Vienna [antikvár]

Ever since prehistoric times, the Vienna Basin, a dowTi-fault nestling betft'een Alps and Carpatliians, has been settled by humans. Itwas tlieretliat the "Amber Street", die trading route Üiat linked die Baltic and Adriatic Seas, came upon die East-West route along the Danube. Tlie continuity of settlement diat survived the centuries and a location excellendy suited to dominate its smTound-ing favoured the development of the region. \Vlien the Romans moved their frontiers across the Alps, mcorporating the Celtic kingdom of Noricimi {including the area ai-omid Vienna) in dieir province of Paimonia in 15BC, Vienna fii'st entered the stage of liistoiy. The Danube served as the commercial and administi-ative border of the Roman Empire. "Vindohona" was established as a militan' camp m 100 AD. A network of roads was' built to foster traffic and commerce; die munidpium of VLiidobona, a Roman civilian tOTO near an ancient Celtic settlement, grew to more dian 15,000 inliabitants. Around 400 AD, Vindobona was destroyed under the onslaught of Gennanic ti'ibes. Over rile next century, the Romans withdrew from Pannónia, with Üic Germanic tribes following hard on their- heels. Remains of die former militarj- camp continued to be settled throughout Üie subsequent era of mass migration. In a steady batde widi tribes from die East (Avars, Magyai's, 955), the Carolingians from Bavaria succeeded in colomsing die countiy and converting it to Cliristianity. The Babenbergs, a colonising dynasty and margiaves of the German Empire since 976, came to rule in Vienna around 1135, finally moving their court there in 1155 (and were elevated to dukes in 1156). Recorded in the amials of 1137 as a regular community boasting a niai ket and judicial court (ciuitaj), Vienna was a full-fledged urban centre ah-eady in the early 13rii centmy, leader in trade and culture and one of the great cities on die north side of the Alps. Sun'ounded by a wall and moat, it extended to approximately the size of today's inner city. Wiien die last Babenberg (Frederick 11) died in 1246, the duchy and city fell to King Premysl Ottocar 11 of Bohemia. It was under Iiis stewardship drat the Romanesque part of the Stephansdom and the oldest part of the Hofbtug, die Schweizer Trakt, were built. In 1278, Ottocar II was feUed batthng Kmg Rudolf I of Habsburg; as aconsequence, "Austria below the Erms "and Vienna remained under Habsburg's rule for over 600 years. The 14tli century was a period of consolidation for the temporal powers, and it saw the growth of Godiic Vienna. The Gothic choir in the Stephansdom was completed, Duke Rudolf IV, in many ways die most remarkable and outstanding character of his time (Prwilegium maim], laid the foundation stone to die nave and tower of die cadiedral (1359) and founded a university in 1365. The charter of 1396 gi'anted equal status to artisans, ü-aders and patricians - thereby warding off from Vienna the fate of other cities where sanguine fights had broken out over die issue. Family squabbles within die Habsburgs, disputes widi die citizenry of Vieima (execution of Mayor Vorlauf, in 1408, and Mayor ITolzcr, in 1463), political instabilitj', an insecm-e grip of power on the part of Frederick 111 (1440 to 1493, Holy Roman First record of "Wii-ii" (last but one lino, right-hand side), Sulzhurgcr Annalcn, 881, Stil'tsarchiv Adiiiont, ertßtff Cumwt^^^ wj^Yff '^fi^Űreiusf i pf fw uhitriV'VX&ctu'^. ¦m'S'^Ä-reu ailpâd m wt^nfâa íimu Anf d4 l'Vederick Ill s charter granting a coat-of-arms to the City of Vienna, 1461, Section, Wiener Landesarehiv, Emperor as of 1452), and an economic decline accompanied die 15th century. In 1485, Vienna capitulated to King Matthias Gorvinus of Htmgary, only to surrender to the Emperor again after the Hungarian's death. In die 16di century, Central Europe was in the tliroes of Lutiieran teacliing, whde its borders were simidtaneously facing an ever more critical onslaught from die Turks, In 1522, die estates unsuccessfully rebelled against dieir souvereign (suppressed by the Court of Wiener Neustadt where Mayor Siebenbiirger was decapitated); and in 1526, a new charter abohshed almost all die rights fonnerly enjoyed by Vienna, In 1529, die Tiu-ks lay siege to Vienna, only to be defeated. Becoming Imperial Residence again in 1533, Vienna gained in its standing by the new absolutism (Ferdinand 1) and the introduction of centrahsed administration (Bohemia and Htmgary). Tlie medieval wall was replaced by bastions and glacis, which remained m place imtil die 19th century. Suburbs and villages sprang up outside the glacis, dominated by trade and industry. In die first half of the 17dl century, fanatic religious strife (around 1575, four out of five Viennese were Protestants) brought victory to the Catholic Gounter-Refonnation (Jesuits, Cardinal Khlesl), which was supported by die Empire. Numerous orders were called to Vienna, and dieir churches, built in the early Baroque style, have placed an indelible mark on the cityscape. In 1679, a severe epidemic of die plague killed one third of die populace (a cohunn commemorating die event was erected on the Graben).