nets & claires": de Krijgskas, de Raad van Financiën en het beheer van het militaire budget in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden (1718-1775) [English Abstract / Résumé Français]

by Thomas Goossens

Published in: Revue Belge de Philologie et d'Histoire / Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Filologie en Geschiedenis, 88:4 (2010), pp. 1135-1158.

The War Treasury of the Southern Netherlands has as yet received very little scholarly attention. This institution was... more The War Treasury of the Southern Netherlands has as yet received very little scholarly attention. This institution was created in 1718 as part of a broader reform of the Brussels central government by the Austrian crown, and it was intended to take over the military responsibilities of the Finance Council of the Southern Netherlands. The War Treasury is generally believed to have managed all military income and expenditure in the Southern Netherlands in a highly autocratic manner, thereby strengthening the control of the Austrian government over the Brussels military budget. Recently discovered evidence, however, suggests that the War Treasury’s independence was much more limited than previously thought. In fact, the Finance Council continued to control both the income of the War Treasury and the management of its expenditure. Moreover, the interdependence between these two councils was deliberately maintained by both the Brussels and Viennese governments, since the Austrians realized that they were incapable of managing the military budget without the cooperation of the Finance Council. In the end, the exigencies of maintaining the army of the Southern Netherlands at operational strength continued to trump any desires on the part of Vienna to limit the influence of Brussels civil governments over the management of the region’s military budget.