In 803 Charlemagne established a territory in the Danube valley known as Ostmark. Upon his death, the Magyars overran the Ostmark. Otto I defeated the Hungarians and re-established the Ostmark in 955. In 996, the Ostmark was first referred to as Ostarrichi, a clear forerunner of the modern German word "Österreich".
In 1282, the rule of one of European history´s most powerful dynasties began.
The reign of Maria Theresia (1740-1780) and her son Emperor Joseph II, is generally acknowledged as a golden era in which Austria developed as a modern state. Centralized control was established, economy was reformed and a public education system was introduced.
Napoleon inflicted major defeats on Austria in 1803, 1805 and 1809. The conflict dragged on until the Congress of Vienna (1814-15).
Franz Joseph I became leader of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy, created in 1867.
Peace was wrecked in 1914, when Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and WW I began.
In March 1938, German troops marched into Austria and the country was incorporated into the German Reich on March 13.
After WW II, Austria was restored to its 1937 frontiers and occupied by the victorious allies (USA, Soviet Union, UK, France). On May 15, 1955 the Austrian State Treaty was ratified. Austria proclaimed its permanent neutrality.
