Eisenstadt
Encyclopedia : E : EI : EIS : Eisenstadt
| Basic Information | |||||||||
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| Bundesland: | Burgenland | ||||||||
| Bezirk | Eisenstadt | ||||||||
| Administration | Statutarstadt | ||||||||
| Area: | 42,90 km² | ||||||||
| Population: | 13,664 (2002) | ||||||||
| Population density: | 318 residents/km² | ||||||||
| Elevation: | 182 m above sea level | ||||||||
| Geographic coordinates: | Postal code: || 7000
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| Official Municipality Key: || 10101
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| Area code: || 02682
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| Licence plate letter: || E
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| Website: || [www.eisenstadt.at]
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! colspan="2" bgcolor="#FFDEAD" | Politics
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| Mayor: || Ing. Peter Nemeth (ÖVP)
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| Governing political party: || ÖVP
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! colspan="2" | Map of Austria showing the location of Eisenstadt
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| colspan="2" align="center" | 
|}Eisenstadt (Hungarian Kismarton, Croatian Željezno) is a city in Austria, the state capital of Burgenland. It has a population of about 11,334 (2001). In the Habsburg monarchy, Eisenstadt/Kismarton was the seat of the Esterházy noble family. The composer Franz Josef Haydn lived there as Hofkapellmeister under Esterházy patronage.
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GeographyEisenstadt lies on a plain leading down to the river Wulka, at the south foot of the mountain range known as the Leithagebirge, about 12 km from the Hungarian border.The city is divided into four districts:
Origin of the NameThe present city name meaning "Iron City" was first recorded in 1118 as "castrum ferrum" and refers to the history of iron mining and iron trade in the area. The first written mention of the town took place in 1264 as "minor Mortin", matching the Hungarian name, Kismarton, which is recalling Saint Martin, the patron saint of the main church.HistoryArcheological finds prove that the Eisenstadt area was already settled in the Hallstatt period. Celts and Romans settled somewhat later. During the Migration Period, the area was settled by different Germanic tribes and the Huns. Around 800, during the reign of Charlemagne, settlement by the Bavarii began.The fortress built on the original earth works was destroyed by the troops of Leopold III, Margrave of Austria. In 1241, it was destroyed by the Mongol invaders. In 1373, the town came into the possession of the Kanizsai family, who rebuilt the walls surrounding the town and built a fortress at the site of the present day castle between 1388 and 1392. In 1388, Eisenstadt was given the right to hold markets by Emperor Sigismund. In 1445 Archduke Albert VI acquired the town. In 1451 it was ceded to Frederick III by Matthias Corvinus in return for the Hungarian crown. Matthias reconquered it by force in 1482, but Maximilian I acquired it again in 1490. It remained under Habsburg rule until 1622. In 1529 and 1532 the Ottoman Empire conquered Eisenstadt with their advance on the city of Vienna (see Ottoman wars in Europe). It was captured by the army of Thököly in 1683, and it saw the defeat of the kuruc army of Sándor Károlyi by the Habsburgs in 1704. A royal town since 1648, it was destroyed by fire in 1589 and 1776. In 1648, it passed under the rule of the Esterházy family. These Hungarian princes permanently changed the face of the city due to their extensive construction especially on their castle, Schloss Esterházy. The appointment of Franz Josef Haydn as the prince's Hofkapellmeister (high chapel master, composing and performing music) began the great artistic period in the city's history. In 1809, Eisenstadt was occupied by French troops during the Napoleonic Wars; in 1897, it was joined to the railway network. Until the end of World War I, it was the seat of Kismarton county in the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1921, by the Treaties of Trianon and Saint-Germain it became part of Austria along with the rest of Burgenland. Since 30 April 1925, Eisenstadt is seat of the Burgenland state government and thus the state capital. During World War II, Eisenstadt was heavily bombarded. In 1945, it was occupied by the Red Army, and the city remained until 1955 under Soviet occupation. In 1960, Eisenstadt became the see of its own Roman Catholic diocese. PoliticsThe current mayor of Eisenstadt is Ing. Peter Nemeth, ÖVP. The district council is composed as follows (as of 2002):
AttractionsEisenstadt hosts a Haydn festival, the Haydnfestspiele.Museums
Religious edifices
Castles and palaces
Buildings
Sister citiesPeopleNatives
Other residents
The Eisenstadt familyA prominent Jewish family takes its name from this city. Among its notable members are:
References
External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to:
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See also
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