Chapter 164: Is there a marriage?
Chapter 161: Is it a marriage?
There is no doubt that the Prussian government, which was low on confidence, was more anxious for Prussia and Austria to join forces, and soon the two sides agreed on the question of combating foreign interference.
On November 11, 1850, Prussia and Austria signed the Treaty of Germany in Vienna, which stipulated that the two countries would join forces to oppose foreign interference in the affairs of the German region. ……
Interestingly, the treaty did not include the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein, which were occupied by the Danes.
Apparently, after a defeat, the Prussian government had a serious lack of confidence within itself and did not dare to offend the Russians while opposing the British.
Since the Prussian Government did not ask for it, Austria naturally would not interfere. Whether or not these two duchies could return to the bosom of Germany, there would be no part for Austria.
Franz would not learn from the Austrian government in history, which was actually lulled by the Prussians into joining forces.
What’s the point of an enclave? Isn’t there enough pressure on Austria’s defense?
Vienna Palace
Metternich said, “Your Majesty, the Prussian government has asked us for a loan, and it looks like their financial crisis is greater than we expected.”
Franz said without hesitation, “This is good news, since they have asked us for help, it means that they have been blocked from seeking loans in other financial markets.
Find a reason to reject their loan application, everyone is not looking at them as a client, so why should we go through this mess?”
Pulling a hand doesn’t exist, Austria doesn’t have that much capital to export domestically, and Franz isn’t going to cultivate a competitor for himself.
If there was a national credit rating in this day and age then they would be the lowest grade of C.
Just look at the debt, the Kingdom of Prussia’s foreign debt now totals a whopping 370 million marks, with an annual revenue of just over 40 million marks.
Engels pointed out the financial difficulties of the Prussian government in an article in the Polaris in 1847, along the lines of: it would not surprise me in the least if the Prussian government declared bankruptcy tomorrow.
What if the Prussian government had no money?
The answer was very simple – cut spending and find ways to increase revenue.
Whether it’s cutting military spending, or cutting spending on industry or domestic infrastructure, it’s a good thing for Austria.
As for increasing revenues, that’s not something that can be accomplished anytime soon. Having just gone through a revolution, they wouldn’t dare to impose a rampage, would they?
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Metternich replied
Divide the German region? It was a pity that this issue was not suitable to talk about now, in case the radicals within Prussia knew about it and started the war in advance, Austria wasn’t going to be pitied and cry.
Don’t doubt this possibility, the subjugation is not only something the Japanese can do, the Prussian Kingdom’s army in this era is equally capable of doing it.
It’s just that their officers are basically aristocrats and are that much higher on the insight scale, they have families and are not barefoot and usually don’t act blindly.
……
The most embarrassed by the warming of relations between Prussia and Austria was the Kingdom of Bavaria, which once again proved that it is easy to fall off the tightrope, as Maximilian I now experienced.
The easing of relations with Austria became a top priority for him.
In the palace of Munich
Maximilian I asked expectantly, “What are your solutions to get out of the diplomatic dilemma we are in?”
In this day and age, having the support of both Britain, France, and Russia, one would actually worry about diplomatic dilemmas. If this were to be said, it was expected that many people would take it as a joke.
Now that this joke, in the Bavarian Kingdom, had become a reality, what could one do with the support of the Great Powers?
People just verbalize their support, you actually really take it as a matter of fact, then prepare to cry!
The suggestion was first made by the British, but now that the Kingdom of Bavaria needs their actual support, John Bull is starting to play dumb.
“Your Majesty, a marriage!” The Prime Minister said on the spot
There was a tradition of marriage between the Bavarian royal family and Austria, Franz’s mother was from the Bavarian royal family, and the royal relationship between the two countries was still good.
Now want to ease the relationship with Austria, the least costly is the marriage. Marrying a princess to become the Empress of the Austrian Empire, the Wittelsbach family will not lose out.
Maximilian I thought about it and said, “Well, Franz needs an empress now, Helen is just right.”
Trying to push for the continuation of the marriage between the two royal families wasn’t as simple as that. There were more than enough great nobles interested in the position of the Austrian Empress, and it was difficult to accomplish the goal.
But Princess Helen had one advantage – the Austrian Empress Dowager was her aunt, and that alone could defeat many opponents.
Of course there was also a disadvantage, her birth was too low not a direct line of the Bavarian royal family, and the relationship with the king was a bit distant.
Maximilian I also wanted to identify a princess from a close branch, but it was just not a coincidence that the age difference was too large to be suitable. Can’t say to Franz wait, your wife is still breastfeeding in her mother-in-law’s arms.
……
Vienna.
The news that the Bavarian royal family wanted to marry again came through, and the Empress Dowager Sophie immediately welcomed it, and the two sides sort of hit it off.
Unfortunately, Franz is not the Franz of history now, and the influence of the Empress Dowager Sophie is much smaller than in history.
Historically Franz was able to succeed to the throne early, the Suffragette Empress Dowager was a great effort, and for this reason also pulled together a party of the Empress Dowager out.
Now it is different, Franz took the opportunity to suppress the Vienna rebellion to grasp the power, she naturally did not have the opportunity to perform as a dowager empress.
Missed the opportunity, did not establish a party, and then want to interfere in politics is impossible.
If you don’t have a chance, you don’t have a chance. People are not born with ambition. After Franz succeeded to the throne, the Empress Dowager Sophie lived her own free life, and did not have the slightest intention to seize power with her son.
Of course, it is possible to seize power. Empress Dowager this status is indeed very high, but unfortunately met the strong Franz, naturally can not be Cixi Empress Dowager.
Other things she can not care, in Franz’s marriage, she as a mother thought she must personally ask.
In this era, Europe is the same arranged marriage, free love, this is God’s east and west? Not to mention the aristocracy, even the commoner’s children can freely decide to marry are very few.
Franz’s treatment is still considered good, as the emperor his opinion must also be taken into account, if he himself firmly opposed, no one can force him.
After receiving this news, Franz the whole person is baffled, how to advance so much, could it be that this marriage between the two royal families have long begun to prepare?
And then thought of the current international situation, really is a political marriage, this is entirely the Kingdom of Bavaria need to ease the relationship with Austria.
Franz opened the door and said: “Mother, the current international situation, Austria is not suitable for marriage with Bavaria.”
Hearing this news, Empress Dowager Sophie’s face instantly clouded over, but she did not open her mouth to object.
There are no fools in the royal family, despite the reluctance in her heart, Empress Dowager Sophie did not reprimand Franz.
Standing in her position, the interests of the Austrian royal family is obviously higher than the Bavarian royal family, here there are husbands, sons, she could not let Franz sacrifice the interests of the royal family to promote this marriage.
This is not the same as in history when Napoleon fought a war with Austria while marrying a princess of the Habsburg family, that was when Napoleon was not of sufficient birth and desperately needed this marriage to raise the recognition of the nobles.
But now Austria and Bavaria marriage, Franz married only the Wittelsbach family of the side branch of the princess, it is already a low marriage, if the political interests of the loss would not be worth it.
After thinking about it, Empress Dowager Sophie asked, “The relationship between Austria and Bavaria has deteriorated to such a point?”
She hadn’t cared about politics for a long time, and wasn’t clear that the Austrian government was intentionally distancing itself from the Kingdom of Bavaria, and at this time the Kingdom of Bavaria happened to be a traitor, so naturally the relationship between the two sides couldn’t get any better.
Franz said calmly, “That’s right, not long ago the Bavarian government reneged on the alliance between the two countries and fell to the Kingdom of Prussia, and now that the Prussian-Austrian relationship has eased, it’s only natural that the Kingdom of Bavaria will have to pay the price.”
Empress Dowager Sophie’s complexion darkened, having encountered this situation, it was indeed difficult for her to be caught in the middle.
Looking at his mother who was in a dilemma, Franz spoke up and comforted, “Don’t worry, mother. This is just a normal conflict of interest between countries and will not affect the relationship between the two royal families.
It’s just that if the news of the marriage were to be spread at the time of the conflict, it would create a very bad impact in the civil society.”
Hearing this explanation, Empress Dowager Sophie’s complexion slightly eased. At the same time, a hint of dissatisfaction arose towards the family’s proposal for another marriage this time.
Even if she wanted her niece to become the Empress no matter how much, it was impossible to use her son’s reputation as a price, all parents were the same in this matter.
Empress Dowager Sophie thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s put this matter on hold for now and wait for a couple years.”
European aristocrats married late, Franz’s age was not too old, her niece was even younger, it didn’t matter if it was delayed for a few years.
Seeing that his mother remained undeterred, Franz did not say anything. It would be best to drag it out like this, and if she rejected it outright, it probably wouldn’t be long before a new marriage partner popped up again.
With this shield in place, at least a few years were bought for Franz. During this period of time he can still go out and see if he can meet a comparable status – true love, if not then just marry a beautiful princess.
There was always the ideal, what if it came true?
Now Franz’s persona dictated that his personal integrity had to be flawless, and he couldn’t be capricious when it came to his personal marriage. At the very least, this persona could not crumble until his prestige was established.
This was the price of being an emperor, and if given the choice, Franz would still choose – to be an emperor.
It was a big price to pay, but it was also a big reward! Being able to control one’s own destiny in these dark times was not normally difficult.
No pressure for ordinary people? The nobles have no pressure?
Not long ago, Austria also killed the heads of people rolling, how many prominent party of the nobility was sent to the guillotine, they really are all deserved?
How many people are involved, and finally can not extricate themselves, and the head of the dead?
Franz knows all these situations, but knowing that, he can not go for these people to overturn the case. Whether voluntary or not, to participate in the rebellion must pay the price.
And then look at the masses of people who are busy every day for the sake of firewood, rice, oil and salt, Franz feels that he has been very lucky.
(End of chapter)