The reign of Maria-Teresa: from Coronation(1740) to Alliance with Spain(1760)
As mentioned before, the first year of her reign was marked with victory over Ottoman Empire, which ended the twelve year long conflict with the infidel. The dozen years of warfare left the country with little territorial gains (since conquest was not the reason Austria went in war) and lacking in technology. England and Sweden had such lead on the Empire that their rulers never hesitated to fight the Catholics - even if they were beaten time after time. The country needed rest and the Empress was determined to provide Austria with it.
Habsburgs did not come to power by sword or diplomacy. They married to power. This was especially true in the 15th century. Maria-Teresa was going to make it true in the 18th.
Since Austria was in peace for the time being, all attention turned to Austrian vassal - Hellas - which continued it's struggle against the Turk. Serbia too had its share of publicity when it annexed Muslim Bulgaria in October of 1741.
Hungarians rebelled against their Polish overlords, calling on Maria-Teresa to intervene and take the crown of Hungary. The Empress refused. If she would ever rule Hungary, it would not be because of some rebels. Soon the revolt was crushed and Hungary re-annexed by Poles.
In January of 1743 Hellas made peace with the Ottoman aggressors, receiving Macedonia and Smyrna. Even in London they celebrated this victory over the infidel. Hellas was invited in Austrian alliance.
In December of 1743 Muscowy declared war on the Empire, eager to avenge the loss of Bremen and with a goal of taking Bujak for themselves. The Empress was slightly amused - she had no plans to keep Bujak for herself. However, Russians needed to be taught a lesson. Several Muscowite armies that landed in Northen Germany and the Netherlands were annihilated and Muscowy sued for peace offering 100,000 ducats in war indemnities. Instead, Maria-Teresa offered them Bujak on a condition that Russians would defend it against the future Muslim invasions as if their future depended on it. Muscowy accepted the offer.
During 1740's England and Spain continued their conquests in Americas. The Ottomans advanced in Eastern Africa, struggling to compensate themselves for land losses in Europe.
In 1750 Maria-Teresa once again confirmed her title of the Defender of the Catholic Faith. Pope rejoiced, the rest of the world ignored the event - Habsburg family held the title for centuries, losing it only twice and not for a long time neither.
In 1751 the growing animosity between Kingdom of France and heretic Duchy of Provence caused the Empress to make an exception to her policy of promoting peace. The power behind Provence was England, which reigned victorious over the seas and refused Austrian merchants the right to trade in her trading centers. In February of 1751 Austria went to a war against England and Sweden and Portugal and Provence and Venice, calling on her French and Breton allies for aid.
This was not the most successful war for the Empire. Needless to say, the Imperial armies ruled the battlefield, annihilating within the first months the armies of Provence and besieging all Provence cities. However, the need to fight off English raids in both Italy and Northen Germany stretched Austrian lands forces to much, which enabled Venice to invade Istria and remain in the province almost to the end of the war.
Combined fleets of England and Portugal blocked the ports of Rumelia and soon the province was occupied by Portuguese after the defenders crushed the allied armies three times in a row and perished to a man in the fourth battle. Again, Maria-Teresa had no plans to keep Rumelia. However, this loss was rather upsetting.
Series of revolts once again shook the Empire. The most troubling was the revolt in Sardinia, since English warships prevented Imperial navy from sailing out of Genoa. Several naval battles were fought in the Ligurian sea - with victory gained by one side or the other. In the end, Austrian victories were short-lived. As soon as the navy would try to take an army on board and leave for Sardinia, English ships would appear and chase Austrian ships back to the port.
Several conversions were attempted at the time. Bern converted and so did Friesen, while the Saxons refused and killed the inquisitors. More rebellions demanded more troops to handle them.
In February of 1753 Provence ceded Languedoc and Dauphine. Provence itself would soon become the last bastion of heretics in Western Europe.
Under pressure, French ended its twenty year long campaign against Iroquios. Soon it accepted peace with England as well, paying 150,000 in war indemnities. This act, at times of war, was compared to treason. France would pay for it dearly as soon as the English would leave the continent.
In April of 1753 the Ottomans declared war on the Empire, influenced by English gold, no doubt. English province of Gascogne just fell to Austrian troops and England was still unreachable behind the Channell. The rebels in Sardinia were safe too, no small thanks to Enhlish navy. English armies were gaining an upper hand over the forces of Hellas. There was no choice left, but to send the bulk of Imperial forces to the Aegean and hope to settle the score with England and their Ottoman puppet there.
The campaign was successful from the start. Austrian armies pushed English and Ottomans from Macedonia and advanced to Smyrna, where the lifted the siege of the city. At the same time Swedes attacked in Pomerania and landed in Istria. Imperials quickly repelled the northen invasion, but the south proved to be more problematic.
In 1754 Sardinian declared independence from Astria.
The Austrians continued to battle the Ottomans, while Portuguese were bribed to quit the war with Rumelia. Albania was occupied and so was Antalya. Hellas was soon rewarded for its efforts with Anatolia. In December of 1755 the Ottomans ceded Albania to the Empire, which was soon granted independence. Turks had no land left in Europe except for Thrace, which was surrounded on all sides by Serbs, Greeks and Portuguese.
In 1757, after major naval buildup and several naval victories in the Ligurian sea, Austria was able to force England to cede Gascogne. The war was over and Sardinia was left unpunished - for three years the Imperial navy was not able to penetrate the lines of the English warships and white peace with Sardinia was the only option on the negotiation table.
Next two years saw the Empress return to the policy of peaceful expansion. Quick occupation of France did not take any time whatsoever and in January of 1758 France agreed to surrender without firing a shot. While annexing the country proved to be easy, numerous rebellions that fired up in the French countryside proved to be more dangerous than expected.
Brittany soon agreed to become Austrian vassal and Spain replaced France in the Astrian alliance.
As mentioned before, the first year of her reign was marked with victory over Ottoman Empire, which ended the twelve year long conflict with the infidel. The dozen years of warfare left the country with little territorial gains (since conquest was not the reason Austria went in war) and lacking in technology. England and Sweden had such lead on the Empire that their rulers never hesitated to fight the Catholics - even if they were beaten time after time. The country needed rest and the Empress was determined to provide Austria with it.
Habsburgs did not come to power by sword or diplomacy. They married to power. This was especially true in the 15th century. Maria-Teresa was going to make it true in the 18th.
Since Austria was in peace for the time being, all attention turned to Austrian vassal - Hellas - which continued it's struggle against the Turk. Serbia too had its share of publicity when it annexed Muslim Bulgaria in October of 1741.
Hungarians rebelled against their Polish overlords, calling on Maria-Teresa to intervene and take the crown of Hungary. The Empress refused. If she would ever rule Hungary, it would not be because of some rebels. Soon the revolt was crushed and Hungary re-annexed by Poles.
In January of 1743 Hellas made peace with the Ottoman aggressors, receiving Macedonia and Smyrna. Even in London they celebrated this victory over the infidel. Hellas was invited in Austrian alliance.
In December of 1743 Muscowy declared war on the Empire, eager to avenge the loss of Bremen and with a goal of taking Bujak for themselves. The Empress was slightly amused - she had no plans to keep Bujak for herself. However, Russians needed to be taught a lesson. Several Muscowite armies that landed in Northen Germany and the Netherlands were annihilated and Muscowy sued for peace offering 100,000 ducats in war indemnities. Instead, Maria-Teresa offered them Bujak on a condition that Russians would defend it against the future Muslim invasions as if their future depended on it. Muscowy accepted the offer.
During 1740's England and Spain continued their conquests in Americas. The Ottomans advanced in Eastern Africa, struggling to compensate themselves for land losses in Europe.
In 1750 Maria-Teresa once again confirmed her title of the Defender of the Catholic Faith. Pope rejoiced, the rest of the world ignored the event - Habsburg family held the title for centuries, losing it only twice and not for a long time neither.
In 1751 the growing animosity between Kingdom of France and heretic Duchy of Provence caused the Empress to make an exception to her policy of promoting peace. The power behind Provence was England, which reigned victorious over the seas and refused Austrian merchants the right to trade in her trading centers. In February of 1751 Austria went to a war against England and Sweden and Portugal and Provence and Venice, calling on her French and Breton allies for aid.
This was not the most successful war for the Empire. Needless to say, the Imperial armies ruled the battlefield, annihilating within the first months the armies of Provence and besieging all Provence cities. However, the need to fight off English raids in both Italy and Northen Germany stretched Austrian lands forces to much, which enabled Venice to invade Istria and remain in the province almost to the end of the war.
Combined fleets of England and Portugal blocked the ports of Rumelia and soon the province was occupied by Portuguese after the defenders crushed the allied armies three times in a row and perished to a man in the fourth battle. Again, Maria-Teresa had no plans to keep Rumelia. However, this loss was rather upsetting.
Series of revolts once again shook the Empire. The most troubling was the revolt in Sardinia, since English warships prevented Imperial navy from sailing out of Genoa. Several naval battles were fought in the Ligurian sea - with victory gained by one side or the other. In the end, Austrian victories were short-lived. As soon as the navy would try to take an army on board and leave for Sardinia, English ships would appear and chase Austrian ships back to the port.
Several conversions were attempted at the time. Bern converted and so did Friesen, while the Saxons refused and killed the inquisitors. More rebellions demanded more troops to handle them.
In February of 1753 Provence ceded Languedoc and Dauphine. Provence itself would soon become the last bastion of heretics in Western Europe.
Under pressure, French ended its twenty year long campaign against Iroquios. Soon it accepted peace with England as well, paying 150,000 in war indemnities. This act, at times of war, was compared to treason. France would pay for it dearly as soon as the English would leave the continent.
In April of 1753 the Ottomans declared war on the Empire, influenced by English gold, no doubt. English province of Gascogne just fell to Austrian troops and England was still unreachable behind the Channell. The rebels in Sardinia were safe too, no small thanks to Enhlish navy. English armies were gaining an upper hand over the forces of Hellas. There was no choice left, but to send the bulk of Imperial forces to the Aegean and hope to settle the score with England and their Ottoman puppet there.
The campaign was successful from the start. Austrian armies pushed English and Ottomans from Macedonia and advanced to Smyrna, where the lifted the siege of the city. At the same time Swedes attacked in Pomerania and landed in Istria. Imperials quickly repelled the northen invasion, but the south proved to be more problematic.
In 1754 Sardinian declared independence from Astria.
The Austrians continued to battle the Ottomans, while Portuguese were bribed to quit the war with Rumelia. Albania was occupied and so was Antalya. Hellas was soon rewarded for its efforts with Anatolia. In December of 1755 the Ottomans ceded Albania to the Empire, which was soon granted independence. Turks had no land left in Europe except for Thrace, which was surrounded on all sides by Serbs, Greeks and Portuguese.
In 1757, after major naval buildup and several naval victories in the Ligurian sea, Austria was able to force England to cede Gascogne. The war was over and Sardinia was left unpunished - for three years the Imperial navy was not able to penetrate the lines of the English warships and white peace with Sardinia was the only option on the negotiation table.
Next two years saw the Empress return to the policy of peaceful expansion. Quick occupation of France did not take any time whatsoever and in January of 1758 France agreed to surrender without firing a shot. While annexing the country proved to be easy, numerous rebellions that fired up in the French countryside proved to be more dangerous than expected.
Brittany soon agreed to become Austrian vassal and Spain replaced France in the Astrian alliance.
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