The time of the early Habsburgs

This provincial exhibition had two main focuses. The occasion was the 700th anniversary of the consecration of Wr. Neustadt Cathedral, the former city parish church. One half of the exhibition therefore showed the history of the cathedral, the cathedral itself and its art treasures.

The second part of the exhibition placed this event in a wider historical context. The year in which the cathedral was consecrated coincided with the accession of the Habsburgs to power. Therefore, the first epoch of this new period was presented up to the event that also celebrated an anniversary at the time: the division of the Austrian lands by the Treaty of Neuberg in 1379. These 100 years, in which the rule of the Habsburgs in Austria was consolidated, were presented in the former church of St. Peter an der Sperr in 1979.

Why are these 100 years so important? “They are the period in which the Habsburgs became Austrians,” explained the Augustinian canon Floridus Röhrig from Klosterneuburg Abbey.

The new dukes came to the country as foreigners, and despite the zealous propaganda of the mendicant orders and the great popularity of King Rudolf I, they did not make many friends at first. The Austrians disliked their thriftiness and their sober, Alemannic nature. It was felt that they only saw the former Babenberg duchies as sources of finance for their more western-oriented policies. Although Albrecht I's cleverness was able to overcome all resistance, his interests lay on a much higher level - his purposeful imperial policy became sinister to the other imperial princes and he was murdered in 1308.

One surprising phenomenon cannot be overlooked, said exhibition director Floridus Röhrig: “The period covered was a time of hardship. Rarely have people in Europe suffered as much as in these decades. Nevertheless, they created works of art of exquisite beauty. Despite all the material hardship, the most precious materials were used for church service - not to demonstrate ecclesiastical power or wealth, but to give people the most effective consolation: a glimpse of eternity. Perhaps our exhibition can do the same today.”

In the 13th century, the church began to discover the cities being founded, such as Wr. Neustadt, wrote Auxiliary Bishop Florian Kuntner: “We need a church for ourselves, the citizens of the new city naturally thought when they asked their city founders, Babenbergs and Habsburgs alike, to provide their new home with the most necessary facilities. They meant a church as a place of assembly, a meeting place for God and people, a place of celebration, a point of reference for the turning points in life such as birth, marriage and death. It seems to me that people still agree with this concept of church today. This church is still in demand today. Especially where these churches share people's concerns, stand up for their rights, alleviate poverty and live.”

Wiener Neustadt, St. Peter an der Sperr

Wiener Neustadt, Dom