Austria is a landlocked East Alpine country in the southern part of Central Europe. It is composed of nine federated state, one of which is Vienna, Austria's capital and its largest city. It is bordered by Germany to the northwest, Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. Austria has a population of nearly 9 million people. While German is the country's official language, many Austrians communicate informally in a variety of Bavarian dialects.
Initially emerged as a margraviate around 976 and developed into a duchy and archduchy, Austria started serving as the heart of the Habsburg Monarchy in the 16th century, and the junior branch of the House of Habsburg – one of the most influential royal dynasties in history. As an archduchy, it was a major component and administrative centre of the Holy Roman Empire. Early in the 19th century, Austria established its own empire, which became a great power and the leading force of the German Confederation but pursued its own course independently of the other German states. Following the Austro-Prussian War and the compromise with Hungary, the Dual Monarchy was established.
Following Archduke Ferdinand's assassination, which resulted in the dissolution of the Austrian monarchy, and Austria's involvement and defeat in World War I, the Austrian Empire was dissolved and replaced by the Republic of German-Austria with the intent of the union with Germany, which eventually failed because of the Allied Powers and the state remained unrecognized. In 1919 the First Austrian Republic became the legal successor of Austria. In 1938, the Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, who became the Chancellor of the German Reich, achieved the annexation of Austria by the Anschluss. Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and an extended period of Allied occupation, Austria was re-established as a sovereign and self-governing democratic nation known as the Second Republic.
Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy with a directly elected Federal President as head of state and a Chancellor as head of the federal government. Major urban areas of Austria include Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck.
Regarding the villain wars, Austria is not heavily featured nor mentioned in any storyline of a tournament, compared to other European countries. However, it is mentioned as the homeland of Queen Annie, one of the central figures of Alexander Duma's novel The Three Musketeers. Other than that, the country does not serve another purpose in any kind of war.