SERBS IN THE HABSBURG MONARCHY DURING THE 18TH CENTURY-BETWEEN THE COURT IN VIENNA AND THE HUNGARIAB AUTHORITIES

Abstract

At the Viennese court Serbs were seen as a nation (Natio Rascianica), whereas Hungarianclasses saw them merely as an obliging religious group. This difference in attitude determinedrelations between the court and Hungary, and Serbs were more often than not used by the court toblackmail Hungarian classes whenever their heightened national fervour needed quietening down.Serbian people tried as much as it was possible to vacillate between these different interests anddifferent interpretations of their legal status. Depending on the situation, Serbs strove to ensure,through their Privileges, a better and fairer legal status for themselves, which would be recognizedby both Hungarian and Austrian authorities. Due to the important role Serbs had in the Monarchy,Serbian Privileges were confirmed on several occasions in the course of the 18th century, but timeand again this confirmation came along with one or more restricting provisos, until finally in the1870s the Privileges were reduced completely and narrowed from the sphere of national-ecclesiastic,down to the frame of ecclesiastic and school privileges.