The Archduchy of Austria (German: Erzherzogtum Österreich), one of the most important states within the Holy Roman Empire, was the nucleus of the Habsburg Monarchy and the predecessor of the Austrian Empire. Over nearly 700 years, it evolved from a margraviate to the center of an empire. With its capital at Vienna, the archduchy was centered in the area of the current Austrian federal state of Lower Austria and included most of what is now Upper Austria as well.