1365
Vienna University was founded in 1365 by the Habsburg Rudolf IV as a rival to the university at Prague, which had been established by his father-in-l-aw, Emperor Charles IV. Today it is the oldest university in the German-speaking countries. During the Middle Ages the emphasis was on teaching rather than research. In 2008 more than 70,000 students were registered at the University of Vienna. The university library today holds more than six million titles.
The Habsburg dynasty: Here you can read potted biographies, examine portraits from seven centuries and dip into the historical contexts of past epochs.
Select a period in Habsburg history, from the beginnings of Habsburg rule in the Middle Ages to the collapse of the Monarchy during the First World War.
The map shows the territorial development of the Habsburg Monarchy as it evolved into a sprawling, geographically fragmented empire.
Monarchical rule was legitimized by descent. The classic form of representing these relationships is the genealogical table or family tree.
Collected themes - browse stories and anecdotes from the history of the Habsburg Monarchy.
Most viewed stories
Choose from various themes to access and explore the history of the Habsburg Monarchy, for example 'work', 'love' or 'death'.
Journey through the different epochs of Habsburg history from the Middle Ages to the First World War.
All the members of the Habsburg dynasty. Read biographical notes and explore the historical context.
