| The Hills were Alive with the Sound of Weeping |
In 1727, Roman Catholic Count Leopold Anton Eleutherius von Firmian
bought the office of Archbishop of Salzburg from the Pope for today's price
of $75,000.00. Sometimes called the "Sun King" of Salzburg, Firmian was
born in 1679 of an aristocratic South Tirol family. He regarded Salzburg as
a buffer between Bavarian and Austrian royal houses, and zealously
protected its position as well as its religion.
bought the office of Archbishop of Salzburg from the Pope for today's price
of $75,000.00. Sometimes called the "Sun King" of Salzburg, Firmian was
born in 1679 of an aristocratic South Tirol family. He regarded Salzburg as
a buffer between Bavarian and Austrian royal houses, and zealously
protected its position as well as its religion.
Soon after he was installed as Archbishop, he issued his edict of expulsion. This piece of paper
banishing over 23,000 Protestants from their homeland enabled Firmian to appropriate all that was
possible for himself and his family. By 1733, Salzburg was cleansed of Protestants and in 1736, a
pompous, greatly enriched Firmian commissioned as his family estate a palace built on tears, Schloss
Leopoldskron, shown above. Before he died in 1744, he ceremoniously deeded over the Schloss to
his nephew, Count Laktanz, a serious collector of art.
banishing over 23,000 Protestants from their homeland enabled Firmian to appropriate all that was
possible for himself and his family. By 1733, Salzburg was cleansed of Protestants and in 1736, a
pompous, greatly enriched Firmian commissioned as his family estate a palace built on tears, Schloss
Leopoldskron, shown above. Before he died in 1744, he ceremoniously deeded over the Schloss to
his nephew, Count Laktanz, a serious collector of art.
The Schloss was later sold to the owner of a local shooting gallery, and it passed through various hands in the
nineteenth century before ending up in the possession of Europe's most famous theater director, Max Reinhardt,
who bought the Schloss in 1918 and revitalized it. In 1938, the Schloss was confiscated as a national treasure. In
1945, the Schloss was returned to the Reinhardt estate and evolved into the "Salzburg Seminar", eventually
becoming a "center for intellectual exchange in the heart of Europe" which is now a " global forum". The
Salzburg Seminar purchased Schloss Leopoldskron in 1959, and in 1973 purchased and renovated the adjacent
Meierhof, a part of the original Firmian estate. Scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed there.
nineteenth century before ending up in the possession of Europe's most famous theater director, Max Reinhardt,
who bought the Schloss in 1918 and revitalized it. In 1938, the Schloss was confiscated as a national treasure. In
1945, the Schloss was returned to the Reinhardt estate and evolved into the "Salzburg Seminar", eventually
becoming a "center for intellectual exchange in the heart of Europe" which is now a " global forum". The
Salzburg Seminar purchased Schloss Leopoldskron in 1959, and in 1973 purchased and renovated the adjacent
Meierhof, a part of the original Firmian estate. Scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed there.
| Protestants in Austria after the Great Exiles |
When looking at religion in the Austria realms, one must bear in mind its diverse territories. The Holy
Roman Empire, stretched from today's Austria to southern Poland and to the edge of Eurasia. It was
a loose federation of mainly German speaking peoples ruled for centuries by the house of Hapsburg,
who had come to prominence during the late middle ages with a system of serfdom, a powerful
Church structure and absolute authority of the monarch. Because of its diverse territory, the only
common bonds within the Empire were the Catholic church and the sovereign.
Roman Empire, stretched from today's Austria to southern Poland and to the edge of Eurasia. It was
a loose federation of mainly German speaking peoples ruled for centuries by the house of Hapsburg,
who had come to prominence during the late middle ages with a system of serfdom, a powerful
Church structure and absolute authority of the monarch. Because of its diverse territory, the only
common bonds within the Empire were the Catholic church and the sovereign.
Small Protestant groups still managed to keep their faith in remote areas of Austria for some time
by means of secret prayer services and meetings, maintaining contact with German Protestant
institutions remotely, and reducing to the absolute minimum their contact to the Catholic Church to
prevent persecution. The existence of such groups who constituted the majority of the population in
areas such as Ramsau am Dachstein, Gosau,and Goisern was not entirely unknown.
by means of secret prayer services and meetings, maintaining contact with German Protestant
institutions remotely, and reducing to the absolute minimum their contact to the Catholic Church to
prevent persecution. The existence of such groups who constituted the majority of the population in
areas such as Ramsau am Dachstein, Gosau,and Goisern was not entirely unknown.
In October of 1781, he issued the "Edict of Toleration" which granted freedom of worship in the
realm, regardless of religion. He seized some Church holdings and used the money garnered from the
sale of Church lands to benefit the state, and even took over the salaries of the Catholic clergy whose
hierarchy would first be required to take an oath of allegiance to the state. He modernized Austria's
domestic and foreign policies. But, despite his good intentions, he had problems in the Hungarian
dominions, Italy, the Balkans and Czech and Polish lands with independence movements and
fermenting nationalism. Since 1715, the Hapsburgs also governed Belgium and a portion of the
Netherlands, and Belgium was now suddenly declared independent. In France, the regime of Louis
XVI and Joseph's sister Marie Antoinette was unraveling in 1789. It was all too much for Joseph,
and his health began to fail. By the end of the year, he was dead.
realm, regardless of religion. He seized some Church holdings and used the money garnered from the
sale of Church lands to benefit the state, and even took over the salaries of the Catholic clergy whose
hierarchy would first be required to take an oath of allegiance to the state. He modernized Austria's
domestic and foreign policies. But, despite his good intentions, he had problems in the Hungarian
dominions, Italy, the Balkans and Czech and Polish lands with independence movements and
fermenting nationalism. Since 1715, the Hapsburgs also governed Belgium and a portion of the
Netherlands, and Belgium was now suddenly declared independent. In France, the regime of Louis
XVI and Joseph's sister Marie Antoinette was unraveling in 1789. It was all too much for Joseph,
and his health began to fail. By the end of the year, he was dead.
After the Edict of Tolerance in 1781, Protestant groups formed small new congregations in Lower
Austria and Styria, with the remaining 46 congregations in Upper Austria and Carinthia. In Vienna,
privileged groups attended religious services in chapels belonging to foreign Protestant diplomatic
missions and it was out of these groups that formed today's Protestant Church in Austria.
Austria and Styria, with the remaining 46 congregations in Upper Austria and Carinthia. In Vienna,
privileged groups attended religious services in chapels belonging to foreign Protestant diplomatic
missions and it was out of these groups that formed today's Protestant Church in Austria.
| The Last Expulsion |
The last Protestant expulsion from Austria took place in 1837 in
Zillertaler in the Tirol, when 427 Protestants called "inclinants"
were thrown out. Only seven Inklinanten returned to the catholic
faithand only eight stayed in Austria. On August 31, 1837, the
first couple moved from Zell am Ziller. In the following days,
families from Mayrhofen, Brandberg, Finkenberg and Hippach
followed. Almost all of them went to Prussia.
Zillertaler in the Tirol, when 427 Protestants called "inclinants"
were thrown out. Only seven Inklinanten returned to the catholic
faithand only eight stayed in Austria. On August 31, 1837, the
first couple moved from Zell am Ziller. In the following days,
families from Mayrhofen, Brandberg, Finkenberg and Hippach
followed. Almost all of them went to Prussia.
In the 2001 census of Austria, membership in major religions was as follows: Roman Catholic Church--74.0 percent;
Lutheran Church 4.7 percent; Islamic 4.2 percent; Eastern Orthodox 2.2 percent; other Christian churches 0.9 percent;
other non-Christian religious groups–0.2 percent. Atheists accounted for 12 percent; 2 percent did not indicate a religious
affiliation. Somewhat higher percentages of Protestants than the national average live in the provinces of Carinthia and
Burgenland, as the Counter-Reformation was less successful in those areas. The number of Muslims is higher than the
national average in Vienna and the province of Vorarlberg, due to the higher number of workers from Turkey in these
areas. Only about 17 percent of Austria Roman Catholics actively participate in formal religious services today.
Before World War II, most Austrians considered themselves culturally "German," not a distinct ethnic identity. Today, that
is a politically incorrect notion. Polls indicate that no more than ten percent of the German-speaking Austrians see
themselves as part of a larger German identity linked by blood, culture and language.
Lutheran Church 4.7 percent; Islamic 4.2 percent; Eastern Orthodox 2.2 percent; other Christian churches 0.9 percent;
other non-Christian religious groups–0.2 percent. Atheists accounted for 12 percent; 2 percent did not indicate a religious
affiliation. Somewhat higher percentages of Protestants than the national average live in the provinces of Carinthia and
Burgenland, as the Counter-Reformation was less successful in those areas. The number of Muslims is higher than the
national average in Vienna and the province of Vorarlberg, due to the higher number of workers from Turkey in these
areas. Only about 17 percent of Austria Roman Catholics actively participate in formal religious services today.
Before World War II, most Austrians considered themselves culturally "German," not a distinct ethnic identity. Today, that
is a politically incorrect notion. Polls indicate that no more than ten percent of the German-speaking Austrians see
themselves as part of a larger German identity linked by blood, culture and language.
| The "Schaitberger Kirche" in Hallein, Austria. Protestantism is today allowed in Austria. There are just slightly more Lutherans than Muslims |
Laktanz endowed the Schloss with the largest collection of paintings Salzburg had ever known,
including works of artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Dürer, Poussins, and Titian. Count Laktanz
was one of the first sponsors of Leopold Mozart and his son, Wolfgang. Although Laktanz died in
1786, the Schloss remained in the Firmian family until 1837.
including works of artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Dürer, Poussins, and Titian. Count Laktanz
was one of the first sponsors of Leopold Mozart and his son, Wolfgang. Although Laktanz died in
1786, the Schloss remained in the Firmian family until 1837.
The Prussian King granted them land on one of the highest mountains of Prussia. Here, they formed
new villages Hohen-Zillertal, Mittel- Zillertal and Nieder-Zillertal in an area in of "Oberschlesien" they
called “Zillertaler-Erdmannsdorf” in Liegnitz. Erdmannsdorf was an old German area first mentioned
in German documents in 1305. A castle here was one of the summer residences of the Hohenzollerns
from 1832 to 1909. 65 houses were provided for the exiles and they stayed for a century, calling it
home and developing farms and businesses. Names & Fates of the Zillertaler Exulanten
new villages Hohen-Zillertal, Mittel- Zillertal and Nieder-Zillertal in an area in of "Oberschlesien" they
called “Zillertaler-Erdmannsdorf” in Liegnitz. Erdmannsdorf was an old German area first mentioned
in German documents in 1305. A castle here was one of the summer residences of the Hohenzollerns
from 1832 to 1909. 65 houses were provided for the exiles and they stayed for a century, calling it
home and developing farms and businesses. Names & Fates of the Zillertaler Exulanten
Financial problems and unfavourable laws against conversion and mixed marriages kept the
Protestant Church in Austria insignificantly small. It did not obtain equal legal footing with the
Catholic Church until the Constitution of 1849 and the Imperial Decree on Protestantism of 1861.
There was some growth in the Protestant Church after 1870, however the Reichsvolksschulgesetz of
1869 restricted Protestant schooling for a long time.
Protestant Church in Austria insignificantly small. It did not obtain equal legal footing with the
Catholic Church until the Constitution of 1849 and the Imperial Decree on Protestantism of 1861.
There was some growth in the Protestant Church after 1870, however the Reichsvolksschulgesetz of
1869 restricted Protestant schooling for a long time.
Pfaender
In September of 1781, Emperor Joseph II, the son of Maria Theresa, issued an edict abolishing
serfdom in Austrian lands. He eliminated the law stating that only the nobility could acquire estates,
which resulted in changes to social structure. He reworked the antiquated criminal justice system
based upon the concept of equality for all before the law, and he offered state assistance to the poor
for legal expenses. He instituted a fair school system and agricultural reforms.
serfdom in Austrian lands. He eliminated the law stating that only the nobility could acquire estates,
which resulted in changes to social structure. He reworked the antiquated criminal justice system
based upon the concept of equality for all before the law, and he offered state assistance to the poor
for legal expenses. He instituted a fair school system and agricultural reforms.
The decline of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy decreased the size of the Lutheran Church, and the political
circumstances of the time and German influence strengthened many Protestants´ belief in the desirability of union with
Germany. After 1945, the arrival of Protestant refugees cast out of stolen German lands resulted in the creation of new
congregations, and new churches strengthened the church until 1965 when it was given a stable legal basis by the Church
Constitution of 1949 and the Federal Act on the External Legal Relationships of the Protestant Church. In 1968, the
Church recorded (at its height) more than 425,000 members, but since then, membership has diminished.
circumstances of the time and German influence strengthened many Protestants´ belief in the desirability of union with
Germany. After 1945, the arrival of Protestant refugees cast out of stolen German lands resulted in the creation of new
congregations, and new churches strengthened the church until 1965 when it was given a stable legal basis by the Church
Constitution of 1949 and the Federal Act on the External Legal Relationships of the Protestant Church. In 1968, the
Church recorded (at its height) more than 425,000 members, but since then, membership has diminished.
Salzburg was bombed by the Americans in World War Two, causing a great deal of damage throughout the city, including
the collapse of the great Salzburg Cathedral dome and almost complete destruction to the house in which Mozart and his
family once lived and worked.
the collapse of the great Salzburg Cathedral dome and almost complete destruction to the house in which Mozart and his
family once lived and worked.