Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 111: Policy Forged Under Pressure

During a pivotal moment in the negotiations between the United Kingdom and Austria, a message from his mother, Princess Sophie, captured Franz’s full attention.

(TN: Raws say Princess Sophie, but it should be Archduchess Sophie at this point in history as she had already married Archduke Franz Karl of Austria and bore Franz Joseph, our MC)

Uncle Ferdinand I was planning to abdicate early, preparing for Franz to ascend the throne ahead of schedule.

Crossing his heart, Franz would swear in the name of God that he had no hand in this matter. As the legitimate heir of Austria, he had no need to rush and pressure his uncle into abdication.

The real decision-maker behind this move wasn’t Ferdinand I as an individual; it was a collective decision made by the House of Habsburg.

While Austria is known for its conservatism, over the years, the populace’s tolerance for this mentally challenged emperor has reached its breaking point, and factors like the Vienna Uprising are indicative of this.

For the House of Habsburg, this was nothing short of a catastrophe, with the dignity of the monarchy in tatters and a constant stream of ridicule. If this were to persist in the long run, it would certainly jeopardize the royal family's standing.

During this time, Franz emerged as a regent, swiftly seizing power and quelling domestic uprisings, which gave many people a glimmer of hope.

The Austrian Empire’s influence was steadily declining, a fact not lost on members of the royal family who were anxious but lacked the ability to reverse the tide.

Franz’s remarkable performance shone brightly in their eyes, as if the House of Habsburg were about to welcome a leader that will bring about the house’s revitalization.

Subsequently, during private discussions, they recognized that they could no longer allow Emperor Ferdinand I to continue tarnishing the family’s reputation, as the Habsburgs had become the butt of aristocratic jokes for decades.

Considering their long-term interests, they collectively decided to have Ferdinand I abdicate early, allowing the highly capable Franz to assume the throne and thereby restore the House of Habsburg’s honor.

Once the decision was made, they took turns persuading Ferdinand I to step down. More accurately, they were seeking the consent of Queen Maria Anna for the emperor’s abdication.

Ferdinand I was at times clear-headed, and at other times, he was confused. He might have agreed to something one moment and then promptly forgotten it the next. His most vivid memory seemed to revolve around ordering his chef: “I am the Emperor, and I want to eat dumplings.”

When he was clear-headed, he didn’t differ much from a normal person, except for slightly slower reactions and a slightly lower IQ. However, when he fell ill, he seemed to lose all awareness.

The most crucial issue was that he would experience these episodes several times a day, and no one knew when he would be clear-headed or when he would fall ill. It was highly unreliable for him to make decisions, so everyone decided to take charge on his behalf.

To avoid any embarrassments, they needed to persuade Queen Maria Anna. As long as she didn’t object, Ferdinand I’s personal opinions could be disregarded.

Undoubtedly, Queen Maria Anna was never someone driven by a strong desire for power. Her husband’s inability to rule made the Vienna court feel more like a cage to her.

Especially after the outbreak of the Vienna Uprising, she lived in constant fear, dreading a fate similar to that of Louis XVI.

Everyone happily reached a consensus to facilitate Ferdinand I’s early abdication and allow Franz to take charge and clean up the mess.

Indeed, in the eyes of many, the Austrian Empire was in a state of disarray. While the rebellion had been quelled, domestic issues remained severe.

In the eyes of many, one of the main reasons for the nationwide rebellion was the erosion of royal dignity, and Ferdinand I was no longer recognized by the various ethnic groups in Austria.

Franz did not reject the idea of ascending the throne ahead of schedule. A legitimate name was crucial for smooth governance, and many tasks were much easier for an emperor to handle than for a crown prince.

Perhaps having had enough, everyone unanimously chose to act swiftly. The date for Ferdinand I’s abdication was quickly decided, and Franz’s ascension was also set for September 1, 1848, just a little over two months away.

It was now late June, leaving Franz with a little over two months to manage domestic affairs and ensure that there would be no embarrassing incidents during his coronation.

……

The outcome of the Anglo-Austrian negotiations was generally pleasing to Franz. Not only did he secure a substantial sum from the Kingdom of Sardinia, but he also gained British support for Austrian-Balkan issues and received a ticket for overseas colonization.

The only cause for concern was the British stance on the German territories. Like all major powers, they opposed Austrian expansion into the German regions.

Austria’s influence in the German territories was significant, and the House of Habsburg’s reputation was widely recognized. If Austria were to unify the German territories, the repercussions would be far-reaching.

Furthermore, it was worth noting that Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium had all been part of the Habsburg’s realm in the past, and the idea of a grand German unification was also prevalent within these countries.

Who knows if Austria has the means to integrate them? Regardless of whether it’s possible or not, no one is willing to take the risk.

The influence of the House of Habsburg is a source of great apprehension for everyone. If Austria were to attempt to unify the German regions, it would face a situation similar to Napoleon’s campaigns.

In fact, even before the unification of Germany, the interventionist armies of other nations would likely be on the move. This conclusion was deeply disappointing for many, especially the proponents of Greater German nationalism.

There was no way around it; Austria with a core population of just eight million was everyone’s ideal ally, but Austria with over forty to fifty million core inhabitants would be a European nightmare.

After unifying the German regions, Austria would surpass Russia in population and France in industrial power, becoming a true Central European powerhouse.

The British were acutely aware of this, so they encouraged Austria to expand into the Balkans, believing that as long as no single ethnic group held absolute dominance, internal divisions were inevitable.

Austria, plagued by internal discord, would be unable to threaten the global supremacy of the British Empire, allowing them to maintain a friendly relationship.

Franz reassured, “The British position was within our expectations. Now, it’s not our problem to worry about. The Kingdom of Prussia also aims to unify the German regions, but their options are more limited. While we may not be able to expand into the German territories, we can turn to the Balkans or establish colonies. Austria’s progress won’t come to a halt.”

This was also a form of self-consolation. Prussia was merely an excuse; during this era, the Kingdom of Prussia did not yet possess the capability to unify the German regions.

Austria had the inherent capacity to unify Germany, but the international environment did not allow for it.

The British, who were most likely to remain uninvolved, strongly opposed German unification. As for neighboring Russia, the situation was even more complex - one couldn’t afford to be complacent next to them.

Unable to annex the German regions, Austria had no choice but to first address its domestic ethnic tensions and focus on slow, patient accumulation of strength through agricultural efforts.

The so-called expansion efforts were, in reality, more about picking up the leftovers. In the Balkans, Austria had to compromise with the Russians, and in the quest for overseas colonies, concessions had to be made to satisfy the interests of Britain and France.

Felix proposed, “Since the British oppose the unification of the German regions, why don’t we consider an alternative approach and partition the German territories with Prussia?

If we can annex Southern Germany, we can do it even if we have to pay a price for it. We can even give up the Italian regions in exchange for the support of Britain and France. Additionally, we can cede Austrian Poland to the Russians to gain their understanding.”

Metternich sighed and said, “It’s not that simple. Many of the Southern German states are our allies. How can we expand without betraying our allies? If we turn against our allies, what will become of our reputation in future diplomatic relations? Who would dare form alliances with us?”

If he had known that the international situation would evolve into what it is today, back when constructing the Vienna System, he would have dispatched the House of Württemberg to the Italian region and Austria could have directly absorbed the Kingdom of Bavaria.

Unfortunately, history doesn’t entertain “what ifs.” In order to guard against the French, Austria had supported the Kingdom of Bavaria as an ally and buffer, and now this ally was blocking Austria’s road to expansion.

Before the rise of nationalism, people didn’t fully grasp the significance of a dominant ethnic group. However, after experiencing the revolutions, everyone understood the weaknesses of multi-ethnic states.

Hungarians sought independence, Italians sought independence, Poles sought independence, Czechs sought autonomy...

Fortunately, nationalism hadn’t permeated the entire society. Those pushing for independence were mainly capitalists and some nobles, and Austria managed to suppress their efforts.

The greatest wealth of the South German region was not its resources but its population of fifteen million.

If they were to annex the South German states with shared religious beliefs, language, and culture, Austria’s predominant ethnicity would suddenly become the majority. This would significantly reduce the risk of internal fragmentation.

Franz contemplated for a moment before saying, “Instead of solely focusing on territorial expansion, let’s explore solutions internally to address the ethnic diversity. Within our vast empire, there are over twenty million illiterate individuals. How many among them even know to which ethnic group they belong? The Ministry of Education can develop a textbook that connects various ethnicities across regions, tracing their historical ties to the Germanic ethnic group.

For those without clear ethnic connections, we can emphasize ethnic amalgamation. I cannot believe that their ancestors for eighteen generations had no ties to the Germanic ethnic group. In cases where no distinct link exists, we can simply inform them that they belong to the Germanic heritage.

As for minority groups with rich cultural heritages, we can introduce them to the Austrian system, highlighting our diverse ancestry, which inherently includes Germanic roots. If they remain unconvinced, they are free to delve into their family histories. After many years of ethnic integration, I doubt there are many pure-blooded ethnic groups left. Let’s first clarify these ethnic relationships, and then gradually promote the use of the German language, or rather, the Austrian language, to replace local dialects.”

Franz appeared ready to feign helplessness. If the predominant ethnic group wasn’t sufficient, they could manufacture one.

Regardless of whether they are true Germanic people, as long as they believe it themselves, that should suffice. It’s a numbers game – the more they convince, the better. With some effort from the bureaucrats, they can quickly expand the Germanic ethnicity within their borders.

In history, even the Kingdom of Prussia underwent Germanization. Initially, their Germanic ethnicity didn’t hold a dominant position. Through language and cultural assimilation, they managed to establish their dominance.