Tyrol (Ger. Also Tirol), a crownland or province of Cisleithan Austria, bounded N. by Bavaria, E. by Salzburg and Carinthia, S. by Italy, and W. by Switzerland; area, including Vorarlberg, 11,325 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 885,789, nearly two thirds of German and the rest of Italian descent, and all Roman Catholics. The principal towns are Innspruck, the capital, Brixen, Trent, Bregenz (in Vorarlberg), and Botzen, the first four respectively the capitals of the four circles into which the province is divided. It is as mountainous and picturesque as Switzerland, being traversed by several chains of the Alps. The northern chain is known as the Tyrolese or German, and the southern as the Trent Alps, the latter joining on the east the Carnic Alps. The Rhaetian Alps, which occupy the centre, and are the loftiest mountains in Austria, embrace the Ortlerspitze (12,800 ft.), on the confines of Tyrol, Italy, and Switzerland, terminate in the N. E. part of Tyrol; and the Gross-Glockner (about 12,500 ft. according to the latest measurements), the highest point of the Noric Alps, rises on the confines of Tyrol, Carinthia, and Salzburg. Many of the summits are above the line of perpetual snow, and more than 150 sq. m. is covered with glaciers.

These chains are crossed by some of the lowest Alpine passes, the best known being the Brenner pass, traversed by the railway from Innspruck to Botzen. The Inn and Adige are the largest rivers besides the Rhine, which separates Vorarlberg from Switzerland. Lakes Constance and Garda are partly in the province, on the N. W. and S. W. borders respectively. The climate is generally severe except in the south. About one third of the whole surface is covered by perpetual snows, glaciers, and barren rocks, and an equal space by forests; the rest consists of pasture and arable land. The total value of landed property in 1870 was estimated at about 300,000,000 florins, and of cattle at 23,500,000 florins. Maize and other grain, fruit, wine, and silk are produced. Goats and sheep abound, as well as the chamois, hares, marmots, and eagles. The minerals include gold, iron, copper, lead, and coal. Lace, embroidery, gloves, hardware, and toys are made, and there is an active transit trade and general commerce. About 30,000 Tyrolese annually migrate in summer and return in autumn.

The country is rich in schools, including a university at Innspruck. The Tyrolese are a fine-looking race, wearing picturesque costumes, and are noted for their national songs, piety, patriotism, and industry. - In early times the country was inhabited by Rhaetian and Celtic tribes. Under the reign of Augustus it became part of Rhaetia. (See Reletia.) Subsequently it was occupied successively by various races, and was ultimately divided into petty states or lordships, tributary to the dukes of Bavaria, among which the duchy of Meran was the most important. These were finally united, and in 1364 were annexed to the duchy of Austria by Duke Rudolph IV., to whom Margaret, surnamed Maultasch, the heiress of Tyrol, had ceded her rights. After various changes Tyrol was inherited in 1490 by Maximilian, the future emperor of Germany, and after new changes finally reunited with the main line of the house of Austria in 1665. By virtue of the 'treaty of Presburg (Dec. 26, 1805), the country passed into the possession of Bavaria. This gave rise to the insurrection under Andreas Hofer in 1809, during which the women fought by the side of the men, and hundreds of them were slain. (See Hofek.) Austria recovered Tyrol in 1814. The local constitution dates from 1861. The diet consists of 68 members, including the prince-archbishop of Salzburg, whose jurisdiction extends over part of Tyrol, the two prince-bishops of Trent and Brixen, the rector of the university, 4 clerical delegates, 10 of the landholding aristocracy, 13 of large cities, 3 of chambers of commerce and industry, and 34 of rural communities.

They are elected for six years. The president of the diet is appointed by the emperor. Vorarlberg has its own constitution and diet. The Tyrol diet elects 10 members to the Reichstag. The Italian or Welsh Tyrolese, who inhabit the southern districts, favor a union with Italy, but Garibaldi's attempt in 1866 to wrest these districts from Austria proved abortive. The ultramontane party preponderates excepting in some of the larger cities, and recent attempts to diminish the influence of the clergy encountered a violent opposition. - See Hormayr, Ge schichte der gefilrsteten Grafschaft Tirol (2 vols., Tubingen, 1806-8), and Das Land Tirol und der TirolerTcrieg von 1809 (2 vols., Leipsic, 1845); Egger, Geschichte Tirols von den ältesten Zeiten bis in die Neiczeit (2 vols., Innspruck, 1872-'4); Miss R. H. Busk, "The Valleys of Tyrol" (London, 1874); H. Baden Pritchard, " Tramps in the Tyrol" (London, 1874); Steub, Drei Sommer in Tyrol (3 vols., enlarged ed., Stuttgart, 1875); and W. A. Baillie Grohman, " Tyrol and the Tyrolese " (London, 1876).