ABSTRACT
The dramatic turn of events at the siege of Vienna and the Christian victory at Kahlenberg marked the beginning of a new era for the Habsburg monarchy: the end of the Turkish peril, economic prosperity, and the rebuilding of the capital on new foundations with the development of Hungary following the peace settlement of 1711. It is convenient, however, to pause near the beginning of the eighteenth century to appreciate the original character of the baroque civilization which was so intimately linked in its development to the progress of the Counter-Reformation and the success of the House of Austria. The real masters remained the nobles in whose hands economic and political power were concentrated as the monk from Franche-Comté Camille Freschot, remarked in 1705,
The emperor is hardly the master in his states [Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia], He is obliged to summon the Estates (Diets), to speak there himself and to present them with the reasons that have obliged him to have recourse to their help. After that they usually show their approval and agree to what is wanted of them. 1
