Vienna: Empire, Dynasty And Dream

For over a thousand years, Vienna was the pivotal city in Europe. From the age of the Romans until WWII, its strategic position on the River Danube made it witness to war, intrigue, deceit and struggles for power. In this new three-part series, produced in partnership with The Open University(OU), writer and broadcaster, Simon Sebag Montefiore, tells the story of an extraordinary city through the Habsburgs who ruled it …and through those who tried to take it from them. Home to the Holy Roman Emperors and the target of Ottoman aggression, Vienna is a city that nurtured Gothic architecture and Baroque music. This is a story in which Napoleon, Hitler, Mozart, Strauss, Freud, Stalin and Klimt all played their part.

Our first episode begins over 900 years ago, with a Swiss-German family, named after their castle (Schloss Habsburg). A family that emerged from bloody dynastic wars and religious conflict to become a central power in Europe. Choosing diplomacy over the battlefield, Emperor Maximilian I brokered some of the biggest dynastic matches in European history and created an empire that included South America, Spain, Italy and much of Central Europe. From Maximilian onwards, the history of the Habsburgs became the history of Europe. The dynasty formed Europe’s front line in the struggle to defend Christendom from the Ottoman Islamic advance, and the Catholic Church from the Protestant revolutionaries that plotted to destroy it.

Academic consultant on the programme and Senior Lecturer in German at The Open University, Ursula Stickler, said: “The programme will show another side to the fascinating city of Vienna; its beautiful architecture, changing fortunes, and long and complex history. It provides great insights into the lives of the many eminent artists, musicians, and scientists who lived and worked in Vienna over the centuries."

To continue the learning journey with The Open University, visit bbc.co.uk and follow the links to the OU website.

Publicity contact: RH2