A Kreis (pl.Kreise) or 'Circle' was an administrative division of the Habsburg monarchy and Austrian Empire between 1748 and 1867.
After the Prussian annexation of the bulk of Silesia following the First and Second Silesian Wars, it became apparent that Frederick II's administrative structures allowed him to take much higher tax revenues from the area. Therefore, in the years following end of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1748, Maria Theresa and Joseph II enacted several administrative reforms with Prussia as a model, and the old territorial divisions were converted into new Kreise. These reforms were carried out by Maria Theresa's advisor Count Friedrich Wilhelm von Haugwitz and continued under chancellor Prince Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz-Rietberg from 1760. The bureaucratisation in the form of Kreisämtern ('circle offices', sg.Kreisamt ) lessened the influence of the estates by essentially separating them from the administration of the realms.
The origin of the Kreis as a unit of administration lay in Bohemia, where Kraje (Kreise in German) had existed as territorial units since the 14th century (see Bohemia § Historical administrative divisions). Through the reform the system was further developed and applied to the Habsburgs' other realms (other than Hungary). In the Archduchy of Austria and Duchy of Styria the old quarters (German: Viertel) served as a basis for the new Kreise (Waldviertel, Mostviertel, Industrieviertel and Weinviertel in Lower Austria; Innviertel, Hausruckviertel, Mühlviertel, and Traunviertel in Upper Austria; Quarter division of Styria 1462 ).
The Hungarian counterparts were the Comitatus (German: Gespanschaften or Komitate, formerly spelled Comitate; Hungarian : Vármegyék), which had existed for much longer and were dominated by the nobility.
In Lombardy–Venetia (1815–1859/66) there were "delegations", [1] which gave rise to the later Provinces.
The Amtsbezirke ('office districts'), or more precisely the Bezirksämter ('district offices'), created in the reforms which followed the Revolutions of 1848 (specifically those of 1849 [2] and 1853 [3] ), largely took over the responsibilities of the Kreisämter. These were proposed as early as 1849 by Interior Minister Alexander von Bach as part of a necessary reform to the administrative apparatus to deal with the increase in the number citizens interacting with the offices following the final abolition of serfdom in 1848. The Kreis administrations were thereby subdivided into subordinate Amtsbezirke. Some smaller Kreise were abolished or merged. The Kreis system was also expanded to the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar [3] [4] (formerly part of southern Hungary) and the Grand Principality of Transylvania [5] in the course of these reforms.
The statutory cities were also excluded from Kreis administration, much like they are excluded from the modern districts (Bezirke).
With the creation of the political districts (Bezirke) in 1868, which go back to the December Constitution of 1867, [6] the Kreis divisions were abolished and replaced with much more finely divided Bezirk divisions; however, the newly created district commissions (Bezirkshauptmannschaften) were strongly influenced by the former Kreis administrations.
With the Kreisämtern there was for the first time a level of administration between the manors and free cities and the Imperial Court (in the crown lands the gubernatorial administration). At the head of every Kreis was a Kreishauptmann (roughly 'circle/district captain/head'; see Hauptmann ), whose officials were entrusted with clearly defined tasks, which significantly disempowered the estates in financial matters. The Kreisämter were the lowest level of political administration. This brought together direct oversight of taxation, as well as the conscription and recruitment system, the supervision of schools and poorhouses, the supervision of the individual municipalities and the protection of the peasants before the manor lords. The captains were obliged to travel to the Kreise at least once per year or allow the inspectors to visit. For this the captains received a state salary, but were not allowed to hold any other lordly or stately offices and were bound to their instructions.
The Kreisämtern were subordinate to the Gubernia (the administrative bodies of the crown lands, roughly governorates).
Despite numerous reforms, the borders of the Kreise are still roughly visible in the 39 Austrian electoral districts. Also the divisions (Sprengel) of the district courts (Kreisgerichte; now regional courts – Landesgerichte) are essentially equivalent to those of the former Kreisämter. The 35 NUTS 3 regions are loosely aligned with the former Kreis divisions.
The following is a list of the Kreise and statutory cities in the non-Hungarian lands of the Austrian Empire (Cisleithania in later terminology) c. 1854; [7] pre-1848 Kreise [1] are also listed where applicable.
 | You can help expand this section with text translated from the corresponding article in Czech. Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| Name | Seat/administrative centre | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| German | Czech | ||
| Prag | Praha | itself (Prague) | Statutory city |
| Kreis Prag, Prager Kreis | Pražský kraj | Prague | formed in 1849 from Rakonitzer Kreis and parts of Berauner, Bunzlauer and Kaurimer Kreise |
| Kreis Beraun or Berauner Kreis | Berounský kraj | Beroun ; Kreisamt in Prague [1] | abolished in 1849; divided between the Prager and Taborer Kreise |
| Kreis Kaurim/Kaurzim or Kaur(z)imer Kreis | Kouřimský kraj | Kouřim ; Kreisamt in Prague [1] | abolished in 1849; mostly divided between the Prager and Taborer Kreise, with some areas passing to the Caslauer Kreis |
| Kreis Rakonitz or Rakonitzer Kreis | Rakovnický kraj | Rakonitz/ Rakovník | abolished in 1849 |
| Kreis Budweis or Budweiser Kreis | Budějovický kraj | Budweis/ České Budějovice | |
| Kreis Bunzlau or Bunzlauer Kreis | Boleslavský kraj | Jung-Bunzlau/ Mladá Boleslav |
|
| Kreis Chrudim or Chrudimer Kreis | Chrudimský kraj | Chrudim | |
| Kreis Časlau, Kreis Czaslau or Časlauer/Czaslauer Kreis | Čáslavský kraj | Czaslau/ Čáslav | |
| Kreis Eger or Egerer Kreis | Chebský kraj | Eger/ Cheb | established in 1849 from Elbogener Kreis and part of Pilsner Kreis |
| Kreis Elbogen or Elbogner Kreis | Loketský kraj | Elbogen/ Loket | became Egerer Kreis in 1849 |
| Kreis Gitschin, Gitschiner Kreis or Jičiner Kreis | Jičínský kraj | Gitschin/Jičín | established in 1849 from Bidschower Kreis |
| Kreis Bidschow or Bidschower Kreis | Bydžovský kraj | Bidschow/ Nový Bydžov | became Gitschiner Kreis in 1849 |
| Kreis Königgrätz or Königgrätzer Kreis | Hradecký kraj | Königgrätz/ Hradec Králové | |
| Kreis Leitmeritz or Leitmeritzer Kreis | Litoměřický kraj | Litoměřice | Kreisgerichte ('circle/district courts') 1854: Leitmeritz, Böhmisch-Leipa [8] |
| Kreis Pilsen or Pilsner Kreis | Plzeňský kraj | Plzeň | in 1849 absorbed Klattauer Kreis |
| Kreis Pisek or Piseker Kreis | Písek | established in 1849 from Prachiner Kreis | |
| Kreis Prachin or Prachiner Kreis | Prácheňský kraj or Prácheňsko | Prácheň Castle | became Piseker Kreis in 1849 |
| Kreis Saaz or Saazer Kreis | Žatecký kraj | Saaz/ Žatec | |
| Kreis Tábor or Tabórer Kreis | Táborský kraj | Tábor | |
| Kreis Klattau or Klattauer Kreis | Klatovský kraj | Klattau/ Klatovy | abolished in 1849 (absorbed into Pilsner Kreis) |
The Kreise in Bohemia were abolished in 1862 (enacted 23 October, effective 31 October). [9]
In the 1849 administrative reforms which followed the Revolutions of 1848 and introduced the first political districts (Bezirkshaupmannschaften), the Kreise of Bohemia were reduced to seven: [10]
These Kreise lasted until the reforms of 1853/54. [8]
Until 1848 part of the joint Gubernium of Moravia and Silesia (Gouvernment Mähren und Schlesien or Mährischschlesisches Landesgubernium; Moravskoslezské gubernium ). [1]
The traditional Moravian Kreise were abolished in 1849 (see below) but were reconstituted (with some border changes and with Nový Jičín/Neutitschein replacing Přerov/Prerau) in 1854 and divided into Bezirke (76 in total, excluding the cities of Brünn and Olmütz). [11] Changes included:
The Moravian Kreise were dissolved in 1860 and their Bezirke (and Bezirksämter) subordinated directly to the Statthalterei in Brünn/Brno. [12]
In the 1849 administrative reforms which followed the Revolutions of 1848 and introduced the first political districts (Bezirkshaupmannschaften), the Kreise of Moravia were reduced to two: [13]
The six pre-revolution Kreise were reconstituted, with various changes, in the reforms of 1853/54. [11]
Formally the Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia (Herzogtum Ober- und Niederschlesien). Until 1848 part of the joint Gubernium of Moravia and Silesia (Gouvernment Mähren und Schlesien or Mährischschlesisches Landesgubernium). [1] Although administratively separate Silesia was judicially subordinate to Brünn (Moravia) thereafter. [14] Austrian Silesia had no Kreise after the 1849 [13] or 1853 reforms, [3] but the separate Kreisgerichte remained for judicial matters. [14]
From 1860 Silesia was administered once again from the Moravian Statthalterei in Brünn/Brno but remained a formally separate crown land. [12]
![The Viertel
(Kreise
) of Austria (above and below the Enns) c. 1800. The Muhlkreis
is shown divided into Upper and Lower sections. The map also shows the County of Neuburg [de] in the north-west, which was not part of Austria. Neueste Karte des Erzherzogthums Oesterreich Ob und Unter der Enns.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Neueste_Karte_des_Erzherzogthums_Oesterreich_Ob_und_Unter_der_Enns.jpg/220px-Neueste_Karte_des_Erzherzogthums_Oesterreich_Ob_und_Unter_der_Enns.jpg)
Corresponds with modern Lower Austria.
Corresponds with modern Upper Austria. The Kreise in Austria above the Enns were from 1749 subdivided into district commissions and regional courts. [18]
Formerly the Salzburgkreis or Salzachkreis of Austria above the Enns, the Duchy of Salzburg became a crown land in its own right (with a single Kreis) on 26 June 1849 [22] (formally constituted 30 December [23] ). The Duchy of Salzburg had no Kreise after 1853. [3]
The Duchy of Styria (German: Herzogtum Steiermark, contemporary spelling Herzogthum Steyermark), although administered as a single gubernium/Gouvernement, was divided into upper and lower parts – Obersteiermark (Obere-Steyermark) and Untersteiermark (Untere-Steyermark). [1] : 318 The upper part, which comprised the Judenburger and Brucker Kreise, [1] : 318 corresponds with the modern Austrian use of the term Upper Styria, i.e. the modern districts of Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, Leoben, Liezen, Murau and Murtal in the north-west of the modern Austrian state of Styria; from 1848 it was synonymous with the now-expanded Brucker Kreis. The lower part, which comprised the Grazer, Marburger and Cillier Kreise, [1] : 318 included all of Slovene Styria and the modern Austrian Central Styria .
The Kingdom of Illyria was a crown land formed as a successor to the Napoleonic Illyrian Provinces [note 2] after the 1815 Congress of Vienna returned its territory to Austria. It was divided into two Gubernia: Gubernium Laibach [note 3] and Gubernium Triest. [note 4] It was disbanded in 1849 and replaced with the separate Duchy of Carinthia, Duchy of Carniola and Austrian Littoral crown lands. The Kreise listed below are grouped by these post-1849 crown lands; internally within the Kingdom they were grouped as such, [1] and the duchies and subdivisions of the Littoral correspond with Habsburg states which existed before the 1809 Treaty of Schönbrunn by which they were annexed by Napoleon.
Until 1809 the area (excluding those parts of Croatia and the Military Frontier which were Illyrian until the 1820s) was organised as part of Inner Austria, an informal region which comprised the Duchies of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, the County of Gorizia and Gradisca, the March/Margraviate of Istria and the Free City of Trieste. During this period the Habsburg March of Istria only included a small interior part of the peninsula centred on Mitterburg (Pazin, Pisino) and was administered from Carniola; the north-eastern mostly inland part of the later Istrian Kreis, as well as part of the eastern coast of the peninsula and a northern coastal exclave around Duino-Aurisina were part of the Carniolan Adelsberger Kreis. The Republic of Venice held most of the peninsula itself, including all of the western coast and around half of the eastern coast, as well as the islands in the Kvarner Gulf including Krk and Cres; the Venetian territories were annexed by Austria (as the Venetian Province) in the 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio, but lost again to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in the 1805 Peace of Pressburg. The mercury-mining area around Idrija had a special status apart from the Carniolan Kreise. The Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca included several exclaves in Venetian territory and within the Carniolan Adelsberger Kreis; by the 1805 Peace of Pressburg and 1807 Treaty of Fontainebleau, the parts of the county west of the Soča/Isonzo were ceded to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy.
The Duchy of Carinthia (Herzogt(h)um Kärnten) was 1815–49 part of Gubernium Laibach of the Kingdom of Illyria; separate crown land thereafter. Carinthia had no Kreise after 1853. [3]
The Duchy of Carniola (Herzogt(h)um Krain) was 1815–49 part of Gubernium Laibach of the Kingdom of Illyria. Carniola had no Kreise after 1853. [3]
Formally the Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca, the Margraviate of Istria and the City of Triest with its Territory (die gefürstete Grafschaft Görz und Gradiska, die Markgrafschaft Istrien und die Stadt Triest mit ihr Gebiet). 1815–49 Gubernium Triest of the Kingdom of Illyria; separate crown land thereafter.
Judicially the Gorizian districts of Comen (Komen) and Sessana (Sežana) and the Istrian districts of Capo d'Istria (Koper, Kopar), Pirano (Piran), Castel-Nuovo (Podgrad) and Volosca (Volosko) were subordinate to the Landesgericht in Trieste (c. 1853). [26]
In addition to the Kreise of Carinthia, Carniola and the Littoral listed above, until the 1820s the Kingdom of Illyria also included the former Croatie civile province of the Napoleonic Illyrian Provinces. This territory was transferred to the re-established Kingdom of Croatia, except for Fiume (Rijeka), which returned to its previous status as a Corpus separatum under Hungary. This was organised into:
Like the Littoral, these belonged to Gubernium Triest. During this time the remainder of Istria and the southern part of what was later Görz, including all of its coastline (much of which had been part of the Carniolan Adelsberger Kreis until 1809), was organised as the Triester Kreis, which was distinct from the city of Triest.
Formally the Princely County of Tyrol with Vorarlberg (die gefürstete Grafschaft Tirol mit Vorarlberg) [27] until 1861.
Formally the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria with the Grand Duchy of Kraków (after 1846) and the Duchies of Auschwitz and Zator (Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien mit dem Großherzogt(h)um Krakau und den Herzogt(h)ümern Auschwitz und Zator). The Grand Duchy of Kraków, which was annexed in 1846 (previously the Free City of Cracow) corresponded with the Krakauer Kreis; Auschwitz and Zator had no administrative status, with both forming part of the Wadowicer Kreis, although nominally they were part of the German Confederation while the rest was not.
The Kreise in Galicia and Lodomeria were abolished in 1865 (enacted 23 September, effective 31 October). [30]
In 1850 Galicia and Lodomeria was divided into three Regierungsbezirke ('government districts'), named after their capitals: Lemberg, Krakau and Stanislau. The Kreise were abolished and replaced with political districts ( Bezirkshauptmannschaften ). [33]
The 1850 changes to the administrative structure of the empire were reversed in Bach's January 1853 reforms, although the precise divisions remained to be determined. [3] In April 1854 Galicia and Lodomeria was divided into two Verwaltungsgebiete (lit. 'administrative regions/territories') and its Kreise formally restored: [34]
The cities of Lemberg and Krakau remained directly subordinate to the crown land. [34] Bukovina was not part of Galicia and Lodomeria at this time. [3]
A list detailing the Bezirke of each Kreis from 1853 can be found at Subdivisions of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria § List of Kreise and Bezirke from 1854
In 1860 Verwaltungsgebiet Krakau and Bukovina were dissolved and re-subordinated to Lemberg. [31]
West or New Galicia (Westgalizien/Neugalizien) comprised the Habsburgs' gains in the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. The first-partition Myslenicer, Sandecer and Bochnier Kreise were also attached to it. It was incorporated into Galicia and Lodomeria 1803–09 as a separate gubernium. Other than the first-partition Kreise it was ceded to the Duchy of Warsaw in 1809 by the Treaty of Schönbrunn (Congress Poland and Free City of Cracow after 1815).
The Kreise in Dalmatia were abolished in 1865 (enacted 5 December, effective 31 December). [35]
In the years following the revolutions of 1848 the Kreis system was extended to some additional crown lands:
The Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar, a short-lived crown land which existed 1849–60, was formally divided into Kreise in 1854. [4] Before the revolutions of 1848 it had been the Bács-Bodrog, Torontál, Temes, and Krassó Counties of Hungary and part of the Syrmia County of Slavonia
The traditional subdivisions of Transylvania (and the Partium ) were restored in the 1860s.
Esztergom County was an administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary, situated on both sides of the Danube river. Its territory is now divided between Hungary and Slovakia. The territory to the north of the Danube is part of Slovakia, while the territory to the south of the Danube is part of Hungary.
Komárom county was an administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary, situated on both sides of the Danube river. Today, the territory to the north of the Danube is part of Slovakia, while the territory to the south of the Danube is part of Hungary.
Syrmia County was a historic administrative subdivision (županija) of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia. Croatia-Slavonia was an autonomous kingdom within the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen (Transleithania), the Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary. The region of Syrmia is today split between Croatia and Serbia. The capital of the county was Vukovar.
Varaždin County was an administrative subdivision (županija) of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia. Croatia-Slavonia was an autonomous kingdom within the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen (Transleithania), the Hungarian part of the dual Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its territory is now in northern Croatia. The capital of the county was Varaždin.
The Kingdom of Bohemia, sometimes referenced in English literature as the Czech Kingdom, was a medieval and early modern monarchy in Central Europe. It was the predecessor state of the modern Czech Republic.
The Duchy of Bukovina was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire from 1849 and a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary from 1867 until 1918.
Austrian Silesia, officially the Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia, was an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Habsburg monarchy. It is largely coterminous with the present-day region of Czech Silesia and was, historically, part of the larger Silesia region.
The Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar or Serbian Voivodeship and the Banate of Temes, known simply as the Serbian Voivodeship, was a crownland of the Austrian Empire that existed between 1849 and 1861.
A district is a second-level division of the executive arm of the Austrian government. District offices are the primary point of contact between residents and the state for most acts of government that exceed municipal purview: marriage licenses, driver licenses, passports, assembly permits, hunting permits, or dealings with public health officers for example all involve interaction with the district administrative authority.
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a crown land of Austria-Hungary, was subdivided into political districts for administrative purposes, which were referred to in Polish as powiaty. When they were introduced in 1867 there were 74 of these administrative counties; in 1900 there were 78 counties. The administrative counties were responsible for storing vital records. These counties were introduced following the 1867 December Constitution.
Zala was an administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary, bordered by the river Drave to the south. The territory of the former county is now divided between Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia. The capital of the county was Zalaegerszeg.
Kraszna county is a former administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary along the river Kraszna; its territory is now in north-western Romania. Its capital cities were Krasznavár, Valkóvár and Szilágysomlyó.
Neusatz District was one of five administrative districts of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar from 1850 to 1860. Its administrative center was Neusatz.
Zombor District was one of five administrative districts of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Temes Banat from 1850 to 1860. Its administrative center was Zombor.
Großbetschkerek District was one of five administrative districts of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar from 1850 to 1860. Its administrative center was Großbetschkerek.
Szolnok County was a county in the Kingdom of Hungary between the 11th century and 1426. It was made up of two disconnected parts, one in what later became Transylvania and the Partium, the other around the Tisza centred on the settlement of Szolnok. The county was eventually split and became:
The Margraviate of Moravia was one of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown within the Holy Roman Empire and then Austria-Hungary, existing from 1182 to 1918. It was officially administered by a margrave in cooperation with a provincial diet. It was variously a de facto independent state, and also subject to the Duchy, later the Kingdom of Bohemia. It comprised the historical region called Moravia, which lies within the present-day Czech Republic.
The Bukovina District, also known as the Chernivtsi District, was an administrative division – a Kreis – of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria within the Habsburg monarchy in Bukovina, annexed from Moldavia. It was first a military district from 1775 to 1786 until it was officially incorporated into Galicia and Lodomeria as its own district.
Temesvár District was one of five administrative districts of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar from 1851 to 1860. Its administrative centre was Temesvár, which was also the capital of the crown land. Following the 1854 reform Temesvár itself was directly subject to the crown land, and so separate from the district, while still acting as its capital.
Lugos District was one of five administrative districts of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar from 1851 to 1860. Its administrative centre was Lugos.