Open Competition in Botany and Diplomacy: The Habsburg Expedition of 1783

A Habsburg-led botanical expedition in 1783 marked a pivotal shift from ornamental to economically driven plant collecting, inspiring global competition among European states. The mission, organized by Joseph II's enlightened absolutist state, aimed to replenish Schönbrunn’s devastated greenhouse after an accident and expand the empire’s natural history collections. Unlike colonial powers, the Habsburg Monarchy lacked overseas territories but leveraged its scientific and diplomatic influence to spur advancements in economic botany, particularly in Pacific Northwest exploration. The expedition’s success underscored the Habsburgs' role in transitioning global science toward public knowledge dissemination and national interests, challenging traditional narratives of colonial dominance.

Morrison, H. (2017). Open Competition in Botany and Diplomacy: The Habsburg Expedition of 1783. Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture, 46(1), 107–119. https://doi.org/10.1353/sec.2017.0011