Belgrade was under Austrian rule, as part of the Habsburg Monarchy, in three periods: from 1688-1690, from 1717-1739. and from 1789-1790.
The appearance of the Baroque in Belgrade is related to the period when the Austrian army conquered Belgrade for the second time in 1717 under the command of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The renovation began with the decision of Eugene of Savoy to fortify Belgrade in accordance with modern construction experiences. The new baroque look of Belgrade was conceived by the architect Balthazar Neumann, and the engineer Nicolas Doxat de Démoret prepared a renovation plan.
After the Austrians, due to the Peace of Belgrade on September 18 1739, were obliged to demolish all the external fortifications of the city and religious buildings, only the Belgrade Fortress retained the appearance that the Austrian builders had designed.
The Alexander barracks, built in 1726, in honour of the prince Karl Alexander of Würtemberg who was the first president of the Belgrade administration. His appointment, on 7 September 1720, is regarded as the beginning of civil administration in the “Kingdom of Serbia”. Under the terms of the peace treaty concluded in Belgrade on 18 September 1739, the barracks - a public building of vital significance - were completely demolished following the Austrian withdrawal.
Only two civic houses have been preserved from the period of Austrian rule: one in Gračanica Street 10, the other in Dušanova Street 10.
