Galician autonomy Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria

galician sejm (parliament) in lemberg (modern lviv).

in 1866, following battle of sadova , austrian defeat in austro-prussian war, austro-hungarian empire began experience increased internal problems. in effort shore support monarchy, emperor franz joseph began negotiations compromise magyar nobility ensure support. members of government, such austro-hungarian prime minister count belcredi, advised emperor make more comprehensive constitutional deal of nationalities have created federal structure. belcredi worried accommodation magyar interests alienate other nationalities. however, franz joseph unable ignore power of magyar nobility, , not accept less dualism between , traditional austrian élites.

finally, after so-called ausgleich of february 1867, austrian empire reformed dualist austria-hungary. although polish , czech plans parts of monarchy included in federal structure failed, slow yet steady process of liberalisation of austrian rule in galicia started. representatives of polish aristocracy , intelligentsia addressed emperor asking greater autonomy galicia. demands not accepted outright, on course of next several years number of significant concessions made toward establishment of galician autonomy.

from 1873, galicia de facto autonomous province of austria-hungary polish and, lesser degree, ukrainian or ruthenian, official languages. germanisation had been halted , censorship lifted well. galicia subject austrian part of dual monarchy, galician sejm , provincial administration had extensive privileges , prerogatives, in education, culture, , local affairs.

these changes supported many polish intellectuals. in 1869 group of young conservative publicists in kraków, including józef szujski, stanisław tarnowski, stanisław koźmian , ludwik wodzicki, published series of satirical pamphlets entitled teka stańczyka (stańczyk s portfolio). 5 years after tragic end of january uprising, pamphlets ridiculed idea of armed national uprisings , suggested compromise poland s enemies, austrian empire, concentration on economic growth, , acceptance of political concessions offered vienna. political grouping came known stanczyks or kraków conservatives. eastern galician conservative polish landowners , aristocracy called podolians , gained political ascendency in galicia lasted 1914. shift in power vienna polish landowning class not welcomed ruthenians, became more sharply divided russophiles, looked russia salvation, , ukrainians stressed connections common people.

both vienna , poles saw treason among russophiles , series of political trials discredited them. meanwhile, 1890, agreement worked out between poles , populist ruthenians or ukrainians saw partial ukrainianization of school system in eastern galicia , other concessions ukrainian culture. thereafter, ukrainian national movement spread rapidly among ruthenian peasantry and, despite repeated setbacks, years of twentieth century movement had replaced other ruthenian groups main rival power poles. throughout period, ukrainians never gave traditional ruthenian demands national equality , partition of province western, polish half, , eastern, ukrainian half.