Serious attempts at centralization began under Maria Theresa and especially her son Joseph II in the mid to late 18th century, but many of these were abandoned following large scale resistance to Joseph's more radical reform attempts, although a more cautious policy of centralization continued during the revolutionary period and the Metternichian period that followed.
Tõsised tsentraliseerimise katsed algasid Maria Theresia ja eriti tema poja Joseph II ajal 18. sajandi lõpus, kuid paljudest neist loobuti seoses suurenenud vastupanuga Josephi palju radikaalsematele reformipüüetele, kuigi ettevaatlikum tsentraliseerimise poliitika jätkus revolutsioonide ajastul ja sellele järgnenud pikal Metternichi ajastul.