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I was hoping for it...But I knew you'd show up eventuallyKuzuX said:so,were you expecting me not to be here??
I'm a little embaressed to say, but when i was reading that last update, I thought I was actually reading an article on the actual Austria-Hungary :rofl:
It just shows how well you're doing. Nice work
It just shows how well you're doing. Nice work
Divided But United - Austria 1836-1920
The March Revolution in Berlin
The March Revolution in Berlin
Right after the elections, the new Conservative government had to deal with a very sensitive affair. During the March revolution in Berlin, Christian, Duke of Augustenborg had proposed a Prussian intervention in the affair of Schleswig-Holstein. The Prussians saw this as an excellent opportunity to regain lost prestige and so Prussian troops marched into Holstein. Austria was asked to assist, which would look bad in the eyes of France and Britain.
Still, German brotherhood prevailed and the 1st Kavalleriekorps consisting of 1. and 2. Kavalleriedivisions was sent to support the Prussians.
The Austrians fought a total of four battles in the war against Holstein and Denmark. The 1st was the Battle of Schwerin, where the Austrian divisions defeated the Schleswig forces sieging the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The second and third battles were fought in the province of Ribe, where the Austrians attacked the Danes and succesfully defended against the Danish counter-attack. The fourth and final battle was the Battle of Odense. The Austrians faced superior numbers, but the cavalry divisions were elite units and their organization was far superior to the Danish recruits.
The Battle of Schwerin
After these victories, Copenhagen was exposed. With the Austrians in Odense and the Prussian naval blockade preventing trade and food shipments, the Danes offered peace. The peace deal sealed the fate of Schleswig-Holstein, with Bremen annexing it completely. Austria had Aalborg and the Danish overseas possessions.
The peace deal
Otherwise year 1848, the "Year of Revolution" hardly touched Austria, while most of it's neighbours were struggling with uprisings. There were some seperatist rallies and riots in Northern Italy, but that was little compared to the ones the Sicilians were organizing in the southern part of the peninsula.
All in all, people seemed to be quite happy with the political system in Austria, which differed greatly from any of it's neighbours. Bavaria was the only one of the neighbouring states to embrace democracy. Most of the uprisings were crushed by force and authoritarian governments continued their rule.
On the diplomatic front, a defensive alliance with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was formed. Metternich wanted an ally in Italy, since Sardinia-Piedmonte was allied with France. If they would unify Italy, Austria would be surrounded by hostile neighbours. Austrian support to the Two Sicilies ensured that the Piedmonteans wouldn't try anything clever, at least for some years.
With the Conservatives in power, social reforms weren't really the number one priority. Instead, the Army was greatly expanded "so that the Empire can proudly say it can defend itself against any foe", as Metternich put it. That was hardly the reality, even though the Austrian military was comparatively large. The Empire had 18 standing divisions and a reserve of 42 divisions. Russia had double that amount and Prussia was considered more than capable of reaching Vienna, if it so chose.
Economically speaking, Austria was the fourth strongest nation in Europe, after Britain, France and Prussia. The rail network extended from northern Italy to Hungary and Slovakia. Austria was also the world's leading producer of coal, which guaranteed great revenues from foreign trade. A new cement factory was opened in Bohemia to open up jons for the quickly increasing population there.
Things seemed to go well for the Empire, and the Conservatives never tired of claiming the credit for this new age of prosperity. Time would tell how much it would last.
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All looks bright enough. But Prussia will probably become problematic in the not too distant future.
Colonies for Austria! Excellent, now it's time to make an ocean-going navy...eh right?
I wishMettermrck said:Colonies for Austria! Excellent, now it's time to make an ocean-going navy...eh right?
Divided But United - Austria 1836-1920
Archduke Franz Karl of Austria
Archduke Franz Karl of Austria
Prince Metternich was pleased with his work. And he was pleased that it was his work, not some underaged Emperor's or his insane uncle. It was he who had done the necessary things to save the Empire. The former Emperor made the initiative, but without Metternich, it would've collapsed. Or so he thought.
- Prince Metternich?
- Mmh...what?
- The Emperor wishes to see you.
- So early? Can't the take a piss by himself?
- ...The Emperor demands it.
- Does he now? Fine, I'll meet him.
- The Emperor is waiting in the library.
- Fine, run along now.
- ...
What could this be? He had more pressing issues than play games with the Emperor. There's an Empire to run, and the boy should know that as well.
As Metternich entered the library, he noticed that the Emperor was accompanied by his father, Archduke Franz Karl.
- Your Highness, I must say I am surprised by this early acquitance with you and your father.
- There are reasons for that. I have heard some very serious news. I was hoping you could answer some questions.
- Your Highness, I am a busy man and....
- When His Highness commands, even you have to obey, said the Archduke.
- Very well then. What does Your Highness want from me?
- The truth. I have here a report from the personal doctor of my uncle. It says that my uncle was healthy and feeling well in his time in Croatia, until his health suddenly failed. This was two days after you had visited the Emperor.
- Surely I cannot be blamed for caring about your uncle, and what does this has to do with me?
- The report also says that the only person my uncle talked to after your visit was the doctor. That means that you were the last person to see him alive, besides the doctor. And the doctor's only priority was the health of the Emperor.
- What is your point, Your Highness?
- I have my reasons to believe that you are the headsman of a conspiracy against my uncle and the Empire. Guards, seize him!
The guards rushed in, forced Metternich to his knees, tied him up and took him away. Metternich screamed about "madness" and "horrible misunderstanding", but nobody listened. Metternich was locked in his room and armed guards were placed on the door and in the room itself. He would face trial in the morning.
The trial took three days, in which witnesses were heard and evidences presented. But the thing that solved the case was a teacup found from the former Emperor's bedroom, with poison traces all over it. When a glove that belonged to Metternich and had the same traces of poison was discovered, the trial was over.
- This trial has found Prince Metternich guilty of treason, murder and conspiracy against the crown. The punishment is death by shooting. If the defendant has any last words before he faces the punishmen, he may speak now, in front of everybody.
- I....I.....but...I...
- If no then...
- Wait! I...I did what I saw was best for the Empire! Emperor Ferdinand was a rabid madman! He would've died anyway! I just hastened the process, for the sake of the Empire! You must understand, he would've destroyed us all! In fact, you should be thanking me! I saved us, saved us all! I should've been the one to rule! Not any of those inbred swines, the Habsburgs! ME!
- I have heard enough. Take him away!
Nothing remained of the renowed wit and calm intelligence of Prince Klemens von Metternich. He screamed, he shouted and he begged, but the guards took him away anyway. At sunset, nine men readied, aimed and fired. And Prince Metternich, prime minister and a man who had always been on the top, fell just like every common man when shot.
The Emperor declared his father as the interim prime minister until the next elections. Metternich's influence had disappeared, but his party was still legally in power and only elections could change that. The liberals, of course, were overjoyed to hear the news and quickly proceeded to brand the Conservatives as a traitor-party.
The execution of Metternich came as a shock to many people in the Empire and abroad. Many disliked the man, but he had always been the one to represent Austria in the international stage and now many would have to change their policy towards Austria. Still, the military alliance with the Two Sicilies remained, even it had been handled personally by Metternich and the foreign minister of Two Sicilies. Realpolitik was the word of the day.
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Metternich arrested and executed!!! That strikes at the heart of me, and I don't know why...*glances at forum nickname* Wow, that was a completely unexpected development but it does give you a lot of literary freedom KanaX. We'll see where it goes!
That strikes at the heart of me, and I don't know why...*glances at forum nickname* Wow, that was a completely unexpected development but it does give you a lot of literary freedom KanaX. We'll see where it goes!
Fine, I'll do it in my next Vicky-Austria-AAR...KuzuX said:he should have been hung instead of being shot
A Victoria Austria AAR that I missed! And a democratic Austria, no less! It's certainly a different path but I hope you meet with success and turn Austria into Europe's first multi-etnic federal state.And killing Metternich, that was quite a shock.
Divided But United - Austria 1836-1920
Alfred, Prince of Windisch-Graetz
Alfred, Prince of Windisch-Graetz
After the execution of Metternich, the Conservative party was in chaos. They needed a new, loyal and strong headsman. This was a job quite fitting for Alfred, Prince of Windisch-Graetz. He was a public supporter of the Emperor, and his status as a Feldmarschall of the Imperial Army gave him the credibility and status he needed as the head of the Conservatives.
Soon enough, he was named the party leader, and his first job was to re-ensure the people that the Conservatives were not traitors to the Crown, like the Federalists so eagerly liked to point out. Known as the Emperor's man through and through, his personal honor was untainted. This gave him the capability of answering the accusations made by the Federalists. And even if the Conservative party had lost some of it's allure, it still had a firm grip over political issues and their majority in the Parliament was unquestionable.
The Radicals hadn't stood still after the treason of Metternich. They demanded new elections, now that the ruling party was "not worthy of the trust of the people". Prince Alfred was quick to answer with a counter-argument: "And if these elections would be held, what makes you think that the Radicals would be any more trustworthy? Let us not forget the anti-monarchist sloagans of the first years of democracy. And I can't remember hearing anyone of my party shouting 'hang the Emperor' on a public square."
With keeping the opposition at bay, Prince Alfred poured more money to improve the military of the Empire. Galicia was being fortified and the size of the reserves was increased by 8 divisions in the year 1850. The people soon forgot the political problems, when grand military parades were held in Vienna, Budapest and Prague. This gave Prince Alfred the time he needed to clean the Conservative party from corrupt officials and other "unwanted material". The party could not afford another loss of face, and Prince Alfred was going to make sure nothing similar would ever happen again. Still, nothing would change the fact that there was only so much time left until the next elections.
Seems like this Alfred is fairly able politician himself. That retort about shouting hang the Emperor in the square must have stung in some quarters.