EUROPEAN. 229 



husband of Maria Theresa, was recognized emperor of Germany. 

 The Seven years' war, was brought on by Maria Theresa, aided by 

 France, with a view to regain Silesia from Frederick II. of Prussia, 

 who was assisted by England ; but her efforts were in vain, and ter- 

 minated in the peace of Hubertsburg, in 1763. 



On the breaking out of the French Revolution, Leopold II. formed 

 a league with Prussia, at Pilnitz, in 1791, to sustain the Bourbons 

 in France. This led to the invasion of Germany by the French, 

 and their victories at Jemappe, 1792 ; Marengo, 1800 ; and Auster- 

 litz, 1805 ; over the Germans and their allies. Francis II. assumed, 

 in 1804, the title of Emperor of Austria: and in 1806, after six- 

 teen German princes, protected by France, had formed the Confede- 

 ration of the Rhine, he resigned the title of Emperor of Germany, 

 which then became extinct. After the fall of Bonaparte, and by the 

 peace of Vienna in 1815, confirmed by the Congress of Vienna in 

 1820, the states of Germany were united in the Germanic Confede- 

 ration, consisting of four free cities, and thirty-four monarchical 

 states, including Austria, Prussia, and Denmark, in right of their 

 Germanic possessions; of which we have already spoken, in treat- 

 ing of Geography, (p. 176). The history of the exclusively Ger- 

 man states, as Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, Wurtemburg, and Bruns- 

 wick, we have no room to pursue any farther. 



The History of Austria, commences with the conquest of the 

 country around Vienna, by the Romans, A. D. 33 ; and their sub- 

 sequent expulsion by the Vandals, Goths, Huns, Lombards, and 

 Avars. These last were expelled, in 791, by Charlemagne; who 

 united this country to Germany, as a part of his empire. In a docu- 

 ment of Otho III., dated 996, it is called Ostirrichi (Oest-reich) or 

 the eastern kingdom; and in 1156 Austria was created a duchy, 

 under Henry, its first duke. In 1282, after the extinction of the 

 house of Bamberg, this diichy was conferred on Albert, of the house 

 of Hapsburg ; who was afterwards elected emperor of Germany; 

 but it was not until 1438, commencing with Albert II. (the Magnani- 

 mous), that the dukes of Austria became hereditary emperors of 

 Germany. In 1453, Austria became an arch-duchy, and on the 

 acquisition of Bohemia and Hungary in 1526, it attained to the rank 

 of a European monarchy. The marriage of Maria Theresa, who was 

 queen of Hungary, arch-duchess of Austria, and empress of Ger- 

 many, placed Francis I., of the house of Lorraine, on the throne 

 of the empire ; as already mentioned under the history of Germany ; 

 in which the subsequent history of Austria is included. By the 

 peace of Vienna, in 1815, Austria was recognized as an independent 

 and powerful empire ; and such, under the present emperor, Ferdi- 

 nand, it still remains. 



Prussia, was conquered from the Sarmatians, Vandals, and Suevi, 

 by the Teutonic Knights, under Herrman of Salza, their grand 

 master; who was invited thither by Conrad of Masovia, A. D. 1227. 

 Their conquest was complete in 1283 ; but not satisfied with this, 

 their invasions of the neighboring country led to a bloody war with 

 Poland, in 1454. In 1511, the Knights elected Albert of Branden- 

 burg, to be their grand master; who, in 1525, aided by the Poles, 



