Moravia (Ger. Mähren), a crown-land of the Austrian empire, is bounded NE. by Silesia, SE. by Hungary, S. by Lower Austria, and NW. by Bohemia. Area, 8579 sq. miles; pop. (1870) 2,017,274; (1890) 2,276,870. It is enclosed on all sides by mountains, being separated from Silesia by the Sudetes, from Bohemia by the Moravian chain, and from Hungary by the Carpathian Mountains; while branches of these various chains intersect the whole country except in the south, where there are extensive plains rising to about 800 feet. Numerous small rivers flow south-east, and fall into the March or Morava, from which the country derives its name, and which joins the Danube. The Oder rises among the mountains on the north-east, and soon leaves the country. Moravia is essentially an agricultural region. On the whole the soil is rich, 56 per cent. being cultivated and 14 meadows and grass, and the temperature is more genial than in other European countries lying on the same parallel. The principal crops are rye and oats; then come barley, wheat, potatoes, beet-root, leguminous plants, and many fruits and vegetables. The breeding of all the usual varieties of domestic animals is actively prosecuted. The principal mineral products are coal and iron, with some graphite. The principal branches of industry are the manufacture of woollen, linen, and cotton goods, and beet-root sugar. Silk-weaving, lace-making, iron-founding, tanning, brewing, distilling, and the manufacture of chemicals, glass, paper, tobacco, and furniture also flourish. Brünn (q.v.), the capital, is the chief emporium for the manufactures, and Olmütz (q.v.) the principal cattle-mart. The former university at Olmütz is now represented by a theological faculty, and by a large technical institute at Brünn. The majority (95 per cent.) of the people belong to the Church of Rome. By nationality 70 per cent. are Slavs (Czechs and Moravians) and 29 per cent. Germans.
Moravia was anciently occupied by the Quadi, who were succeeded after the 5th century by the Rugii, the Heruli, and the Longobardi, and finally in the 6th century by the Slavonians. Charlemagne brought the people under nominal subjection. Christianity was first established in the middle of the 9th century by Cyril (q.v.) and Methodius. In 871 its ruler was made a duke by the emperor; he subdued the Bohemians and incorporated their country with his own. From 1029 it was associated with Bohemia, and at the close of the century was erected into a margraviate, and declared a fief of Bohemia, to be held from the crown by the younger branches of the royal house. On the death of Lewis II. at the battle of Mohacz in 1526, Moravia, with all the other Bohemian lands, fell to Austria, in accordance with a pre-existing compact of succession between the reigning dynasties. In 1849 it was formally separated from Bohemia, and declared a distinct province and crown-land. See Dudik, Mährens allgemeine Geschichte (11 vols. 1860-86).