The Hungarian nationalism challenged the Austrian Empire by encouraging the Hungarians to press for autonomy. The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 granted Hungary a significant degree of autonomy within the empire, allowing it to have its own parliament, government, language, and control over certain policy areas. This undermined the authority of the central government in Vienna and weakened the unity of the empire. Additionally, other nationalist movements within the empire, such as the Czechs, Slovaks, and Poles, also sought greater autonomy or independence, further challenging the stability of the Austrian Empire.