ABSTRACT
The ultimately successful Turkish War of 1683-99 proved a decisive turning point in Austrian history. Once by neccssity a thoroughly defensivc power, the Habsburg l\Ionarchy was only now beginning to assume true greatpmver status. The Turks, whom Imperial forces had been fighting \vith their backs to the wall for a century and a half, were now being pushed back. Thc tables had been turned, and Austria gained new self-confidence, which ushered in her age of herocs (,Heldenzeitalter').
