Page 21 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

INTRODUCING VIENNA  19

THE HISTORY OF VIENNA

Vienna was originally a Celtic settlement 1848 – the year Franz Joseph came to
on the site of the present-day city. Under the throne. By 1914, Vienna’s population
the Romans it became the garrison of had expanded to two million, as people
Vindobona, but by the early 5th century, from all over the Habsburg Empire
Barbarian invasions reduced the flocked to this vibrant centre. After World
settlement to ruins. In the 10th century, War I, the Habsburg Empire collapsed
the German Babenberg dynasty acquired and Vienna’s role as the imperial capital
Vienna, and during their reign of almost ended. In the following years a strong
three centuries the city became a municipal government – “Red Vienna”–
major trading centre. Later, in the tried to solve the social problems of
13th century, Vienna came under the the city. Austria was annexed by Nazi
control of the Habsburgs. In the 16th Germany in the Anschluss of 1938.
century, Turkish invasions threatened The occupying powers after 1945
Vienna and devastated its outskirts. allowed the creation of a new
Only in 1683 were the Turks finally independent state in 1955, at which
defeated, allowing Vienna to flourish. time permanent neutrality was also
Immense palaces were built around agreed. Vienna hosted the USSR–USA
the court within the city, and in the superpower summit of Kennedy and
liberated outskirts, and by the 18th Krushchev in 1961 and is now one of
century Vienna was a major imperial and three official United Nations headquarters
cultural centre. Napoleon’s occupation and home to many international
of Vienna in 1809 shook the Habsburgs’ organizations. In 1995, Austria joined
confidence, as did the revolution of the European Union.

Circular map of the Turkish siege, from 1529
Detail from The Marriage of Joseph II to Isabella of Parma (1760) by the Martin van Meytens School

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