East Central Europe 1871 CE

What is happening in East Central Europe in 1871CE

Following the Polish uprising of 1830, the Russians pursued a policy of Russification. This led to repeated and widespread uprisings, put down after bitter fighting. Eventually the Russians put an end to Poland as a separate state (1863).

In 1848, inspired by the Paris Revolution of that year, the Bohemians, Moravians and, most notably, the Hungarians under Lajos Kossuth, rose in revolt against the Austrians. In Hungary this was only put down after bitter fighting, and with the help of Russian forces. A repressive regime was imposed throughout these Hapsburg lands. Austria’s defeat in Italy in 1859 delivered a further shock to the Austrian monarchy, and resulted in greater liberalization within the empire. An even more shocking defeat at the hands of Prussia in 1866 led the Austrian government to recognize complete equality between Austria and Hungary, and political autonomy for Hungary.  The Austrian Empire has been renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867) and, in both countries, democratically-elected parliaments are given a much more central role.

Next map, Central Europe in 1914