The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24

l
Vienna, the capital of Austria, and the
imperial residence city, has history
quite as variegated as any of the Euro
pean capitals. 1t was originally founded
by the Romans, but as German or Aus
trian city its history commences with 9S3,
at which time Leopold, of Badenberg,
drove. the Magyars out of a portion of
their territory, and consolidated half
dozen little principalities into something
like an empire. In 1878, Rudolph, Of
Hapsburgh, an Insignificant Prince whose
seat was at Martigny, in Switzerland,
was elected Emperor of Germany, much
to the disgust of Ottakar, King of Bohe-
mia, who desired the imperial dignity.
| Ottakar swore great oath to be EN-
peror or die, and so with 10000 Bohe-
milan troops he marched upon Vienna.
The sturdy old Switzer met him, and
after one of the bloodiest battles on rec
ord totally annihilated the Bohemians.
Ottakar was slain, and Rudolph partially
annexed Bohemia, Rudolph was the
head of the House of Hapsburgh, which
has occupied the throne of Austria ever
since.
In 1862 the citizens of Vienna revolted
and blockaded the imperial palace, but
Kings held together then as now. The
King of Bohemia, who was in some sense
vassal of Austria, came with great
army to the relief of the Emperor and the
citizens were overpowered. The Hunga-
rians under Matthias Corvinus next got
possession of it, but they were driven
out by Macmillan |. and since which
time the Hapsburgers have held it Sc
curely. -.
Twice the Turks have been under its
walls, in 1929 and, in 1858, the last time
their army consisting of 100000 men.
city relieved by the Duke of Lorraine
and the Pole, John Sobieski, and the
Turkish commander, Kara Mustapha,
was promptly bowstringed by the Sultan.
The ramparts erected by the Turks are
still visible in places. In 1859 the b.
hemian Protestants under Count Thurn
besieged the city to compel the Emperor
Ferdinand to. educate his children as
Protestants, the Count being in league
with the citizens with them who were
mostly of the Reformed faith. The En-
peror, who was stanch Catholic, made
sturdy resistance, and was relieved by
assistance once more by the Poles.
Napoleon was in possession of Vienna
twice, in 1905, after the battle of Austen
litz, and in 1909, after the battle of
Wagram. However, Napoleon was in
possession, one time or another, of
almost all the cities of Europe. So
Vienna had no reason for exception.
In 1S49 the revolutionary movement
which began at Paris and spread over all
Europe extended to Vienna and for
time it was in possession of the insur-
gents. Prince .Metternich fled to En-
| gland. The Emperor left the city and
for time it was probable that Austria
would become Republic. But Prince
Windidkgratz with the Bohemian army,
and Jellachich with the Croatians, came
down upon the insurgents and after
fierce struggle they were overpowered.
Robert Blum, the leader of the Red Re-
| publicans was shot, with many others,
and the royal family were put in posses
sion of the city once more.
Vienna is built in a most peculiar
manner. Following the plans of the old
Romans, central point was established
and the city built around it, and then
wall around the city. So Vienna proper
is a great spider web. The center is the
platz in front of st. Stephens Church,
from which streets and alleys radiate in
all directions till they reach what were
the walls which extended entirely
around the city. As the city grew in
importance and population additions
were made outside the walls, at first in
their immediate neighborhood, and then
going further and further away until
now any one of the suburbs is much
larger than the old city itself.
There is the little stream from which
the city takes its name, the Wien, which
forms one division of the suburbs; that
empties into the Danube Canal, and there
begins another addition, and so on all
around the city. In the course of time
these additions as they may be called,
became so large that it was found neces-
sary to do away with the walls that
separated them from the city proper,
which was done in 1859, and the space
they occupied was leveled and laid out
in broad, well-paved streets that are
now the chief pride of the Viennese.
These streets, three miles in length,
make circle, and are known as the
Ring" They entirely surround the
old city, and from them handsome
streets lead in all directions to all the
suburbs.-D. r. Locke, in Toledo Blade.