# Catholic People's Party > political party in Austro-Hungary (1895–1907) **Wikidata**: [Q1247008](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1247008) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_People's_Party_(Austria-Hungary)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catholic-people-s-party-q1247008 ## Summary The Catholic People's Party was a political party active in Austria–Hungary from 1895 until 1907, when it merged into the Christian Social Party. Rooted in ultramontanism and conservatism, it operated during the late Habsburg era as an organization seeking to influence government policy and secure elected representation. The party is documented in the German-language Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (1905–1909). ## Key Facts - Founded in 1895 in Austria–Hungary - Ceased independent existence in 1907 upon merging into the Christian Social Party - Classified as a political party — an organization that seeks to influence government policy and actions and be elected to directly take part in government or legislation - Political ideologies: Ultramontanism and conservatism - Country: Austria–Hungary - Described by source: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (1905–1909), volume 10, page 752, in German - Wikidata description: "political party in Austro-Hungary (1895–1907)" - Wikipedia presence in three languages: German, English, Portuguese - Wikipedia title: Catholic People's Party (Austria-Hungary) - Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11fd7d8mx_ - Sitelink count: 3 ## FAQs **What was the Catholic People's Party?** It was a conservative, ultramontanist political party operating in Austria–Hungary between 1895 and 1907. The party sought to participate in government and shape legislation. **What did the Catholic People's Party believe in?** The party adhered to two core ideologies: ultramontanism, which emphasized strong papal authority over national churches, and conservatism, favoring traditional social and political structures. **What happened to the Catholic People's Party in 1907?** In 1907, the Catholic People's Party merged into the Christian Social Party, consolidating Catholic conservative political forces in Austria–Hungary. **Where is the Catholic People's Party documented?** The party is described in Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, a major German-language encyclopedia published between 1905 and 1909. The relevant entry appears in volume 10 on page 752 and is accessible digitally via zeno.org. ## Why It Matters The Catholic People's Party represents a specific current within the broader landscape of Catholic political organizing in the late Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its existence from 1895 to 1907 coincided with a turbulent period of national and constitutional conflicts in the Habsburg lands. As an ultramontanist party, it advocated for close alignment with the papacy at a time when the Roman Catholic Church's role in politics was hotly contested across Europe. The party's eventual absorption into the Christian Social Party in 1907 marked a moment of consolidation on the Catholic-conservative side of Austrian politics—one that would go on to shape the First Austrian Republic in the years following the empire's dissolution after World War I. ## Notable For - Operating as an ultramontanist political force in Austria–Hungary during the empire's final decades - Merging into the Christian Social Party in 1907, contributing to the consolidation of Catholic conservative politics in the region - Being documented in Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, a prominent reference work of the early twentieth century - Maintaining Wikipedia entries in three languages (German, English, Portuguese), reflecting its historical significance across different linguistic communities ## Body ### History and Timeline The Catholic People's Party was established in 1895 within the borders of Austria–Hungary. It functioned as a political party—a type of organization whose purpose is to influence government policy and action, and to secure elected positions in order to participate directly in governance or legislation. The party remained active for twelve years before merging into the Christian Social Party in 1907, at which point it ceased to exist as an independent entity. ### Political Ideology The party's platform was grounded in two ideological pillars: - **Ultramontanism**: A position emphasizing the central authority of the Pope over local or national church structures. In the context of Austria–Hungary, ultramontanist politics often intersected with questions of clerical influence in public life and education. - **Conservatism**: A broader commitment to preserving traditional institutions, social hierarchies, and established modes of governance against liberal and nationalist movements gaining momentum in the empire. ### Relationship to the Christian Social Party The Catholic People's Party's most significant institutional legacy is its merger into the Christian Social Party in 1907. This consolidation brought the party's ultramontanist and conservative membership into a larger Catholic political formation that would become one of the dominant forces in Austrian politics during the early twentieth century. ### Documentation and Sources The primary historical reference for the Catholic People's Party is Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, published between 1905 and 1909. Key bibliographic details include: - Volume: 10 - Page: 752 - Language: German - Digital access: http://www.zeno.org/nid/20006878784 - Source retrieval date: July 31, 2022 ### Digital Presence In modern reference ecosystems, the Catholic People's Party appears across several platforms: - **Wikidata**: Described as a "political party in Austro-Hungary (1895–1907)" with a sitelink count of 3 - **Wikipedia**: Articles exist under the title "Catholic People's Party (Austria-Hungary)" in German, English, and Portuguese - **Google Knowledge Graph**: Indexed under the ID /g/11fd7d8mx_ - **Member categorization**: Members are classified under "Category:Members of the Catholic People's Party (Austria)" on Wikimedia projects ## References 1. Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (1905-1909)