Vienna has been the Austrian capital since 1155. Evidence suggests that this part of Austria has been settled since at least 500BC with Celts drawn to the Danube River. Romans arrived in Vienna at around the start of the 1st Century and begun to fortify it and naming the area Vindobona. The site was a strategic stronghold protecting the Roman Empire from Germanic attacks.

By the end of the 4th century the majority of the Romans had left Vindobona and there was a major fire setting back the development of the town. However medieval Vienna was still strongly influenced by its Roman roots and many buildings that were constructed followed the basic early layout of the town and incorporating the old walls and roads. By the 6th century the settlement was relatively established and had a strong trade presence.

Various individuals have ruled over Vienna such as the Babenberg family between the 10th and 13th centuries followed by the House of Habsburg in the 13th century. The Habsburgs ruled over Austria for 6 centuries. The Habsburgs increased their influence and power throughout Europe through marriages. Due to some premature deaths and childless marriages Emperor Charles V (1519-1556) inherited not only the Hereditary Lands but also the Franche-Comte and the Netherlands as well as Spain and its empire in the Americas.

Many ambitious building projects were commenced by the Habsburgs as they did not want to be outdone by the booming city of Prague. During the 14th century the city enjoyed an era of much affluence. In 1365 the University of Vienna was established which is now Austria’s largest university and is approaching 90,000 students.

Sieges and fortifications were a key theme during the 16th and 17th centuries and Vienna was victorious when it was attacked by the Turks in 1529 thanks to it’s substantial medieval walls. Further fortifications were built well into the 17th century with the city becoming a giant fortress which helped the city successfully defend the second Turkish siege in 1683, the siege lasted 2 months.

At the end of the 17th century Vienna became something of a baroque city with leading Austrian and Italian architects overseeing the expansion plans. During this to,e many grand palaces were completed including the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein in 1705, the Schwarzenegger in 1728 and the already established Schonbrunn Palace was further expanded.

The plague took its toll on Prague in 1679 and again in 1713 with its population suffering great losses however despite this the population grew from 150,000 in 1720 to over 200,000 by the end of the century. By this time the town has a sewer system and hygiene had been vastly improved.

The ownership of Vienna passed to the French on two occasions during the Napoleonic wars in 1895 and 1809. Following the defeat of Napoleon the Congress of Vienna was staged between 1814 and 1815 with the purpose to redraw the continents political map. From an Austrian perspective it was also an attempt to reconsolidate Austrian power.

In 1830 there was a great flood with the Danube River bursting its banks and creating a major catastrophe for the city. Following the flood the river was partially redirected away from the centre of the city.

In the middle of the 19th century Vienna was ruled by Emperor Franz Joseph I and enjoyed great expansion with the fortifications being replaced with the Ringstrasse Boulevard and the character of today’s was city being born. Franz Joseph I had a 68 year reign and under his rule Vienna became one of Europe’s most important city’s and the centre of a multinational state extending from Hungary to North Italy and deep into Southern Europe.

During this time Vienna experienced a population boom towards the end of the 19th century with many immigrants coming to the city pushing the population to 2 million at the start of the 20th century.

Due to the rise of ethnic tensions and the rigid system of alliances that resulted from the 19th century wars the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy was a catastrophe waiting to happen. The catalyst for this to occur was the assassination of the Austrian archduke and heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 and Austria’s subsequent declaration of war against Serbia marked the beginning of WWI. Emperor Franz Joseph I died in 1916 and after the end of the war in 1918 the Republic of Austria was established ending the 640 year old Habsburg dynasty.

The republic started on Ricky ground however as it suffered massive inflation, unemployment  and near economic collapse. I’m May 1934 martial law was declared to try to protect Austria from Hitler and in July Chancellor Dollfuss was shot and killed by Nazis in an attempted coup. In March 1938 German troops marched into Austria and the country was incorporated into the German Reich ruled by Adolf Hitler. At the end of WWII, Austria was restored to its 1937 frontiers and occupied by the USA, Soviet Union, England and France for a decade.

Due to Austria’s and Vienna’s location it became a nerve centre between east and west during the Cold War. It is now the home to many international organisations and was a founding member of the European Union in 1995.