What the fuck happened in Europe during the 18th century that

I presume it is because Austria(-Hungary) developed into a prominent European power and Vienna became one of the cultural centers of Europe.

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>>2469266
3 words: Great Turkish War.

Basically following the failed Ottoman attempt to conquer Vienna in 1689 or something, the Holy Roman Empire gathered a bunch of Catholic buddies and struck back at the Ottoman Empire, taking Hungary and other parts of Central/Eastern Europe away from them. This occured in the 1690s-first decade of th 1700s.

Many Eastern European military personnel distinguished themselves in that war, and the fashion was just plainly exotic for the 18th century cunts.

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>>2469578
this.

also the bicorn/tricorn hats were cheap to have only when wet or cold the rain (according to the french at least) would collect and run down your ears making it very uncomfortable and the shakos aparently had better weather protection and made it easy to spot friends/foes in the thick smoke. Same goes for intricate uniform decorations.

Didn't modern cravats come from scarves Croatians wore during the Napoleonic wars? Nappy's officers loved them and the cancer spread.