Greeks in Austria number between 5,000 and 18,000 people. They are located all around the country, but the main community is located in Vienna.
History
Contacts between the
Greeks
The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...
and the
Austrians
, pop = 8–8.5 million
, regions = 7,427,759
, region1 =
, pop1 = 684,184
, ref1 =
, region2 =
, pop2 = 345,620
, ref2 =
, region3 =
, pop3 = 197,990
, ref3 ...
can be led back in the aristocracy of the Middle Ages. All the
Babenberg dukes from
Leopold V onward were descended from
Byzantine emperors
This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as ...
.
The Armenian Johannes Theodat opened on 17 January 1685 Vienna's first coffee house in Haarmarkt. As a reward for his services, he was granted the privilege of being the only trader in the city to sell coffee as a drink for 20 years. Following, by 1700, four Greek merchants had the privilege to serve coffee in public.
In the 18th century,
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
was the centre of Greek diaspora where persons like
Rigas Feraios
Rigas Feraios ( el, Ρήγας Φεραίος , sometimes ''Rhegas Pheraeos''; rup, Riga Fereu) or Velestinlis (Βελεστινλής , also transliterated ''Velestinles''); 1757 – 24 June 1798), born as Antonios Rigas Velestinlis ( el ...
,
Anthimos Gazis,
Neophytos Doukas
Neophytos Doukas or Dukas ( el, Νεόφυτος Δούκας; 1760 – 1 January 1845) was a Greek priest and scholar, author of many books and translations from ancient Greek works, and one of the most important personalities of the modern Greek ...
and the
Ypsilantis
The House of Ypsilantis ( el, Υψηλάντης; ro, Ipsilanti) was a Greek Phanariote family which grew into prominence and power in Constantinople during the last centuries of Ottoman Empire and gave several short-reign '' hospodars'' to the ...
family prepared the
Greek War of Independence. There were also various institutions founded in Vienna that promote the Greek language and learning, contributing to the
Modern Greek Enlightenment
The Modern Greek Enlightenment ( el, Διαφωτισμός, ''Diafotismos'', "enlightenment," "illumination"; also known as the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment) was the Greek expression of the Age of Enlightenment.
Origins
The Greek Enlightenment w ...
. In 1814, the Count
Ioannis Kapodistrias
Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias (10 or 11 February 1776 – 9 October 1831), sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias ( el, Κόμης Ιωάννης Αντώνιος Καποδίστριας, Komis Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias; russian: ...
, at that time Foreign Minister of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
, in collaboration with Anthimos Gazis, founded in Vienna the
Philomuse Society, an educational organization promoting philhellenism, such as studies for the Greeks in Europe.
Additionally, ethnic
Aromanians
The Aromanians ( rup, Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are an ethnic group native to the southern Balkans who speak Aromanian, an Eastern Romance language. They traditionally live in central and southern Albania, south-western Bulgaria, northern and ...
coming mostly from
Moscopole
Moscopole or Voskopoja ( sq, Voskopojë; rup, Moscopole, with several other variants; el, Μοσχόπολις, Moschopolis) is a village in Korçë County in southeastern Albania. During the 18th century, it was the cultural and commercial ...
, and generally from the Balkans, who self-identified as Greeks, have also been considered as part of the
Greek diaspora
The Greek diaspora, also known as Omogenia ( el, Ομογένεια, Omogéneia), are the communities of Greeks living outside of Greece and Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus). Such places historically include Albania, North Macedonia, parts of ...
.
Furthermore, of great economic importance and social acknowledgment attained the Greeks in Austria in the 19th century. The first Greek newspaper was printed there and the Hellenic National School in Vienna is today the oldest such in the world that has remained continuously in operation.
In 1856, after a request by Simon Sinas,
Johann Strauss II composed the ''Hellenen-Polka (Hellenes Polka) op. 203'' for an annual ball of the Greek community in the
Austro-Hungarian empire.
In 20th century, Austria (and especially Graz and Linz) was a popular destination for Greek students.
Architectural heritage
The Austrian magnate of Greek origin
Georgios Sinas
Georgios Sinas ( el, Γεώργιος Σίνας, german: Georg Sina; 20 November 1783 – 18 May 1856) was a Greek- Austrian entrepreneur and banker. He became a national benefactor of Greece and was the father of another Greek national benefacto ...
(father of
Simon Sinas
Simon von Sina or Simon Sinas ( el, Σίμων Σίνας; 1810–1876) was a Greek-Austrian banker, aristocrat, benefactor and diplomat. He was one of the most important benefactors of the Greek nation together with Georgios Sinas.
Biography
Sim ...
) invited the Danish architect
Theophil Hansen
Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen (; original Danish name: Theophilus Hansen ; 13 July 1813 – 17 February 1891) was a Danish architect who later became an Austrian citizen. He became particularly well known for his buildings and structures in ...
who worked in Athens (and had designed there major public buildings like the
Zappeion
The Zappeion ( el, Ζάππειον Μέγαρο, Záppeion Mégaro, ) is a large, palatial building next to the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens, Greece. It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and priva ...
and the
Academy of Athens) to design for him some new buildings for his companies in Austria. Other Greek Austrians like
Nikolaus Dumba
Nikolaus Dumba (Greek: Νικόλαος Δούμπας; 24 July 1830, Vienna – 23 March 1900, Budapest) was an Austrian industrialist and liberal politician. He is considered to have been an important patron of the arts and music and a benefact ...
and
Ignaz von Ephrussi also gave Hansen contracts for buildings in the ''Classical Greek style'' and the ''Gräzisierter-Neorennaissance-Stil''. After Works like the
Palais Ephrussi and the
Palais Dumba
Palais () may refer to:
* Dance hall, popularly a ''palais de danse'', in the 1950s and 1960s in the UK
* ''Palais'', French for palace
** Grand Palais, the Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées
**Petit Palais, an art museum in Paris
* Palais River in ...
Hansen was famous and build many other public buildings in Austria like the
Parliament of Austria
The Austrian Parliament (german: Österreichisches Parlament) is the bicameral federal legislature of the Austrian Republic. It consists of two chambers – the National Council and the Federal Council. In specific cases, both houses convene ...
and the
Musikverein.
In the former Greek Quarter of Vienna at the there are the two historical Greek Orthodox parishes (St George and Holy Trinity). A traditional Austrian Restaurant there is called ("Greek Tavern", because of its Greek visitors since the 18th century) and a street ("Greek Lane").
Notable Greeks in Austria
*
Coudenhove-Kalergi family, noble family of mixed Flemish and Cretan Greek descent.
*
Nikolaus Dumba
Nikolaus Dumba (Greek: Νικόλαος Δούμπας; 24 July 1830, Vienna – 23 March 1900, Budapest) was an Austrian industrialist and liberal politician. He is considered to have been an important patron of the arts and music and a benefact ...
(c. 1830–1900), industrialist, liberal politician, benefactor of
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
and patron of the arts. Sponsored the construction of
Musikverein.
*
Konstantin Dumba
Konstantin Theodor (from 1917 to 1919, Graf von) Dumba (17 June 1856 – 6 January 1947), was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat serving as its last accredited Ambassador to the United States and famous for having been expelled during World War I fol ...
(c. 1856–1947), diplomat serving as its last accredited Ambassador to the United States.
*
Simon Sinas
Simon von Sina or Simon Sinas ( el, Σίμων Σίνας; 1810–1876) was a Greek-Austrian banker, aristocrat, benefactor and diplomat. He was one of the most important benefactors of the Greek nation together with Georgios Sinas.
Biography
Sim ...
(c. 1810–1876), banker and diplomat, benefactor of Greece.
*
Constantin von Economo
Constantin Freiherr von Economo ( gr, Κωνσταντίνος Οικονόμου; 21 August 1876 – 21 October 1931) was an Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist of Greek descent, born in modern-day Romania (then Ottoman Empire). He is mos ...
(c. 1876–1931), psychiatrist and neurologist.
*
Ephrussi family
The Ephrussi family () is a Ukrainian Jewish banking and oil dynasty. The family's bank and properties were seized by the Nazi authorities after the 1938 "Anschluss", the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.
History
The progenitor, Charles J ...
, banking family of
Romaniotes
The Romaniote Jews or the Romaniotes ( el, Ῥωμανιῶτες, ''Rhomaniótes''; he, רומניוטים, Romanyotim) are a Greek-speaking ethnic Jewish community native to the Eastern Mediterranean. They are one of the oldest Jewish comm ...
descent.
*
Demeter Laccataris (c. 1798–1864), painter based in Pest.
*
Logothetti family, noble family originally from
Zante
Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; el, Ζάκυνθος, Zákynthos ; it, Zacinto ) or Zante (, , ; el, Τζάντε, Tzánte ; from the Venetian form) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Za ...
.
*
Hugo II Logothetti (c. 1852–1918), diplomat and last emissary of the Habsburg monarchy in Tehran.
*
Baltazzi family, aristocratic banking family, baroness
Mary Vetsera
Baroness Marie Alexandrine "Mary" von Vetsera (19 March 1871 – 30 January 1889) was an Austrian noblewoman and the mistress of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria. Vetsera and the crown prince were found dead at his hunting lodge in Mayerling on 30 ...
's maternal family
*
Theodor Baltazzi (c. 1788–1860), prominent banker born in
Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
.
*
Aristides Baltazzi (c. 1843–1914), was a horse breeder, member of the Austrian Imperial Council and large landowner.
*
Pappas Family, founders of the Alpine construction group and importers of Mercedes-Benz in Austria and Hungary
*
Anastasios Pappas, Merchant in Vienna, 1821 revolutionary, member of
Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends ( el, Φιλικὴ Ἑταιρεία ''or'' ) was a secret organization founded in 1814 in Odessa, whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman rule of Greece and establish an independent Greek state. (''ret ...
and son of
Emmanouel Pappas
Emmanouel Pappas ( el, Εμμανουήλ Παππάς; 1772–1821) was a prominent member of Filiki Eteria and leader of the Greek War of Independence in Macedonia.
Biography
Pappas was born in Dovista (Δοβίστα), Serres regional uni ...
the Leader of the
Greek War of Independence in
Macedonia
*
Karajan family, merchant family based in
Chemnitz then
Electorate of Saxony
*
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan (; born Heribert Ritter von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, wit ...
(c. 1908–1989), principal conductor of the
Berlin Philharmonic
The Berlin Philharmonic (german: Berliner Philharmoniker, links=no, italic=no) is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world.
History
The Berlin Philharmonic was fo ...
.
*
Georg Zachariades
Georg Zachariades was an Austrian industrialist, figure skater and racing cyclist of Greek descent.
Competing in men's singles for Germany, he won the bronze medals at the 1892 and 1893
Events
January–March
* January 2 &ndas ...
(c. 1848–1943) industrialist, figure skater and racing cyclist.
*
Georg von Metaxa (c. 1914–1944), tennis player, his father was descended from the aristocratic Metaxas family from
Cephallonia
Kefalonia or Cephalonia ( el, Κεφαλονιά), formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the 6th largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It ...
.
*
Christian Michelides (b. 1957), psychotherapist and director of
Lighthouse Wien
Lighthouse Wien is a Vienna, Austria-based non-profit homeless shelter and housing project for homeless persons with substance dependency, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and/or psychiatric disorders. The project is not subsidiary, subsidized. It was founded ...
.
*
Konstantin Filippou
The first name Konstantin () is a derivation from the Latin name '' Constantinus'' ( Constantine) in some European languages, such as Russian and German. As a Christian given name, it refers to the memory of the Roman emperor Constantine the Gre ...
, chef and restaurateur
*
Maria Vassilakou (b. 1969), Vice-Mayor of Vienna, President of the Viennese branch of
The Greens – The Green Alternative
The Greens – The Green Alternative (german: Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative, ) is a green political party in Austria.
The party was founded in 1986 under the name "Green Alternative" (''Grüne Alternative''), following the merger of the ...
, the fourth party in the Austrian Parliament
*
Karolos Trikolidis
Karolos Trikolidis (24 July 1947 – 20 January 2022) (german: Karl Kaspar Trikolidis, el, Κάρολος Τρικολίδης) was a conductor of Greek-Austrian origin.
Life and career
Trikolidis was born in Bad Aussee, Allied-occupied Austri ...
. conductor
*
Peter Persidis
Peter Persidis (8 March 1947 – 21 January 2009) was an international Austrian footballer.
Career
His father Kostas Persidis was also a footballer in Greece. He played at Proodeftiki F.C. (1937-1939) and Aris Piraeous (1943-1944).
Persidis sta ...
, football player
See also
*
Austria–Greece relations
*
Immigration to Austria
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Austria, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Aus ...
*
Greek diaspora
The Greek diaspora, also known as Omogenia ( el, Ομογένεια, Omogéneia), are the communities of Greeks living outside of Greece and Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus). Such places historically include Albania, North Macedonia, parts of ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greeks In Austria
*
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
Ethnic groups in Austria
Austria–Greece relations