From the Romans to the Middle Ages - History of Vienna From the Roman Military Camp to the End of the First Millenary - History of Vienna Military camp Roman Vindobona Like many other cities of Continental Europe, Vienna originated in ancient Roman times. In the first century AD , the Romans set up a military camp, called Vindobona, which formed part of the large number of similar facilities along the Limes frontier. The camp was situated in what is today the core of the city. The course of the wall is reflected, to this day, in a series of very striking streets in the inner city. From the third century, there is evidence for a civilian settlement in the southeast, a little outside the camp. Much less is known about its layout and buildings, however, than about the camp. Neither of these facilities on the site of the present city had any significance within the ancient "cityscape" of Austria. The late 4th and 5th centuries began to see the dramatic decline not only of the Roman Empire in general but also of Vindobona in particular. Archaeological evidence provides information of a devastating fire in the storage area at the beginning of the 5th century.

Settlement No written records have survived from the period between the 5th to 6th centuries and the 9th century to tell about the fate of this small settlement on the Danube. But research on the basis of archaeological and onomastic evidence suggests that we must assume that at least some "remainder settlement" continued to exist. The protection provided by the remnants of the ancient camp fortifications, which continued well into the 13th century, was made further use of. It may have been as early as the Carolingian period that the first churches were established in the area. Of course, it would be impossible to speak of a city or even urban structures, particularly in the light of the fact that the settlement, whose present name was first mentioned in 881, was to see turbulent times in the wake of the Magyar expansion, in the 9th and 10th centuries. Vindobona | Article about Vindobona by The Free Dictionary Vindobona | Article about Vindobona by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . Vienna, town (1990 pop.

14,852), Fairfax co., N Va., a residential suburb of Washington, D.C.; inc. 1890. There is computer software research. Originally called Springfield, Vienna became the site of Fairfax county's first courthouse in 1742. Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts is on the city's outskirts. Nearby is the enormous Tysons Corner Center mall, which attracts shoppers from the N Virginia–Washington, D.C., area. Vienna (vēĕn`ə), Ger. Wien, city and province (1991 pop. 1,539,848), 160 sq mi (414 sq km), capital and largest city of Austria and administrative seat of Lower Austria, NE Austria, on the Danube River. The former residence of the Holy Roman emperors and, after 1806, of the emperors of Austria, Vienna is one of the great historic cities of the world and a melting pot of the Germanic, Slav, Italian, and Hungarian peoples and cultures.

Located on a plain surrounded by the Wienerwald (Vienna Woods) and the Carpathian foothills, it is a cultural, industrial, commercial, and transportation center. The city is divided into 23 districts grouped roughly in two semicircles around the Innere Stadt, or Inner City. Vienna's industries, mainly concentrated on the left bank of the Danube and in the southern districts, produce electrical appliances, machine tools, paper, and clothing. There are also large oil refineries, breweries, and distilleries. The annual Wiener Messe, an industrial fair (est. 1921), attracts buyers from all over the world. Vienna's musical and theatrical life, its parks, coffeehouses, and museums, make it a great tourist attraction; tourism is of great signficance for the city's economy. The modern city dates from Francis Joseph Francis Joseph or Franz Joseph, 1830–1916, emperor of Austria (1848–1916), king of Hungary (1867–1916), nephew of Ferdinand, who abdicated in his favor. ..... Click the link for more information.

's reign (1848–1916). By 1860 the old ramparts around the inner city had been replaced by the famous boulevard, the Ringstrasse. The principal edifices on or near the Ringstrasse are the neo-Gothic Rathaus, with many statues and a tower 320 ft (98 m) high; the domed museums of natural history and of art, in Italian Renaissance style; the Votivkirche, one of the finest of modern Gothic churches; the parliament buildings, in Greek style; the palace of justice; the famous opera house and the Burgtheater, both in Renaissance style; the Künstlerhaus, with painting exhibitions; the Musikverein, containing the conservatory of music; and the Academy of Art. Among Vienna's many other museums are the Albertina, a state museum housed in an 18th-century building, and the Kunstforum, a bold contemporary exhibition space. Near the Albertina is the famous Spanish Riding Academy and the Austrian National Library, completed in 1726. In the late 20th.

cent, Danube Island was developed as one of the largest urban parks in Europe; the neighboring Danube City development includes many modern buildings. History Originally a Celtic settlement, Vienna, then called Vindobona, became an important Roman military and commercial center; Emperor Marcus Aurelius resided there and died there (A.D. 180). After the Romans withdrew (late 4th cent.), it rapidly changed hands among the invaders who overran the region. The Magyars, who gained possession of Vienna early in the 10th cent., were driven out by Leopold I of Babenberg Babenberg , ruling house of Austria (976–1246). It possibly descended from, or succeeded, a powerful Franconian family of the 9th cent. from whose castle the city of Bamberg probably took its name. ..... Click the link for more information. , the first margrave of the Ostmark (see Austria Austria , Ger. Österreich [eastern march], officially Republic of Austria, federal republic (2005 est. pop. 8,185,000), 32,374 sq mi (83,849 sq km), central Europe. .....

Click the link for more information. ). Construction on Vienna's noted Cathedral of St. Stephen began c.1135. Several decades later Henry Jasomirgott, first duke of Austria, transferred his residence to the town, made it capital of the duchy, and erected a castle, Am Hof. The town was fortified by Ottocar II of Bohemia, who conquered Austria in 1251. In 1282, Vienna became the official residence of the house of Hapsburg Hapsburg or Habsburg , ruling house of Austria (1282–1918). Rise to Power The family, which can be traced to the 10th cent., originally held lands in Alsace and in NW Switzerland. Otto (d. ..... Click the link for more information. . The city was occupied (1485–90) by Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and was besieged by the Turks for the first time in 1529. In the critical second siege (1683) by the Turks under Kara Mustafa Mustafa or Kara Mustafa [Turk. kara=black], d.

1683, Turkish grand vizier (chief executive officer) under Sultan Muhammad IV of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). He succeeded his brother-in-law, Ahmed Köprülü. ..... Click the link for more information. and their Hungarian allies under Thokoly, the city, heroically defended by Ernst von Starhemberg Starhemberg, Ernst Rüdiger, Graf von , 1638–1701, Austrian field marshal. He served against the Ottomans in Hungary under Montecucculi and was made (1680) military commander of Vienna. From July to Sept. ..... Click the link for more information. , was on the verge of starvation when it was saved by John III John III (John Sobieski) , 1624–96, king of Poland (1674–96), champion of Christian Europe against the Ottomans. Born to an ancient noble family, he was appointed (1668) commander of the Polish army. ..... Click the link for more information. (John Sobieski) of Poland. Early in the 18th cent.

a new circle of fortifications was built around the city, and many magnificent buildings were erected. Bernhard Fischer von Erlach Fischer von Erlach, Johann Bernhard , 1656–1723, the leading Austrian baroque architect. After studying in Rome he returned to Vienna. In 1705 he was appointed imperial court architect. ..... Click the link for more information. drew up new plans for the Hofburg (the imperial residence) and built the beautiful Karlskirche; Johann von Hildebrandt designed St. Peter's Church, the Belvedere (summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy), and the Kinsky Palace; together they planned the Schwarzenburg Palace and the winter residence of Prince Eugene. Empress Maria Theresa (reigned 1740–80) enlarged the old university, founded in 1365, and completed the royal summer palace of Schönbrunn Schönbrunn , former imperial palace in Vienna, built during the reigns of Emperor Charles VI and Maria Theresa. Mainly designed by Fischer von Erlach, it is a splendid example of Austrian baroque. ..... Click the link for more information.

, started by her father, Charles VI (1711–40). Joseph II (1765–90) opened the Prater, a large imperial garden, which now contains an amusement park, to the public. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert lived in Vienna and gave it lasting glory. In 1805 and 1809, Vienna was occupied by Napoleon. In the early 19th cent. Vienna was famous for the waltzes of Joseph Lanner and the Strauss family, and for the farces of Nestroy, the comedies of Raimund, and the tragic dramas of Grillparzer. During the revolutions of 1848 revolutions of 1848, in European history. The February Revolution in France gave impetus to a series of revolutionary explosions in Western and Central Europe. However the new French Republic did not support these movements. ..... Click the link for more information. , revolutionists in Vienna forced Metternich to resign, but they were eventually suppressed by Windischgrätz Windischgrätz or Windisch-Grätz, Alfred, Fürst zu , 1787–1862, Austrian field marshal.

He was military governor of Bohemia when the revolutions of 1848 broke out in the Hapsburg empire. ..... Click the link for more information. . In the late 19th and early 20th cent., Vienna flourished again as a cultural and scientific center. Rokitansky, Wagner-Jauregg, and Billroth (to whom Brahms dedicated the string quartets Op. 51) worked at the General Hospital; at the same time Freud was developing his theory of psychoanalysis. Vienna attracted Brahms, Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Arnold Schoenberg and his disciples, who gave it a further period of musical greatness. Krauss, Werfel, Hofmannsthal, Schnitzler, and Wassermann dominated the literary scene. Vienna suffered hardships during World War I. Amidst food shortages and revolution it became, at the end of the war, the capital of the small republic of Austria. In 1922, Vienna became an autonomous province (Bundesland) of Austria. The highly successful Social Democratic city government headed by Mayor Karl Seitz (1923–34) initiated a program of municipal improvements.

In public housing Vienna set an example for the world. Model apartment houses for workers, notably the huge Karl Marx Hof, began to replace the city's slums. The projects were badly damaged in the civil war of Feb., 1934, between Viennese Socialists and the Austrian government of Chancellor Dollfuss Dollfuss, Engelbert , 1892–1934, Austrian chancellor. A Christian Socialist, he rose to prominence as leader of the Lower Austrian Farmers' League and became minister of agriculture in 1931. ..... Click the link for more information. . On Mar. 15, 1938, Adolf Hitler triumphantly entered Vienna, and Austria was annexed to Germany. During World War II the city suffered considerable damage. The Jewish population (115,000 in 1938), residing mainly in the Leopoldstadt district (designated the official ghetto in the 17th cent.), was reduced through extermination or emigration to 6,000 by the end of the war. The Russian army entered Vienna in Apr., 1945. Vienna and Austria were divided into four occupation zones by the victorious Allies.

The occupation lasted until 1955, when, by treaty, the four powers reunited Austria as a neutral state. Vienna became the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1957; it is the headquarters for several other international organizations, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The city also has been a neutral site for international talks, such as those between President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev in 1961. Bibliography See A. J. May, Vienna in the Age of Franz Josef (1966); I. Lehne and L. Johnson, Vienna—The Past in the Present (1985). Vienna capital city of Austria. Area, 415 sq km; population, 1,642,000 (1968). It is located at the foot of the Alps on the Danube, where the river emerges from the mountains onto the plain and where the Danube waterway and the historic trade route along its bank cross the trans-European route linking the Baltic and central European countries with the Mediterranean.

It has a mild climate with an average January temperature of -1.5° C (although there are periods of temperatures from -12° to -18 ° C) and a mean July temperature of about 20° C. In the winter the Föhn (warm mountain wind) occurs. The capital’s territory has the status of a province and is at the same time the administrative center for the province of Lower Austria. Administration The organs of the city administration of Vienna are also the administrative organs of Vienna as a province. Thus, the municipal council of Vienna also functions as a Landtag, the city senate as the provincial government, the burgomaster as Landhauptmann, and so on. The municipal council (Gemeinderat) consists of 100 deputies elected by the people of Vienna for a term of five years. The council elects the burgomaster, the city senate, consisting of the burgomaster, and not less than nine city councilors (12 were elected in 1967), two of whom act as vice-burgomasters.

The municipal council sets up committees composed of deputies for the various branches of the city administration (Gemeinderatsausschüsse), of which there were 12 in 1967. The magistracy of Vienna consists of a burgomaster, the town councilors, who are in charge of the separate branches of the administration, the director of the magistracy, and others. The burgomaster of Vienna and the organs subordinated to him also perform executive functions on behalf of the federation as a whole, in which capacity they are directly responsible to the government of Austria. Vienna is divided into 23 urban districts, the inhabitants of which elect for a term of five years district representative bodies (Bezirksvertretungen), each consisting of 30 district councilors (Bezirksrat) and district administrators (Bezirksvorsteher). History In ancient times Celtic and possibly also Illyrian settlements were located on the site of Vienna. In Roman times, from the first century A.D. , it was the location of a camp of Roman legionnaires and was called Vindobona.

In the 11th and 12th centuries Vienna (so named in sources for the first time in 881 and then in 1030), since it was situated on a major trade route, became the most important town in Austria; in the middle of the 12th century it was the residence of the Austrian dukes. Vienna had the status of a princely town and at times enjoyed the rights of an imperial town; it had self-government, exercised by a patriciate. In 1529 and 1683, Vienna was unsuccessfully besieged by the Turks. In the 16th century it became important as the capital of the multinational state of the Hapsburgs. From the 17th century and especially in the 18th century it became the focus of a large court bureaucracy. From the 18th century a textile manufacturing industry developed in Vienna, particularly for the production of luxury articles. In the 18th and first half of the 19th centuries, Vienna was one of Europe’s main cultural centers, particularly with regard to music. In 1805 and 1809 the troops of Napoleon I entered Vienna.

The Vienna Congress of 1814-15 was held there. During the revolution of 1848-49 in Austria, Vienna was the center of the revolutionary struggle. From 1867 to 1918, Vienna was the capital of Austria-Hungary. In the second half of the 19th century, as a result of the rapid development of capitalist industry, the population, which had numbered 175,500 inhabitants in 1754, grew to 476,000 in 1857 and to 704,700 in 1880. The workers’ movement during the same time gained in strength. In January 1918 a general political strike was held in Vienna, and it became the main center of the Revolution of 1918 in Austria. The Austrian Communist Party was founded on Nov. 3, 1918. On Nov. 12, 1918, in Vienna, Austria was proclaimed a republic.

In July 1927 a mass antifascist workers’ demonstration took place, which was dispersed by the government with the help of the armed forces. In February 1934 the workers and members of the disbanded Schutzbund, which had been dissolved in 1933, offered armed resistance to the fascists, who were attacking social democratic and trade union organizations. On the night of Mar. 11, 1938, fascist German troops entered Vienna, which, like the rest of Austria, was seized by fascist Germany. After bitter fighting, Vienna was liberated by the Soviet Army on Apr. 13, 1945. In July of that year, an agreement was signed regarding the occupation zones of Austria and the administration of Vienna. Vienna was divided into four occupation sectors—Soviet, American, British, and French; joint four-power occupation was established in the central part of the city. From Dec. 12 to 19, 1952, the Congress of Peoples for Peace was held in Vienna. On May 15, 1955, the State Treaty for the Reestablishment of an Independent and Democratic Austria was signed there.

The Austrian parliament meeting in Vienna passed a law on Oct. 26, 1955, providing for the permanent neutrality of Austria. Mozart, Beethoven, as well as other well-known composers, the romantic poet F. Grillparzer, the writer S. Zweig, the naturalist G. J. Mendel, and many other prominent figures in the world of art and science lived and worked in Vienna. SOURCES Quellen zur Geschichte der Stadt Wien [vols. 1-18.] Vienna, 1895-1937. Urkunden und Regesten aus dem Archive der Stadt Wien, vols. 1-3. Published by K. Uhlirz. Vienna, 1895-97. A. B. V ASIL’EV Economy Vienna is one of the largest transport centers in Europe and an important transit junction; most of the 12 railway lines that radiate from it are major trans-European routes. The Schwechat airport is also an important transit point. Vienna is the second largest Austrian port (after Linz) on the Danube.

Vienna is at the center of the most densely populated and agriculturally and industrially most developed area of Austria. Almost one-fourth of the Austrian population, about two-fifths of its industrial production, and more than four-fifths of the bank capital of the country are centered in Vienna. Industry is the most important form of economic activity, in which (including handicrafts) about half of the gainfully employed population was engaged in 1967; only about one-fourth was employed in trade and transport. In the past, Vienna was a center for the production, mainly in small enterprises, of high-quality luxury goods which, termed “Viennese chic,” acquired a considerable reputation on the world market. After World War II the situation changed, although there are still in Vienna some 40,000 handicraft shops; in four-fifths of such qualified enterprises, the average number of employees is less than 100.

In 1968 about 40 percent of industrial production consisted of machine building, particularly of transport machinery (Austro-Fiat, Steyr-Daimler-Puch, Simmering-Graz-Pauker), electrical engineering (Siemens-Schuckert), radio electronics, precision machinery and optical instruments, instrument-making, machine-tool construction, and others. A petrochemical industry has been set up, which processes the products of nearby oil fields discovered not long before World War II and which utilizes them in such traditional processes as the production of photochemical, pharmaceutical, and other refined chemical products. The production for export of fashionable women’s clothing and fine knitted fabrics, hats, fashionable shoes, fine furniture, musical instruments, toys, and other products characteristic of Vienna has retained its importance. The various branches of the food industry have been developed to meet the requirements of the capital’s population. Among the many financial institutions, the largest and leading banks are the Creditanstalt and Länderbank. The urban forms of transportation include a subway. I. M. M AERGOIZ Architecture and city planning Most of the city lies on the right bank of the Danube, between the river and the spurs of the Eastern Alps (the Vienna Woods).

Within the city itself there is a great variation in altitude; the highest point, Hermannskogel, is 542 m and the lowest, Essling, is 155 m above sea level. The hilly surroundings are picturesque. The integration of the architectural composition of the city, its spacious ensembles, well-proportioned and elegant buildings, parks, and numerous monuments and fountains have earned Vienna its well-deserved fame as one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. The right bank has retained features of medieval centrifugal planning. Two semicircles of boulevards—the Ring (Ringstrasse, 1856-88, on the site of the city walls of the 13th to 14th century) and the Gürtel (1894, on the site of the outer city walls of 1704) abut on the Danube and are crossed by radiating main streets. In the picturesque and densely constructed center, the Old, or Inner, City encircled by the Ring, there are narrow, twisting side streets and architectural monuments, including St.

Stephen’s Cathedral, with a Romanesque western facade (1137-47), a Gothic choir hall (1304-40) and nave (1359-1454), and a south tower, about 136 m high (1359-1433); the Gothic Church of Maria Stiegen (1330-1414); the former residence of the Hapsburgs, the Hofburg (the Swiss Gate, 1552, and the Neue Hofburg, 1881-1913, designed by the architects G. Semper and C. Hasenauer; the National Library designed by the architect J. B. Fischer von Erlach); the baroque palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1695-98, architect Fischer von Erlach; 1708-24, architect L. von Hildebrandt); and the baroque Palais Daun-Kinsky (1713-16, designed by Hildebrandt).

Between the Ring and the Gürtel are the so-called inner districts—the business quarters and residential areas thickly populated mainly by the petite bourgeoisie and office workers; there are spacious terraced parks laid out mainly during the baroque period—the Lower (1714-16) and Upper (1721-22) Belvedere designed by Hildebrandt, the Palais Schwarzenberg (1697-1704, Hildebrandt; 1720-23, Fischer von Erlach), and the Church of St. Carlo Borromeo (1716-39, Fischer von Erlach). Beyond the Gürtel are the Schönbrunn Palace and Park (architects Fischer von Erlach, 1695-1700, and N. Pacassi, 1744-49). In the northern outskirts of the town, near the Vienna Woods, are the villas and private houses of the wealthier classes; in the southern, eastern, and western outskirts, more particularly on the left bank of the Danube (Floridsdorf and Leopoldau), are situated the factories and working-class quarters.

On the island of Prater are the Prater and Augarten parks. Among the imposing buildings of various styles about the Ring are the Opera House (1861-69, designed by the architects A. Siccard von Siccardsburg and E. van der Nuell), the Parliament building (1873-83, architect T. E. von Hansen), the Rathaus (1872-83, architect F. Schmidt), the Art History and Natural History museums (1872-81) and the Burgtheater (1874-88, designed by Semper and Hasenauer), as well as various shops, hotels, and restaurants. Buildings in the Jugendstil include the Vienna Secession building designed by J. Olbrich (1897-98), the Steinhof Hospital (1904-07) designed by O. Wagner, and the Austrian Museum (1913) designed by J. Hoffmann. Among buildings in contemporary style are the Loos-Haus on the Michaelerplatz (1910, architect A.

Loos), the workers’ building Karl-Marx-Hof, now known as the Heiligenstädterhof (1927-29, architect K. Enn), the Western Station (1950-54, architect R. Hartinger), the tall Ringturm building (1953-55, architect E. Boltenstern), the multipurpose Stadthall (1955-58, architect R. Rainer), and the building of the Garden Exhibition of 1964. A number of efficiently planned settlements have been built, including the Per-Albin-Hansson settlement, (1949-53, designed by F. Schuster) and Maurerberg (1963, by the architect R. Rainer). Some transport junctions have been rebuilt, and underground passages for pedestrians have been constructed with public services, such as the Opern-passage (1955) and the Südtirolerplatz (1959). Educational, scientific, and cultural institutions.

The city’s educational, scientific, and cultural institutions include the University of Vienna, the Higher Technical School, the Institute of World Trade, the Academy of Fine Arts, and other institutions of higher education, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and many scientific institutes and societies; the National Library, which has more than 1.9 million volumes; museums—the Natural History Museum, the Art History Museum, the Albertina, the Austrian Gallery, the Collections of the Academy of Fine Arts, the Vienna Historical Museum, the houses of Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and others made into museums, and theaters—the Vienna State Opera, the Volksoper, the Burgtheater, and others. REFERENCES Ledovskikh, S. I., and I. E. Rabinovich, Vena. Moscow, 1959. Geschichte der Stadt Wien, vols. 1-7. Published by Alterthumsverein zu Wein. Vienna, 1897-1918. Vol. 7, part 2. Vienna, 1955. Schmidt, J., and H. Tietze. Wien, 3rd ed.

Vienna-Munich [1954]. Bibliographie zur Geschichte und Stadtkunde von Wien, vol. 1. Vienna, 1947. A. B. V PLANET VIENNA - History of Vienna Vienna has a long and varied history, which began when the Roman Empire created a military camp in the area that is known today as Vienna. From that humble beginning, Vienna grew from the Roman settlement known as Vindobona to an important trading site in the 11th century. It became the capital of the Babenberg dynasty and subsequently of the Austrian Habsburgs, under whom it became one of Europe's cultural hubs. During the 19th century as the capital of the Austrian Empire and later Austria-Hungary, it temporarily became one of Europe's biggest cities. Since World War I, Vienna has been the capital of the Republic of Austria. Roman beginnings and early middle ages As is shown by the pre-Latin, the Celtic name for the civilian settlement in the area was Vindomina, which demonstrates that the region must have been inhabited even in pre-Roman times.

The Romans created a military camp (occupied by Legio X Gemina) during the 1st century on the site of the Innere Stadt of present-day Vienna. The settlement was raised to the status of a municipium in 212. Even today, the streets of the First District show where the encampment placed its walls and moats. The Romans stayed until the 5th century. Roman Vindobona (the name means "good wine") was located in the outskirts of the empire and thus fell prey to the chaos of the Vï¿½lkerwanderung. There are some indications that a catastrophic fire occurred around the beginning of the 5th century. However, the remains of the encampment were not deserted, and a small settlement remained. The streets and houses of early medieval Vienna followed the former Roman walls, which gives rise to the conclusion that parts of the fortification were still in place and used by the settlers. The first documented mention of the city during the middle ages dates to 881 when a battle apud Weniam was fought against the Magyars. However, it is unclear whether this refers to the city or the River Vienna. Early Vienna's centre was the Berghof.

Byzantine copper coins from the 6th century have been found several times in the area of today's First District, indicating considerable trade activity. Graves from the 6th century were found during excavations next to the Berghof, in an area around "Salvatorgasse" (a side street off of Marc-Aurel-Straï¿½e). At that time, the Langobards controlled the area. Slavs and Avars followed later. The Salzburg Annals mention a battle against the Magyars at a location called Wenia in 881, which may be a reference to Vienna. Emperor Otto I defeated the Magyars in 955 in the Battle of Lechfeld. This allowed early Vienna to start to develop towards the middle ages. The Habsburgs In 1278, Rudolf I took control over the Austrian lands after his victory over Ottokar II of Bohemia and began to establish Habsburg rule. In Vienna, it took relatively a long time for them to establish their control, as partisans of Ottokar remained strong for a long time. There were several uprisings against Albert I.

The family of the Paltrams vom Stephansfreithof was foremost among the insurgents. In 1280, Jans der Enikel wrote the "Fï¿½rstenbuch", a first history of the city. With the Luxembourg emperors, Prague became the imperial residence and Vienna stood in its shadow. The early Habsburgs attempted to extend it in order to keep up. Duke Albert II, for example, had the gothic choir of the Cathedral of Saint Stephan built. In 1327, Frederick the Handsome published his edict allowing the city to maintain an Eisenbuch (iron book) listing its privileges. Rudolf IV of Austria deserves credit for his prudent economic policy, which raised the level of prosperity. His surname the Founder is due to two things: first, he founded the University of Vienna in 1365, and second, he began the construction of the gothic nave at Saint Stephan's Cathedral. The latter is connected to the creation of a metropolitan chapter, as a symbolic substitute for a bishop.

The time of inheritance disputes among the Habsburgs resulting not only in confusion, but also in an economic decline and social unrest, with disputes between the parties of patricians and artisans. While the patricians supported Ernest the Iron, the artisans supported Leopold IV. In 1408, the mayor Konrad Vorlauf, an exponent of the patrician party, was executed. After the election of Duke Albert V as German King Albert II, Vienna became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Albert's name is remembered for his expulsion of the Jewish population of Vienna in 1421/22. Eventually, in 1469, Vienna was given its own bishop, and St. Stephan's Church became a cathedral. During the upheavals of the era of weak Emperor Frederick III, Vienna remained on the side of his opponents (first Albert VI, then Matthias Corvinus), as Frederick proved unable to maintain peace in the land vis-ï¿½-vis rampaging gangs of mercenaries (often remaining from the Hussite Wars).

In 1522, under Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor the Blood Judgment of Wiener Neustadt led to the execution of leading members of the opposition within the city, and thus a destruction of the political structures. From then on, the city stood under direct imperial control. In 1556, Vienna became the seat of the Emperor, with Hungary and Bohemia having been added to the Habsburg realm in 1526. During this time, the city was also recatholicized after having become protestant rather quickly. In 1551, the Jesuits were brought to town and soon gained a large influence in court. The leader of the counterreformation here was Melchior Khlesl, Bishop of Vienna from 1600 onwards. Turkish Wars In 1529, Vienna was besieged by the Ottoman Turks for the first time (First Turkish Siege), although unsuccessfully. The city, protected by medieval walls, only barely withstood the attacks, until epidemics and an early winter forced the Turks to retreat. The siege had shown that new fortifications were needed. Following plans by Hermes Schallauzer, Vienna was expanded to a fortress in 1548.

The city was furnished with eleven bastions and surrounded by a moat. A glacis was created around Vienna, a broad strip without any buildings, which allowed defenders to fire freely. These fortifications, which accounted for the major part of building activities well into the 17th century, proved decisive in the Second Turkish Siege of 1683, as they allowed the city to maintain itself for two months, until the Turkish army was defeated by the army led by the Polish King Jan Sobieski. This was the turning point in the Turkish Wars, as the Ottoman Empire was pushed back more and more during the following decades. 18th century The following period was characterized by extensive building activities. In the course of reconstruction, Vienna was largely turned into a baroque city. The most important architects were Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. Most construction happened in the suburbs (Vorstï¿½dte), as the nobility began to cover the surrounding land with garden palaces, known as Palais.

The best known are the Palais Liechtenstein, Palais Modena, Palais Schï¿½nborn, Palais Schwarzenberg, and the Belvedere (the garden palais of Prince Eugene of Savoy). In 1704, an outer fortification, the Linienwall, was built around the Vorstï¿½dte. After the extensive plague epidemics of 1679 and 1713, the population began to grow steadily. It is estimated that 150,000 people lived in Vienna in 1724, and 200,000 in 1790. At that time, the first factories were built, the first in Leopoldstadt. Leopoldstadt also became a site where many Jews lived, as they had been driven out of their 50-year old ghetto in 1670. Hygienic problems began to become noticeable: Sewers and street cleaning began to develop. Also in this time, the first house numbers (the Konskriptionsnummern) were issued, and the government postal system began to develop.

Under Emperor Joseph II, the city administration was modernized in 1783: officials in charge of only the city were introduced, the Magistrate was created. At the same time, the graveyards within the city were closed. 19th century During the Napoleonic Wars, Vienna was taken by Napoleon twice, in 1805 and 1809. The first conquest happened without a battle. Three French marshals crossed the Taborbrï¿½cke (Tï¿½bor Bridge), the only Danube bridge at that time (which of course was strongly defended), and convinced the Austrian commander that the war was already over. In the meantime, the French army could easily enter the city and was greeted by the population, rather with interest than with rejection. Napoleon allowed 10,000 men of the Vienna national guard to remain armed and left the arsenal to them when he left complete as he had found it. However, the second occupation happened only after heavy fire. Shortly after that, Napoleon suffered his first large defeat at Aspern, nearby.

After Napoleon's final defeat, the Congress of Vienna took place from September 18, 1814 to June 9, 1815, in which the political map of Europe was redrawn. The congressmembers indulged in many social events, which induced the witty Charles Joseph, Prince de Lignene to famously say: "The congress dances, but does not progress" (Le congres danse beaucoup, mais il ne marche pas). The events cost Austria a great deal of money, which was reflected in mockery about the major participants: Alexander of Russia: loves for all; Frederick William of Prussia : thinks for all; Frederick of Denmark: speaks for all; Maximilian of Bavaria: drinks for all; Frederick of Wï¿½rttemberg: eats for all; Emperor Francis of Austria: pays for all. The first half of the century was characterized by intensive industrialization, with Vienna being attached to the railroad network in 1837. The French February Revolution of 1848 had an effect as far away as Vienna: On March 13, the March Revolution, which forced long-serving chancellor Metternich to resign.

The city was expanded in 1850, mostly to include the area within the Linienwall. The Vorstï¿½dte thus became the 2nd through 9th districts, with the old city becoming the first. In 1858, the fortifications were demolished, and the broad Ringstraï¿½e boulevard was built in their former place. Many monumental buildings were built alongside it. The Ringstraï¿½e Style (Historicism) characterizes the architecture of Vienna to this day. The period peaked in the World Exhibition of 1873, immediately before the stock market crash, which ended the Grï¿½nderzeit ("foundation era"). In 1861, the Liberals won the first (relatively) free elections after the end of neoabsolutism. After the great flood of 1830, it was frequently considered whether there should be a Regulation of the Danube. It was finally put into practice during the 1860s. The many branches of the Danube were removed, and a straight stream was created away from the central city.

The branch near the central city was made narrower and his been known under the somewhat misleading name Donaukanal (Danube Canal) since then. During that period, the population of Vienna increased sharply, mostly because of immigration. Censuses were conducted regularly from 1869 onwards, which showed an all-time high of population in 1910, with 2,031,000 inhabitants. Around 1900, Vienna became a center of the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau, most of all with Otto Wagner and the association of artists known as Vienna Secession (after which the characteristic building at the Karlsplatz is named). In 1890, the city was expanded for a second time: the (Vororte) suburbs beyond the old Linienwall were incorporated into the town as the districts 11 to 19 (the 10th district) had been created in 1874 by the split-up of the fourth). Leopoldstadt was split in 1900, with the northern part becoming the 20th district (Brigittenau).

In 1904, Floridsdorf became part of Vienna as 21st district. During those years, Karl Lueger was the leading figure of city politics. Neither his dedication to social policy can be denied, nor other merits for the municipality (such as the Wiener Hochquellwasserleitung, bringing fresh water from the mountains to Vienna and the creation of a belt of meadows and forests around the city). However, these positive aspects were coupled with his raving and rhetorically well presented anti-Semitism. World War I and First Republic World War I (1914-1918) did not result in an immediate threat to Vienna, but it led to a lack of supplies because of the economic embargo imposed by the entente powers, which resulted in a shortage in food and clothes. The end of the war was also the end of Austria-Hungary. On November 12, 1918, the Republic of Deutsch-ï¿½sterreich was proclaimed in front of the parliament. The population was concentrated in the capital, which was often called a hydrocephalus because of this. In 1921, Vienna was separated from the surrounding Lower Austria and became a state of its own.

The left-wing Social Democrats, who had dominated since the end of the war, were now in charge of the city administration. "Red Vienna" was considered an international model. Many notable Gemeindebauten (low-cost residential estates) were built during that period. However, the increasing economic difficulties resulted in a political radicalization and polarization of the political parties. On the social democratic side, the left-wing Republikanische Schutzbund (Republican Protective Alliance) was formed in 1923/24, which was a well-organized and equipped paramilitary group. It was opposed by the right-wing Heimwehr ("Home Guard"), which had been formed after the end of the war from local guards and similar combat units. Stï¿½ndestaat and Third Reich The fire of the Justizpalast ("Palace of Justice") in 1927 after a judicial error following violent demonstrations, the collapse of the largest bank of the country, and finally the dissolution of parliament in 1933 marked the way to the Civil War in February of 1934.

After Engelbert Dollfuï¿½, who had been Chancellor of Austria and foreign minister since 1932, had forbidden the Nazi Party, the Communist Party and the Schutzbund in 1933, this ban began to cover the Social Democratic Party in 1934 after the February Uprising. Only the Vaterlï¿½ndische Front was permitted. Dollfuï¿½ created an authoritarian regime called Stï¿½ndestaat and ruled without parliamentary approval (also see Austrofascism). Large projects for road constructions such as the Groï¿½glockner-Hochalpenstraï¿½e and the Hï¿½henstraï¿½e on the Kahlenberg were initiated to create jobs. In 1938, the Anschluss to the German Empire followed. Hitler's anti-Jewish policies fell on fertile soil in Vienna's latent anti-Semitism had increased during the early 20th century. During the Reichspogromnacht on November 9, 1938, the synagogues, the centers of not only religious, but also the Jewish social life, were destroyed.

In the course of the expansion of the city in 1938, 91 adjoining municipalities were incorporated into the city, from which the 22nd (Groï¿½-Enzersdorf), the 23rd (Schwechat), the 24th (Mï¿½dling), the 25th (Liesing) and the 26th (Klosterneuburg) districts were created. With an area size of 1,224 kmï¿½, this made Vienna the city with the largest territory in the Third Reich. The bombardments of 1944 and 1945 and the fights during the subsequent conquest of Vienna by Soviet troops in April of 1945 caused much destruction within the city. Nevertheless, many historic buildings resisted the bombardment or were reconstructed after the war. Only a few days after the war, a provisional city government and administration was created. Also, the political parties were recreated. On April 29, 1945 the parliament building passed from the occupation force to the new Austrian government, and Karl Renner announced the reinstitution of the democratic Republic of Austria.

Vienna was divided into four occupation zones between the Soviet Union, the USA, the UK and France. The first municipal elections were held in November of 1945. Among 100 seats in the municipal council, the left-wing Social Democratic Party captured 58, the right-wing Austrian Peoples Party 36, and the Communists 6. In 1946, it was decided that the expansion of city territory of 1938 should be reverted, but this law was delayed by a veto of the occupying powers and was not put into practice until 1954. Two districts remained with Vienna, namely the 22nd one (Donaustadt) north of the Danube and the 23rd one (Liesing) in the south (some other districts gained some Lower Austrian territory). On May 15, 1955, the country regained its freedom with the "Austrian State Treaty". This peace treaty was called a state treaty, because Austria had temporarily ceased to exist in 1938. After the war, as everywhere in Western Europe, there was an enormous economic boom, among other things because of the economic aid resulting from the Marshall Plan.

Public transport in Vienna was improved by the introduction of the new Subway network, the first part of which was opened in 1978. During the 1970s, Vienna became the third official seat of the United Nations, and the UNO-City was built. At the end of the 20th century, a "skyline" consisting of several skyscrapers was created with, among others, the Andromeda Tower and Millennium Tower on the left and right side of the Danube. Furthermore, a complex of skyscrapers was planned at the site of the Wien Mitte Railway Station, which might have endangered the position of Vienna's center as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project has since been shelved. In the municipal elections of 2001, the Social Democrats regained an absolute majority. With the Liberal Forum, not gaining enough votes, only four parties have been represented in the municipal council since then. In the 2005 elections, the Social Democrats further increased their majority.

The History of Vienna in a nutshell vienna4u v2.0 History of Vienna May we take you back in time for a moment, leaving present-day Vienna and going back to Habsburg and Babenberg times, or even further back to ancient times, when the Romans founded their Vindobona... Prehistoric times Archaeological artefacts found in and around the city are evidence of the area having already been populated during Neolithic times (the most famous sculpture is the Venus von Willendorf that dates back to 25000 BC). Favourable climate and fertile soil as well as the near Danube river supported these settlements. Celts and Romans A fortified Celtic settlement at the premises of present-day Vienna was founded around 500 BC and was known as Vedunia. Around 15 BC Vienna came under Roman dominance and was from then on known as Vindobona and dedicated as military camp with an associated civilian town to guard the external borders of the Roman Empire against tribes settling north of the Danube. In 180 BC the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius died in the city during a military campaign.

Migration Period (Völkerwanderung) After the Romans had been driven out during the Barbarian invasions in the 5th century, the Langobards seized control of the region, followed by the Slavs and Avars, who in turn were kicked out by the Magyars a couple of decades later. Early Middle Ages The Magyars were defeated by the Emperor Otto I, the Great, after which the Babenberg dynasty made Vienna their residence within the margraviate Ostarrichi around 1146. The country prospered and was made a duchy in 1156 (Privilegium Minus). In these times the Schottenstift - which is still around these days - was founded. Babenberg´s End After the death of Friedrich II, the last Babenberg heir in 1246, the country was seized by the Bohemian king Ottokar II. Premysl, who alienated the German nobility with this move.

Rudolf I was elected king and defeated Ottokar in the battle of the Marchfeld in 1278, one of the largest knight battles during the Middle Ages, which allowed him to take control over the Austrian lands and established an age-long reign of the Habsburg dynasty. Rise of the Habsburgs Developing in peaceful times under the Habsburg rule, the city gains reputation with the foundation of the Vienna University (later: Alma Mater Rudolphina) in 1365 by Rudolf IV., which makes it one of the oldest universities in Europe. Vienna eventually became capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1556 after the Habsburgs had gained Hungary and Bohemia. Ottoman Wars In 1529, Ottoman forces under Suleiman I. the Magnificent laid siege on Vienna, but the attempt to seize the city was thwarted by the outnumbered defenders. In 1683 the City was besieged once again by a large army led by Kara Mustafa. After two months a Polish relief army under Jan III Sobieski was able to defeat the Ottomans decisively in the Battle of Vienna.

Prosperous century During the following decades, the Ottoman Empire was pushed back far to the Balcans, thus allowing Vienna to prosper in peace. Substantial building projects were carried out by famous architects such as Fischer von Erlach and Lukas von Hildebrandt. After overcoming extensive visitations of the plague in 1679 and 1713, the city quickly grew to about 200.000 inhabitants by 1790. Napoleonic Wars Vienna was twice seized by Napoleon, first in 1805 without a battle and then in 1809 after a fierce bombing. Shortly after that, the Austrians won the battle of Aspern, but lost at Wagram soon after. After Napoleon's final defeat at Leipzig, the Congress of Vienna (Sep 1814 till Jun 1815) restored the balance of power in Europe. Revolution of 1848 Ignited by the French February Revolution, the Austrian citizens pushed for political power in the March Revolution, which forced the "hardliner" chancellor Metternich to resign. The following October Revolution in Vienna was crushed by the Emperors armies.

Following these events, the Arsenal was erected as defensive barracks against possible uprisings. Metropolis Vienna Shortly after the revolution, the now obsolete fortifications were demolished and in their place the Ringstraße boulevard was created, featuring a number of monumental buildings. The Danube river was regulated and the Donaukanal constructed. By the turn of the century, the population - consisting of many new immigrants from all parts of the monarchy as well - exceeded 2 millions (Vienna being the 4th biggest city worldwide at that time!). World War I The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, sparked off war in 1914 mainly between the Entente Powers France, UK and Russia versus the Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. Finally, the defeat of 1918 was also the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which dissolved into many parts. First Republic After the war, the Republik Österreich was proclaimed, consisting of what formerly had been the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The difficult economic situation caused political polarisation, which finally led to civil war in 1934.

Shortly after, an authoritarian regime (Ständestaat) was established and prevailed without parliamentary approval for the next years. World War II With the invasion of the German army and annexation ("Anschluß") by Nazi Germany the state of Austria ceased to exist in March 1938. At first not directly affected by the war started in 1939, the city was bombed by Allied aircraft as of 1943, which led to the construction of large flak towers (anti-aircraft gun blockhouses, still existing). These bombings and the fights prior to the Soviet conquest in 1945 caused heavy destruction within the city. Allied occupation Vienna was divided into occupation zones by the Soviet Union, the USA, the UK and France in 1945. The first free elections were held and reconstruction of the city began. Economy picked up thanks to the Marshal plan. Finally the country was given full sovereignty with the Austrian State Treaty (Staatsvertrag) in May 1955. Second Republic From then on, prosperous times started for the city.

Just a few highlights: during the 1970s, Vienna became seat of the United Nations, in the 1980s the first underground was inaugurated and the Donauinsel was built as part of an effective flood protection system serving as recreation area as well. Couldn't exactly find what you searched for? Or happened to discover a valuable information source you would like to share with other users? You are more than welcome to let us know ! We hope you enjoy the visit on this site and your time in Vienna! Ancient Rome - Ancient History - HISTORY.com Google Origins of Rome As legend has it, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, the god of war. Left to drown in a basket on the Tiber by a king of nearby Alba Longa and rescued by a she-wolf, the twins lived to defeat that king and found their own city on the river’s banks in 753 B.C. After killing his brother, Romulus became the first king of Rome, which is named for him. A line of Sabine, Latin and Etruscan (earlier Italian civilizations) kings followed in a non-hereditary succession. Did You Know?

Four decades after Constantine made Christianity Rome's official religion, Emperor Julian--known as the Apostate--tried to revive the pagan cults and temples of the past, but the process was reversed after his death, and Julian was the last pagan emperor of Rome. Rome’s era as a monarchy ended in 509 B.C. with the overthrow of its seventh king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, whom ancient historians portrayed as cruel and tyrannical, compared to his benevolent predecessors. A popular uprising was said to have arisen over the rape of a virtuous noblewoman, Lucretia, by the king’s son. Whatever the cause, Rome turned from a monarchy into a republic, a world derived from res publica, or “property of the people.” The Early Republic The power of the monarch passed to two annually elected magistrates called consuls; they also served as commanders in chief of the army. The magistrates, though elected by the people, were drawn largely from the Senate, which was dominated by the patricians, or the descendants of the original senators from the time of Romulus.

Politics in the early republic was marked by the long struggle between patricians and plebeians (the common people), who eventually attained some political power through years of concessions from patricians, including their own political bodies, the tribunes, which could initiate or veto legislation. In 450 B.C., the first Roman law code was inscribed on 12 bronze tablets–known as the Twelve Tables–and publicly displayed in the Roman Forum. These laws included issues of legal procedure, civil rights and property rights and provided the basis for all future Roman civil law. By around 300 B.C., real political power in Rome was centered in the Senate, which at the time included only members of patrician and wealthy plebeian families. Military Expansion During the early republic, the Roman state grew exponentially in both size and power. Though the Gauls sacked and burned Rome in 390 B.C., the Romans rebounded under the leadership of the military hero Camillus, eventually gaining control of the entire Italian peninsula by 264 B.C. Rome then fought a series of wars known as the Punic Wars with Carthage, a powerful city-state in northern Africa.

The first two Punic Wars ended with Rome in full control of Sicily, the western Mediterranean and much of Spain. In the Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.), the Romans captured and destroyed the city of Carthage and sold its surviving inhabitants into slavery, making a section of northern Africa a Roman province. At the same time, Rome also spread its influence east, defeating King Philip V of Macedonia in the Macedonian Wars and turning his kingdom into another Roman province. Rome’s military conquests led directly to its cultural growth as a society, as the Romans benefited greatly from contact with such advanced cultures as the Greeks. The first Roman literature appeared around 240 B.C., with translations of Greek classics into Latin; Romans would eventually adopt much of Greek art, philosophy and religion. Internal Struggles in the Late Republic Rome’s complex political institutions began to crumble under the weight of the growing empire, ushering in an era of internal turmoil and violence. The gap between rich and poor widened as wealthy landowners drove small farmers from public land, while access to government was increasingly limited to the more privileged classes.

Attempts to address these social problems, such as the reform movements of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (in 133 B.C. and 123-22 B.C., respectively) ended in the reformers’ deaths at the hands of their opponents. Gaius Marius, a commoner whose military prowess elevated him to the position of consul (for the first of six terms) in 107 B.C., was the first of a series of warlords who would dominate Rome during the late republic. By 91 B.C., Marius was struggling against attacks by his opponents, including his fellow general Sulla, who emerged as military dictator around 82 B.C. After Sulla retired, one of his former supporters, Pompey, briefly served as consul before waging successful military campaigns against pirates in the Mediterranean and the forces of Mithridates in Asia. During this same period, Marcus Tullius Cicero , elected consul in 63 B.C., famously defeated the conspiracy of the patrician Cataline and won a reputation as one of Rome’s greatest orators.

Caesar’s Rise When the victorious Pompey returned to Rome, he formed an uneasy alliance known as the First Triumvirate with the wealthy Marcus Licinius Crassus (who suppressed a slave rebellion led by Spartacus in 71 B.C.) and another rising star in Roman politics: Gaius Julius Caesar . After earning military glory in Spain, Caesar returned to Rome to vie for the consulship in 59 B.C. From his alliance with Pompey and Crassus, Caesar received the governorship of three wealthy provinces in Gaul beginning in 58 B.C.; he then set about conquering the rest of the region for Rome. After Pompey’s wife Julia (Caesar’s daughter) died in 54 B.C., and Crassus was killed in battle against Parthia (present-day Iran) the following year, the triumvirate was broken. With old-style Roman politics in disorder, Pompey stepped in as sole consul in 53 B.C. Caesar’s military glory in Gaul and his increasing wealth had eclipsed Pompey’s, and the latter teamed with his Senate allies to steadily undermine Caesar.

In 49 B.C., Caesar and one of his legions crossed the Rubicon, a river on the border between Italy from Cisalpine Gaul. Caesar’s invasion of Italy ignited a civil war from which he emerged as dictator of Rome for life in 45 B.C. From Caesar to Augustus Less than a year later, Caesar was murdered by a group of his enemies (led by the republican nobles Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius). Consul Mark Antony and Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted heir, Octavian, joined forces to crush Brutus and Cassius and divided power in Rome with ex-consul Lepidus in what was known as the Second Triumvirate. With Octavian leading the western provinces, Antony the east, and Lepidus Africa, tensions developed by 36 B.C. and the triumvirate soon dissolved. In 31 B.C., Octavian triumped over the forces of Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt (also rumored to be the onetime lover of Julius Caesar) in the Battle of Actium. In the wake of this devastating defeat, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

By 29 B.C., Octavian was the sole leader of Rome and all its provinces. To avoid meeting Caesar’s fate, he made sure to make his position as absolute ruler acceptable to the public by apparently restoring the political institutions of the Roman republic while in reality retaining all real power for himself. In 27 B.C., Octavian assumed the title of Augustus , becoming the first emperor of Rome. Age of the Emperors Augustus’ rule restored morale in Rome after a century of discord and corruption and ushered in the famous pax Romana–two full centuries of peace and prosperity. He instituted various social reforms, won numerous military victories and allowed Roman literature, art, architecture and religion to flourish. Augustus ruled for 56 years, supported by his great army and by a growing cult of devotion to the emperor. When he died, the Senate elevated Augustus to the status of a god, beginning a long-running tradition of deification for popular emperors.

Augustus’ dynasty included the unpopular Tiberius (14-37 A.D.), the bloodthirsty and unstable Caligula (37-41) and Claudius (41-54), who was best remembered for his army’s conquest of Britain. The line ended with Nero (54-68), whose excesses drained the Roman treasury and led to his downfall and eventual suicide. Four emperors took the throne in the tumultuous year after Nero’s death; the fourth, Vespasian (69-79), and his successors, Titus and Domitian, were known as the Flavians; they attempted to temper the excesses of the Roman court, restore Senate authority and promote public welfare. Titus (79-81) earned his people’s devotion with his handling of recovery efforts after the infamous eruption of Vesuvius, which destroyed the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii .

The reign of Nerva (96-98), who was selected by the Senate to succeed Domitian, began another golden age in Roman history, during which four emperors–Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius–took the throne peacefully, succeeding one another by adoption, as opposed to hereditary succession. Trajan (98-117) expanded Rome’s borders to the greatest extent in history with victories over the kingdoms of Dacia (now northwestern Romania) and Parthia. His successor Hadrian (117-138) solidified the empire’s frontiers and continued his predecessor’s work of establishing internal stability and instituting administrative reforms. Under Antoninus Pius (138-161), Rome continued in peace and prosperity, but the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161–180) was dominated by conflict, including war against Parthia and Armenia and the invasion of Germanic tribes from the north. When Marcus fell ill and died near the battlefield at Vindobona (Vienna), he broke with the tradition of non-hereditary succession and named his 19-year-old son Commodus as his successor.

Decline and Disintegration The decadence and incompetence of Commodus (180-192) brought the golden age of the Roman emperors to a disappointing end. His death at the hands of his own ministers sparked another period of civil war, from which Lucius Septimius Severus (193-211) emerged victorious. During the third century Rome suffered from a cycle of near-constant conflict. A total of 22 emperors took the throne, many of them meeting violent ends at the hands of the same soldiers who had propelled them to power. Meanwhile, threats from outside plagued the empire and depleted its riches, including continuing aggression from Germans and Parthians and raids by the Goths over the Aegean Sea. The reign of Diocletian (284-305) temporarily restored peace and prosperity in Rome, but at a high cost to the unity of the empire. Diocletian divided power into the so-called tetrarchy (rule of four), sharing his title of Augustus (emperor) with Maximian.

A pair of generals, Galerius and Constantius, were appointed as the assistants and chosen successors of Diocletian and Maximian; Diocletian and Galerius ruled the eastern Roman Empire, while Maximian and Constantius took power in the west. The stability of this system suffered greatly after Diocletian and Maximian retired from office. Constantine (the son of Constantius) emerged from the ensuing power struggles as sole emperor of a reunified Rome in 324. He moved the Roman capital to the Greek city of Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople. At the Council of Nicaea in 325, Constantine made Christianity (once an obscure Jewish sect) Rome’s official religion. Roman unity under Constantine proved illusory, and 30 years after his death the eastern and western empires were again divided. Despite its continuing battle against Persian forces, the eastern Roman Empire–later known as the Byzantine Empire–would remain largely intact for centuries to come.

An entirely different story played out in the west, where the empire was wracked by internal conflict as well as threats from abroad–particularly from the Germanic tribes now established within the empire’s frontiers–and was steadily losing money due to constant warfare. Rome eventually collapsed under the weight of its own bloated empire, losing its provinces one by one: Britain around 410; Spain and northern Africa by 430. Attila and his brutal Huns invaded Gaul and Italy around 450, further shaking the foundations of the empire. In September 476, a Germanic prince named Odovacar won control of the Roman army in Italy. After deposing the last western emperor, Romulus Augustus, Odovacar’s troops proclaimed him king of Italy, bringing an ignoble end to the long, tumultuous history of ancient Rome. Tags Vindobona - Everything2.com Vindobona by Velox Fri Nov 23 2001 at 17:36:26 Vindobona is the name of a Roman army camp - built on the site of a Celtic settlement - which formed the foundation of (and eventually grew into) Vienna , the capital of Austria .

Vindobona was built in the early 1st century CE under the rule of Tiberius , the stepson of the emperor Augustus . The first mention of the camp in Roman literature occurs in Pliny 's encyclopedia (published around 77 CE); Pliny calls it Vianiominia, although the inscriptions extant at the site use only the later form Vindobona. It was a camp of some importance; at various times, the legions X, XIII, and XIV (all titled " Gemina ") used it as a base, and the emperor Marcus Ulpius Traianus used it as a forward base for his campaign in Dacia . Marcus Aurelius is said to have stayed frequently at the camp during his campaigns against the Marcomanni ; he died there of plague in the year 180 CE. Vindobona declined during the mass migrations of German tribes during the 4th and 5th centuries CE, as Roman authority in the area weakened and collapsed.

There is archaeological evidence of a disastrous fire in the camp's storage area during the early 5th century, and in the year 433 CE the emperor Theodosius gave up the entire region to Hun nic invaders without a fight. There are few records to indicate the area's fate during the so-called " Dark Ages ," but the site reappears in the Chronicles in 791 CE, when Charlemagne seized control of the region. The camp's fortifications continued to exist into the 13th century, and the course of its walls can still be seen via the street layout in Vienna's inner city , so it is clear that some manner of settlement remained in the area throughout the unrecorded period. Vindobona was initially built to the standard plan for a Roman military fort , or castrum - a square fortification with each wall pierced in the middle by a single gate; it was protected on one side by the Danube and on others by a moat. The camp had heated baths and, eventually, a well-constructed canal system; it is believed to have harbored up to 20,000 people at times.

There is also evidence of a civilian settlement to the southeast, about which very little is known. The camp was located directly beneath the center of the oldest part of Vienna, again suggesting continuous settlement in the region throughout the Common Era. The remains of the Vindobona were first rediscovered in the 19th century, although most of the serious excavation did not take place until the mid-20th. A portion of it can be viewed today - part of two houses from the earliest period of the camp, which had some pretty impressive provisions for underfloor heating . It's a relatively small area, but is well worth seeing - it's pretty awe-inspiring to look at the ancient underpinnings of one of Europe's greatest cities. The entrance is on Hoher Markt, facing the fountain Vermählungsbrunnen; it's kind of hard to see, and is inside a large metal-and-glass building.

Look for signs that say "Romisch ruins." Another section of the camp is exposed near the grand entrance to the imperial palace - the streets have been peeled back in successive layers to show construction from different eras, including a 14th century arcade, Roman canals, and the remains of another house of Vindobona (which still has fragments of fresco clinging to the wall.) Again - see it if you can. Incidentally, Vindobona is mentioned in the film Gladiator , as the site of Maximus' final battle and Marcus Aurelius' death. A nice touch. I used information from the Vienna tourist information web site, the Oxford Classical Dictionary, the Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome, Richard Jaklitsch's "The History of Austria," the Catholic Encyclopedia's entry on Vienna, and the official Vienna web site in the preparation of this summary. Page categories:

Question: Which European capital city was known as Vindobona in Roman times?
Answer: Vienna