!!!Bauernkriege

Peasants´ Revolts: In the second half of the 15%%sup th/%  
century, uprisings of peasant vassals occurred in several Austrian 
lands. They were due to changes in the social, legal and economic 
position of the peasantry: Taxes for the defence of Austria against 
the Turks were levied by landlords and the Estates, but the peasants 
were afforded little protection in exchange. The introduction of Roman 
law caused dissatisfaction because it meant a restriction of common 
law. The most frequent cause for riots were local complaints, since 
change often met with opposition. In no case, however, were uprisings 
aimed at the emperor or the empire, but only at the local landlords. 
High taxes levied by the church for ordination and consecration 
aroused opposition in Salzburg in 1462, insufficient protection from 
the Turks caused riots in Carinthia in 1478, as did the application of 
new principles of law in the Lower Styrian area inhabited by Slovenes 
(1515). Developments gained momentum with the teachings of Luther and 
other Reformers, especially after the great German Peasants´ 
Revolt of 1525, and the rebellion spread to the provinces of Tirol, 
Salzburg, parts of Styria, Lower and Upper Austria and Carinthia. The 
peak of the movement was represented by the fight of M.  Gaismair in 
Tirol, the siege laid to archbishop M. Lang in the castle 
Hohensalzburg, and the fights for the town of Schladming. These riots 
were put down in 1526 by the Swabian League and by Austrian troops led 
by N. Salm, but more fighting was seen in the following years, 
especially in the Styrian and Salzburg provinces. One major riot in 
1594-1595 was centred in the province of Upper Austria, but owing to 
financial burdens caused by the  Turkish Wars and measures taken in 
the course of the  Counter-Reformation it also spread to the western 
parts of Lower Austria. The leaders of the revolt were G. Prunner and 
A. Schrembser in the Waldviertel region and G. Markgraber and C. 
Haller in the region called "Viertel ob dem Wienerwald". The peasant 
bands were broken up by troops of the Estates in March and April 1597 
near Hadersdorf and St. Poelten, 60 leaders were put to death and 
more than 100 others were severely punished.

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The Upper Austrian Peasants´ Revolt was aimed at preventing 
Counter-Reformation measures, and was also a fight against Bavarian 
rule. The  Frankenburger Wuerfelspiel (1625) had increased tensions, 
and in May 1626 some 40,000 peasants from the "Land ob der Enns" 
(earlier name for Upper Austria), under the leadership of S.  Fadinger 
and Christoph  Zeller rose and took the towns of Wels, Steyr, 
Kremsmuenster and Freistadt and laid siege to Linz. Zeller and 
Fadinger were killed in action, in November 1626 the rebellion was 
quelled by the Bavarian general H. G. von Pappenheim, and the 
leaders were punished. This Peasants´ Revolt has often been 
depicted in literature.

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The Peasants´ Revolts brought renewed suppression and severe 
punishment to the peasants. The princes and the emperor invariably 
supported the noble and ecclesiastical landlords and the interests of 
the Estates prevailed over religious solidarity. Apart from Gaismair, 
the peasants did not pursue political or strategic military aims. The 
leaders of the revolt were for the greatest part not farmers but 
tavernkeepers, craftsmen, teachers and civil servants etc.

!Literature
Die Bauernkriege in Oesterreich, exhibition catalogue, 
Pottenbrunn 1974; Der oberoesterreichische Bauernkrieg, exhibition 
catalogue, Linz-Scharnstein 1976; H. Feigl, Der Bauernaufstand 
1596/97, %%sup 2/%1978.


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