The Austrian Empire was a central European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867 created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs.During its existence,it was the third most populous empire after the Russian empire and the United kingdombin Europe.Along with Prussia,it as one of the two major powers of the German Confederation.Geographically,it was the third largest empire in Europe after the Russian Empire and the First French Empire (621,538 square kilometres;239,977 square metres).Proclaimed in response to the First French Empire,it partially overlapped with the Holy Roman Empire until the latter's dissolution in 1806.
