The 'Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch' ('ABGB') is the
Civil Code of
Austria, which was enacted in
1811 after about 40 years of preparatory works.
Karl Anton Freiherr von Martini and
Franz von Zeiller were the leading drafters at the earlier and later stages of the draft. Comparable to the
Napoleonic code, it was based on the ideals of freedom and equality before the law. It was divided into three major segments, following the
Roman law segregation methods. It was modernized during the
First World War. ABGB continues to be the basic civil code of
Austria to this day. Besides Austria, its influence persists in other successor states of
Austria-Hungary.