1836
Monarch: Emperor Ferdinand I
Chancellor: Klemens von Metternich
Catholic Nation
Population: 35.2 millions (1 January 1836)
National culture: South German
Executive design: Laws by decree. Party system: Two Party. National value: order. Plurality: 0. Voting rights: none. Public meetings: legal. Press: State. Parties: right to ban. Unions: none. No social reforms.
Austrian Empire 1836
The States of The German Confederation
Austria in 1836 was part of the alliance of the German Confederation States comprising The Empire of Austria, the Kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hannover and Württemburg as well as various German Duchies, Principalities and City States. Outwardly, the Confederation alliance was strong. Inwardly, the strongest states, namely Austria and Prussia ruled by Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg and Frederick William III of the House of Hohenzollern respectively, both dreamt of hegemony over each other and a unified German nation.
The Peoples of The Empire
Austria’s population by the end of 1836 reached 35.6 millions (674 pops). The cosmopolitan mix of cultures within the empire is ripe for implosion. Seven million Austrian-Germans concentrated in the central provinces. Five million Italians in Tirol, Lombardy and Venetia. Two and a half million Poles living in Galicia, the border state of Austria with Russia. Three and a half million Czechs in Bohemia. Almost three million Romanians in the Balkans along with many Serbs and Croats. Most of the population were rural farmers and labourers, practising Catholics and orthodox Christians.
Austrian Policies
Austria faces a tough time in holding together its cosmopolitan empire. The Balkan states are divided between Austrian rule in Dalmatia, Croatia and Slovenia with the vassal nations of the Ottoman Empire, namely: Moldavia, Wallachia, Serbia and Montenegro. Though Austrian foreign policy was dominated by France and Sardinia-Piedmont, Austria always had to look over its shoulder at its old Islamic enemy that guarded the doorway to the middle-east. Twice in history had Ottoman armies besieged Vienna and ruled over large parts of what is today Austrian Imperial land. To secure its borders, Austria would seek to support independence of Balkan buffer states.
In the Italian states, Austria controlled the Duchies of Tuscany, Modena and Parma as satellites and was allied with King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies. The Two Sicilies sought to continuously improve relations at the Austrian court during 1836 and beyond. Their ambassador was always graciously accepted though behind closed doors Metternich’s unadmitted policy was to sow disparagement amongst the Italian states rather than to show support for a united Italy under Sicilian hegemony. With five million Italians living within Austrian borders, a strong and united Italy would not be acceptable to Austria as it would be a direct threat to Habsburg control of its own Italian possessions. The greatest threat to Sicilian supremacy in Italy was not Austrian but Sardinian. King Charles Albert of Sardinia-Piedmont and Savoy also dreamt of hegemony in a united Italy and with French support, the Sardinian threat was a plausible one. Charles Albert was a direct threat to Austrian security and influence in the northern Italian states. A pre-emptive strike against Sardinia-Piedmont was under serious consideration but Charles Albert was protected by a defence pact with Russia, Prussia, France and Britain who all guaranteed Sardinia’s independence. For now, the Italian problem would have to remain outstanding.
Political Parties
No parties existed in Austria in 1836. The nation was subject to Imperial rule. The two main starting in-game political parties featured in Ricky are the Metternich Faction and the Kolowrat Faction. These represent Austria’s most prominent statesmen of the time; Klemens Wenzel von Metternich-Winneburge zu Beilstein and Count Franz Anton von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky.
Prinz Klemens Wenzel von Metternich
Chancellor of Austria 1809-1848. Metternich was born in Coblenz in 1773 to an ambassador of Trier, Count Franz George Karl von Metternich-Winneburge zu Beilstein. He held offices in Westphalia before becoming an Austrian diplomat to Saxony, Berlin and Paris. He was party to some of the most important political meetings of the early nineteenth century, including The Treaty Of Paris, The Congress of Vienna and The 1833 Berlin Convention. Ferdinand I proved to be an imbecile and so upon his ascension to the Habsburg throne in 1835, an unofficial regency council was formed through which Metternich hoped to rule Austria. Though several Habsburg nobles were part of the council Metternich hoped to guide Austria largely unopposed, but Archduke Johann, a cousin of Ferdinand’s, had more strength of character and influence over the Habsburgs than Metternich had bargained for and Metternich never gained the free hand he had hoped for.
Franz Anton Graf von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky
Kolowrat was born in Prague in 1778 to a family of the Czech nobility. He served as an Austrian statesman from 1826-1848. He was a moderate liberal and financial expert, largely responsible for home affairs and the economy during his years of service. He was Metternich’s arch nemesis at the Austrian court. The two men hated each other. Kolowrat became Austria’s first Minister-President (Prime Minister) in 1848 after Metternich’s resignation.
The Treaty of London
On 17 January 1836 Metternich attended a conference in London to discuss the peace settlement to end the Dutch-Belgian civil war. Belgium had been absorbed into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 and had now risen up in open revolt to win independence again. Viscount Melbourne, Prime Minister of Great Britain chaired the conference along with his Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Viscount Palmerston. They sought to assert upon the Netherlands recognition of Belgian independence. Belgium was also to be given right of transit by rail or canal over Dutch territory as an outway to the Ruhr. Melbourne also wished for the great powers in attendance to recognise Belgium as a neutral state. Adolphe Thiers, Foreign Minister for France was in agreement with Melbourne. Great Britain and France signed the Treaty of London along with Belgium and the Netherlands to conclude the peace settlement. Through this Belgium gained a defence pact as her independence was guaranteed by Britian and France. Freidrich Ancillon, Foreign Minister for Prussia refused to endorse the peace agreement, Prussia’s interest lay in the support of a greater Netherlands under Germanic influence and so Ancillon left the conference without signing the treaty. Metternich had already decided that he would show German unity, a strong Germanic central Europe based on conservative ideals was more important to Austria than the guarantee of a free sovereign nation in Belgium that was already being opened to manipulation by British liberals. Metternich therefore, declined to sign the treaty.
War in Spain
Early in 1836, the figurehead of the Carlists and pretender to the throne of Spain, Carlos Maria Isidro appealed to the Imperial Court in Vienna for direct intervention and support for the Carlist cause in the civil war now raging in Spain. The war was a war of succession. Spanish law had excluded the female line from inheriting the throne since the time of Phillip V. In 1830, King Ferdinand VII, who had no sons, changed the law of succession so that his daughter would inherit at the expense of Carlos, his reactionary and authoritarian brother. Ferdinand died in 1833 and his infant daughter, Isabella, just three years old became Queen of Spain. Isabella’s mother Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies became Queen Regent. The Infante Carlos disputed the legitimacy of Maria Christina's regency and the accession of her daughter, and declared himself to be the rightful heir to the Spanish throne. The Carlist Wars ensued. Political lines were drawn, the conservatives aligned themselves in support of Carlos, whilst the liberals formed an alliance of convenience with the progresista faction at the royal court.
Maria Cristina, Queen Regent of Spain and the pretender Carlos Maria Isidro.
Though the Carlists drew on conservative support, Austria declined to show any support for Carlos. Spain’s Queen Regent, Maria Cristina, had the full support of Austria’s ally, King Ferdinand II of the Two-Sicilies. The Metternich faction at the court of Austria, themselves representing a royal house had no intention of supporting a usurper. The Carlists were defeated just eight months later.
World Affairs
Tensions begin to show in relationships between Russia and Britain over Persia. Persia accepted Russian protection. Russia expanded its sphere of influence in the middle east at Britain’s expense who were expelled by Mohammed Shah. In return Persia was provided with Russian arms to strengthen its military. Afghanistan under Dost Mohammed reaffirmed ties with Britain and remained firmly under the UK’s influence. In August Russia declared against the state of Georgia. Georgia had no allies and not enough geographic or demographic importance to gather support for its independence from the great powers. Toward the end of 1836, both France and the Ottomans became embroiled in conflicts in North Africa. The Turks annexed Fezzan whilst France launched ineffective raids into Constantine.