The reign of Maximilian II: 1564-1576
When Maximilian II came to power Austrian reputation was not in a good shape. Princes of the North were unhappy with Austrian aggression against Hannover, Bremen and Saxony and plotted with Phillip II of Spain to make him the Emperor instead of Maximilian. While they failed at first, their persistance guaranteed more trouble later.
Meanwhile, the Protestant heresy was spreading to the south of France, where Huguenots declared their state in the province of Dauphine. French handled the revolt admirably, annexing the newly born country within the weeks of its declaration of independence.
In 1567 Poland and Lithuania became one country. After victories over Golden Horde the new empire stretched from the shores of Baltic to the mountains of Ural. The Polish Eagle was trying to prevent Russian Bear from walking toward the Siberia. A dangerous thing to attempt.
In 1570 the Emperor decided the time has come to punish Turks for annexing Croatia - at the time of annexation a vassal of Austria. A war was declared and soon a wave after wave of Turkish soldiers clashed with Imperial armies in Croatia and Dalmatia. Hungarians too crossed the border in force and attempted to grab some land for themselves.
The Pope was delighted. Spain felt relieved - Turkish Algerian allies threatened her coasts for far too long time. Even Protestant heretics welcomed a new crusade against the infidels. Everybody except French rejoiced at these news. French, instead, put the knife in the back of the Christendom, by attacking Burgundy in February of 1571.
The war with France lasted a full year. Imperial armies managed to defeat several large French armies, while the combined forces of Lorraine and Burgundy captured Berri, Nivernais to Lorraine, Orleans and Paris. In the same time Austrian armies fought their way through the Balkan mountains and descended on Thrace, besieging Constantinople. On sea, Imperial Mediterranean fleet raided as far as Ionian islands, but then met its match near the shores of Crete. Outnumbered and outgunned, the navy was forced to abandoned its raid and retreat to Sicily, suffering at the hands of Algerian pirates along the way. One third of the ships were sunk and the fleet did not dare to leave the friendly waters until the end of the war.
In February of 1572 French accepted peace offer from Burgundy, ceding Nivernais to Lorraine. The Ottomans tried to chase the Imperial army from the walls of the Second Rome, but this time God smiled upon Christians and granted them much desired victory. In June the city fell and to celebrate this victory the merchants of Baden built a refinery and presented it as a gift to the crown.
Few days later the Ottomans accepted Austrian peace offer, ceding Croatia and Serbia to Austria and Transylvania to Hungary. The former two provinces were soon granted independence. Serbia lost it almost as soon as the celebrations were over (1575).
As Turks declared war on Croatia (January of 1576), Maximilian's attention is diverted to the west, when Palatinat declares war on Burgundy. Hungary dares to dishonor Austrian alliance, but is persuaded to re-think its her position. Just as Imperial armies cross the Palatinat border, France makes the alliance with the enemy, somewhat complicating the matter.
As forces of Palatinat bravely advance on Luxembourg and Alsace, Imperial army delivers defeats an enemy at the walls of Koln. Maximilian takes the celebration of this particular victory way too serious and is found dead from drinking two weeks later.
Rudolf II is declared Archduke of Austria. The crown of the Holy Roman Empire is again lost to the Spanish branch of Habsburgs. Phillip II finally gets the object of his desires.
When Maximilian II came to power Austrian reputation was not in a good shape. Princes of the North were unhappy with Austrian aggression against Hannover, Bremen and Saxony and plotted with Phillip II of Spain to make him the Emperor instead of Maximilian. While they failed at first, their persistance guaranteed more trouble later.
Meanwhile, the Protestant heresy was spreading to the south of France, where Huguenots declared their state in the province of Dauphine. French handled the revolt admirably, annexing the newly born country within the weeks of its declaration of independence.
In 1567 Poland and Lithuania became one country. After victories over Golden Horde the new empire stretched from the shores of Baltic to the mountains of Ural. The Polish Eagle was trying to prevent Russian Bear from walking toward the Siberia. A dangerous thing to attempt.
In 1570 the Emperor decided the time has come to punish Turks for annexing Croatia - at the time of annexation a vassal of Austria. A war was declared and soon a wave after wave of Turkish soldiers clashed with Imperial armies in Croatia and Dalmatia. Hungarians too crossed the border in force and attempted to grab some land for themselves.
The Pope was delighted. Spain felt relieved - Turkish Algerian allies threatened her coasts for far too long time. Even Protestant heretics welcomed a new crusade against the infidels. Everybody except French rejoiced at these news. French, instead, put the knife in the back of the Christendom, by attacking Burgundy in February of 1571.
The war with France lasted a full year. Imperial armies managed to defeat several large French armies, while the combined forces of Lorraine and Burgundy captured Berri, Nivernais to Lorraine, Orleans and Paris. In the same time Austrian armies fought their way through the Balkan mountains and descended on Thrace, besieging Constantinople. On sea, Imperial Mediterranean fleet raided as far as Ionian islands, but then met its match near the shores of Crete. Outnumbered and outgunned, the navy was forced to abandoned its raid and retreat to Sicily, suffering at the hands of Algerian pirates along the way. One third of the ships were sunk and the fleet did not dare to leave the friendly waters until the end of the war.
In February of 1572 French accepted peace offer from Burgundy, ceding Nivernais to Lorraine. The Ottomans tried to chase the Imperial army from the walls of the Second Rome, but this time God smiled upon Christians and granted them much desired victory. In June the city fell and to celebrate this victory the merchants of Baden built a refinery and presented it as a gift to the crown.
Few days later the Ottomans accepted Austrian peace offer, ceding Croatia and Serbia to Austria and Transylvania to Hungary. The former two provinces were soon granted independence. Serbia lost it almost as soon as the celebrations were over (1575).
As Turks declared war on Croatia (January of 1576), Maximilian's attention is diverted to the west, when Palatinat declares war on Burgundy. Hungary dares to dishonor Austrian alliance, but is persuaded to re-think its her position. Just as Imperial armies cross the Palatinat border, France makes the alliance with the enemy, somewhat complicating the matter.
As forces of Palatinat bravely advance on Luxembourg and Alsace, Imperial army delivers defeats an enemy at the walls of Koln. Maximilian takes the celebration of this particular victory way too serious and is found dead from drinking two weeks later.
Rudolf II is declared Archduke of Austria. The crown of the Holy Roman Empire is again lost to the Spanish branch of Habsburgs. Phillip II finally gets the object of his desires.
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