The Republic of Krakow was caught between three great powers – the Habsburg Monarchy, the Russian Empire, and Prussia.
The Republic of Krakow was founded on this day in 1815 following a decision by the Congress of Vienna. It was a tiny autonomous Polish city-state that encompassed the city of Krakow and its surrounding area. Its entire territory amounted to only 1164 square kilometers, making it only slightly larger than Hong Kong. It had its own money and was home to some 95,000 people.
The republic was caught between three great powers – the Habsburg Monarchy, the Russian Empire, and Prussia. These countries took over the rest of Polish territory. The Republic of Krakow retained its independence until 1846, when it was annexed by the Habsburg Monarchy and became the Grand Ducky of Krakow. The first grand duke was none other than the Austrian emperor Ferdinand.
