Slovenian Sokols in the Early Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1879)

In 1868, immediately after the Austro-Hungarian Empire was formed, Slovenes became more active politically and socially, despite the German cultural and economic strength and despite the fact that they were considered by some to be a people “without history.” In this sense, the Slovenian Sokols (Eng. Falcons) played an important role. Sokols were gymnastic associations created following the example of the first Sokol in Prague. Soon, political changes, the Habsburg repression and internal rifts led the Slovenian Sokols first to start cutting relations with Prague and later, to a rapid decline. The last remaining Sokol, in Ljubljana, came closer to the institutions and associations of other Southern Slavs, especially the Croats, while distancing itself from Austro-Slavism and early neo-Slavism, spread by the Prague Sokol.