MILITARY FRONTIER (Ger. Militargrenze), the former name of a narrow strip of land along the Turkish frontier of the Austro-Hungarian empire. It had a special mil itary constitution, and formed a separate "crown-land." Of late, however, the peculiar institutions of the 31ilitary Frontier have been abolished; portions of the territory have been incorporated with adjoining provinces; and since 1873 the remainder of the Military Frontier, now officially termed the Croato-Slavonic Border-land, forms, along- with Slavonia and Croatia, a dependence of the Hungarian crown. The constitution, civil and military, is now accordingly similar to that of the other provinces of the Hungarian part of the empire. The area of the Military Frontier was about 7,500 sq.m., and its pop. in 1869 was 690,300. The breadth of the territory once known under this name is considerable towards the western extremity, but diminishes to only a few miles at the eastern. The surface has an average elevation of upwards of 2,000 feet. All the impor tant rivers flow eastward. The climate is severe in the highlands of the w., but mild in the lower districts towards Slavonia. Maize, wheat, oats, fruits, and vegetables are the principal productions.
The Military Frontier owes its origin as a crown-land to the necessity of having a per manent body of defenders on the borders during former wars. and especially during wars with the Turks. In the 15th c. the Austrians had gained from the Turks certain tracts of territory on the banks of the Save and Danube. These tracts they colonized, making it, however, a condition that the colonists must render military service aoainst the Turks. Thus originated the capitanate of Zengg, during the reign of MathiasCorvinus. The Warasdin Frontier originated in the same manner in the 16th, and the Banat Ffontier in the 17th century. The constitution of the Military Frontier, as it existed ti111873, has been thus described: " The military stations along the frontier serve a threefold purpose —the defense of the country, the prevention of smuggling, and the prevention of the spread of contagious•disease into the territories of the Austrian empire. The inhabitants
of this crown-land enjoy peculiar privileges. Their immigrant ancestors received only the temporary use of lands consigned to them; but in 1850 a law was passed making over the land to the occupiers as their own property. This right of property does not belong, however, to individuals, but to the family in a united sense. The oldest member of a family (called the luzusvater) is intrusted with the management of the land; his partner (the hausmutter) ranks equal with him, and they each receive a double share of the profits for the year aq recompense for the management of the estate. A family of this sort is called a border-house (prenzluius). All who are able to bear arms are sworn to the service from their 20th year. The soldier of the frontier, Who iS clethed as well aa armed and supplied with ammunition by government, finds it•his duty.not only to watch and.protect the frontier, but to preserve peace and order in the interior, and to go on foreign service when required. Only the smaller portion of the forces of the Military Frontier is retained in readiness for active service, while the remainder pursue their ordinary employments. To facilitate the accomplishment of the purposes aimed at by the 3lilitary Frontier, the cordon, a series of guard-houses along the whole frontier, affording accommodation to from 4 to 8 men, as well as larger ones, accommodating 12 men and a junior officer, has been instituted. Within this line are the officers' posts. -Without announcing himself at the posts, no one is allowed to pass the boundary; and after permission is given, the passenger must remain a longer or shorter time at the quar antine establishment, in order that all introduction of disease may be prevented.