Changing of the Seasons: An Alternate Risorgimento

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

Prologue
"Our biggest regrets are not for the things we have done but for the things we haven't done."

"You think that I would sink this low? I will not accept a crown touched by the hussy smell of revolution!" King Frederick William III of Prussia had stormed out of the Assembly right after, in a dramatic fit. The members of the Frankfurt Parliament, a group that could be seen in some lights as thinly veiled revolutionaries, knew there was a low chance of Frederick accepting their offer to become German Emperor, creating a nation of ethnic Germans on par with France or Russia. The brown nosed Prussians had been dealing with power far beyond their own for long, lifting above their weight, they didn't realize it wouldn't last forever. A Prussian first and a German second, that lot were. And it's because of that very pompous attitude that the offer to become German Emperor had fell to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. [I.] Franz was honored, and dispatched diplomats to the major German states, asking if they'd be willing to join in this union. The constitution had all states keeping their rulers and prestige, but under an Emperor, and as a combined state. The King of Württemberg agreed, and so did Austria's long time ally in Bavaria, but with the stipulation that the capital is not Vienna, but Frankfurt or another city more central in Germany instead. The King of Saxony sent back a diplomat agreeing as well (but of course, at this point, the King of Saxony had lost 40% of his land to the Prussians). But Austria was a different challenge than Prussia altogether. Austria itself was a proud German state, but it's Empire was largely a multicultural one, encompassing Germans and a dozen different Slavic races on a good day. The Parliament did not like that: their goal was to create a German nation, not a multicultural one. It left quite a task on young Franz Joseph, deciding whether to dismantle the Empire to create a new one. Austria was different from the rest of Germany; it always viewed itself as Austrian, moreso than Prussians thought of themselves as Prussian. Austria had always been proud of it's special place as the central holding of the strongest dynasty in Europe and perhaps rightly so. While all of it's rivals were elevated to Kingdoms, Austria remained a mere Archduchy - but the people of Austria thought of the Archduchy to be beyond most Kingdoms. Yes, it left quite a conundrum for Franz Joseph to figure out. His mother, Archduchess Sophia, on the other hand, had already made up her mind.

Vienna, Austria; April 14th, 1849

"My dearest son, think of it! You cannot let this opportunity pass!" The Archduchess was very excited about the idea of her own son as the German Emperor, and would not let him miss out on the chance to be the founder of a new legacy, one even greater than their own. "You would be the one ushering in a new age! A new era!"

"But Mother!" Franz Joseph rubbed his temples, tired of repeating the same arguments. He felt as if he was a ghost, doomed to continue to go through the motions forever. "We cannot dismantle our legacy!"

"Our legacy is that of the Holy Roman Empire." Sophia smiled widely, reminiscing on the past as if she'd been there herself. "Our family led the minor states for hundreds of years, guiding them and protecting them. And this is our chance to restore that power!"

"What of the Empire, though! Not that Empire, but our Empire? Admit that it is a lost cause and give them all independence, like those damned revolutionaries want? Create a total power vacuum?" Franz sighed and stood up, pacing back and forth through out the dining room.

"Sit back down, dear, remember your manners." He did as she said; even as an Emperor, he was still obedient to his mother. "No, dearest, of course not. We will do what we have done in the past, when needed. We will divide our lands among ourselves. We can set up your brothers as independent lords of these realms. Our Empire will continue in all but name, and this way we not only maintain our Empire, but we will rule all of central Europe!"

Archduchess Sophia was a cunning woman, indeed, one with quite the gift for seeing the future. She wanted nothing but the greatest for her sons, and knew each and every one of them was destined for magnificence! Her own son being the one to bring in a golden age of central Europe.. it wasn't something she would let slip through her - or his - fingers. It took several more days of debating, but in the end, Sophia won the argument, as she always did. And she had some good points; the year before was a daunting one on the Habsburgs, with the so called 'Spring of Revolutions'. Many of the minority groups in the Empire were tired of being subservient to Vienna, and this seemed a decent way to give the people what they wanted without dismembering the Habsburg's hold on central Europe. And so on April 20th, Franz Joseph returned to the Parliament, and was crowned Franz I, German Emperor, marking a new era as a German state was born. Soon after, on April 29th, Franz Joseph announced what would be called the Proclamation of Prague, separating the Austrian Empire into four crowns. Franz I, German Emperor remained as Archduke of Austria and King of Bohemia. His youngest brother, Ludwig Viktor, would be named King of Croatia, with his mother, the Archduchess herself, as regent until he came of age. His brother Karl Ludwig would be named King of Greater Hungary and rule over Hungary and Galicia, with his uncle, Palatine Stephen of Hungary, serving as his regent until hecame of age. [II.] And his other brother, Ferdinand Maximilian, was more than happy to take up the reins as King of Lombardy and Venetia, the Italian provinces of the Habsburg Empire [III.]. Indeed, the liberal young man was ready to make his own mark upon the world. And while the Empire had been dismantled, the Habsburgs had survived the Spring of Revolutions in one piece - and now it was time for a changing of the seasons.

[I.] This is, of course, the POD. Franz Joseph was given the offer to join the German Empire IOTL, but turned it down because he didn't want to dismantle the Austrian Empire. However, ITTL, he is offered the crown of Emperor himself, and therefore takes the deal, splitting the lands of his ancestors between his brothers.
[II.] Is this divide between Karl Ludwig and Ludwig Viktor a solid divide, or does it need to be changed? I can't decide.
[III.] I didn't think that it would be that much of a stretch to throw Dalmatia in with Italy, but if it is, I will change it.

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

Hold on a second,the Parliament may have offered the crown to Franz Joseph now,but would the other German rulers actually accept this?

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

Hello! Here is a little idea i've been playing around with for a few days, since i've kind of stalled out on my independent Bavaria TL (I know where I want to take it, just not how to take it there), and I thought I would start a new project to keep my hands busy. Although the prologue doesn't show much of it, the main bulk of the timeline will center upon Ferdinand Maximilian and the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. (Not to say that it won't feature the entirety of the Habsburg brothers getting up to kooky shenanigans and such. Don't worry. It will.) Enjoy it! Any advise or constructive criticism, as always, is welcomed.

darthfanta said:
Hold on a second,the Parliament may have offered the crown to Franz Joseph now,but would the other German rulers actually accept this?

As much as they'd accept Prussia? I mean, of course there is going to be issues with some of them and an alt. Unification War will take place, but at this point the Austro-Prussian war hasn't happened, and Austrian prestige is still at a high within Germany.

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

I also think that it's best if the capital is moved to Frankfurt.Vienna's too distant from the center of Germany.

Galicia and Lodomeria is a kingdom,not a Grand Duchy.

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

Curt Jester said:
Hello! Here is a little idea i've been playing around with for a few days, since i've kind of stalled out on my independent Bavaria TL (I know where I want to take it, just not how to take it there), and I thought I would start a new project to keep my hands busy. Although the prologue doesn't show much of it, the main bulk of the timeline will center upon Ferdinand Maximilian and the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Enjoy it! Any advise or constructive criticism, as always, is welcomed.

As much as they'd accept Prussia? I mean, of course there is going to be issues with some of them and an alt. Unification War will take place, but at this point the Austro-Prussian war hasn't happened, and Austrian prestige is still at a high within Germany.

There's no way the German rulers are going to kowtow to the choice of the parliament.What happened in OTL was that the German RULERS themselves chose the King of Prussia as emperor in 1871,not the parliament.

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

darthfanta said:
I also think that it's best if the capital is moved to Frankfurt.Vienna's too distant from the center of Germany.

Galicia and Lodomeria is a kingdom,not a Grand Duchy.Also,Austria was not an archduchy in 1848.It was formally called the Empire of Austria.Francis II had proclaimed himself the Emperor of Austria,so he's not a mere archduke or a king.

I'm not going to move the capital to Frankfurt, at least not yet.

Thanks for that! I edited the Archduke thing in certain places, but after the dismantling of the Austrian Empire, I would say Austria itself isn't an Empire anymore, just an Archduchy once more.

darthfanta said:
There's no way the German rulers are going to kowtow to the choice of the parliament.What happened in OTL was that the German RULERS themselves chose the King of Prussia as emperor in 1871,not the parliament.

darthfanta said:
One thing for sure is that Franz Joseph needs to ask the other German rulers if they will respect the choice of Parliament.He can't just jump the gun and accept the Imperial throne without consulting them.

I've also got another question.Wouldn't Croatia be Dalmatia?

Point taken, I guess, but they're not 'kowtowing' anything. I've barely explained anything, this is just the first post, and a general idea of how this is going to be run down. He didn't jump the gun, he accepted it on the basis of the Frankfurt Parliament, and German nationalism and want for unification is pretty high. The timeline isn't even going to focus on Germany, but on Italy. If it makes it seem more plausible, i'll have the Kings of Bavaria / Württemberg / Saxony agree to join in with Franz, on condition that the capital is moved to Frankfurt. Those three are the major Kingdoms in southern Germany, and a good basis to start with. Thanks.

No, the Austrian Kingdom of Dalmatia is just the southern half of the Croatian coast, and a historical part of Italy ala Venice, and at one point it was a part of Italian irredenta.

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

One thing for sure is that Franz Joseph needs to ask the other German rulers if they will respect the choice of Parliament.He can't just jump the gun and accept the Imperial throne without consulting them.

I've also got another question.Wouldn't Croatia be Dalmatia?

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

Curt Jester said:
No, the Austrian Kingdom of Dalmatia is just the southern half of the Croatian coast, and a historical part of Italy ala Venice, and at one point it was a part of Italian irredenta.

So part of Maximilian's kingdom is separate from one another?Another thing is does Littoral Austria(area around Trieste) remain with Germany/Austria or is it incorporated into Maximilian's realm?

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

darthfanta said:
So part of Maximilian's kingdom is separate from one another?Another thing is does Littoral Austria(area around Trieste) remain with Germany/Austria or is it incorporated into Maximilian's realm?

Yes, it is. That's going to be an issue later, of course, but for now every thing is hunky dory. The Austrian Littoral is still part of Austria proper, and through that, part of Germany.

Yanez de Gomera · Jul 1, 2015

Another Risorgimento timeline! That's great!
Lombardy-Venetia has great potential, but italian ationalism is already a thing, as appeared clearly in 1848. The first big problem should be Venice herself that, IIRC is still under Austrian siege and would surrender only on 22 August 1849. A compromise should be found ASAP with the rebels, if Ferdinand Maximilian wants to keep his reign for long without having to be constantly propped up by German bayonets. Second imminent problem is Sardinia-Piedmont:sure they have just been beaten, but will eye Lombardy with the same covet as ever, and are sure to stir trouble in the future (and call France to its help).
Dalmatia will cause problems with Hungary, that's sure, and Istria/Triest will become sore points with the German Empire.

Clearly this is your timeline, so I don't want to interphere much (I am curious to see how you resolve those challenges, and your title makes me wonder if TTL the Risorgimento will end with an united Italy, but with an Habsburg monarch), but I think that the key for F.M. should be either embracing the italian cause and proposing himself as leader of some italian confederation (or maybe Empire even?), as the Pope has abandoned the italian cause and Sardinia has been defeated, or trying to play up his liberalism in respect to Sardinia and the localist nature of the Italians, maybe trying to create a different (Padanian?) identity.
In both case granting a fairly liberal constitution will be essential.

One last note about Prussia, I wonder what their reactions will be, as I am not sure that the Hohenzollern would so meekily submit hemselves to an Habsburg.

Anyways, keep up the good job, I am already waiting for more!

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

Yanez de Gomera said:
Another Risorgimento timeline! That's great!
Lombardy-Venetia has great potential, but italian ationalism is already a thing, as appeared clearly in 1848. The first big problem should be Venice herself that, IIRC is still under Austrian siege and would surrender only on 22 August 1849. A compromise should be found ASAP with the rebels, if Ferdinand Maximilian wants to keep his reign for long without having to be constantly propped up by German bayonets. Second imminent problem is Sardinia-Piedmont:sure they have just been beaten, but will eye Lombardy with the same covet as ever, and are sure to stir trouble in the future (and call France to its help).
Dalmatia will cause problems with Hungary, that's sure, and Istria/Triest will become sore points with the German Empire.

Clearly this is your timeline, so I don't want to interphere much (I am curious to see how you resolve those challenges, and your title makes me wonder if TTL the Risorgimento will end with an united Italy, but with an Habsburg monarch), but I think that the key for F.M. should be either embracing the italian cause and proposing himself as leader of some italian confederation (or maybe Empire even?), as the Pope has abandoned the italian cause and Sardinia has been defeated, or trying to play up his liberalism in respect to Sardinia and the localist nature of the Italians, maybe trying to create a different (Padanian?) identity.
In both case granting a fairly liberal constitution will be essential.

One last note about Prussia, I wonder what their reactions will be, as I am not sure that the Hohenzollern would so meekily submit hemselves to an Habsburg.

Anyways, keep up the good job, I am already waiting for more!

Thank you for the comment and the help! Italian nationalism is the backbone of this story, actually, and I feel like I should've added the first update to the prologue to help clear some issues out, but I wanted to have some suspense first. Venice was going through a revolution at the time, but my plan was to play off of that - they wanted separation from Austria, and now they've got it. It's not the perfect situation, but it'll be a decent compromise. The point of an independent L-V was to create a counterweight to P-S. Austria couldn't focus on all their goals at once, and L-V was in the long run a drain on it, so this will allow it to live out it's full potential as a Kingdom. In a race to unify Italy.

I kinda thought Dalmatia would be a sore point, and I think this convinced me to just let that part go for now, actually. I'm going to edit that out.

Ferdinand Maximilian was actually an Italian romantic, so I thought he'd be the best way to unite Italy under the House of Habsburg (my first goal from the start). Splitting the Austrian Empire and creating an Austrian-led German Empire was, while worthy of it's own TL for sure, just a way to create a situation in which the Habsburg lands are split so Maximilian could become King of L-V. He was pretty liberal, and i'm thinking eventually a constitutional monarchy that's heavily tied to a liberal, (mostly) peacefully formed German Empire is going to be the endgame.

The Padanian identity was something i've toyed around with, and I think the Two Sicilies will be left out of the unification, at least at first. And Prussia is in for a rude awakening, with the Savoys tagging right behind them.

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

If Prussia wants to solve the problem militarily,I think they can probably still do it provide Austria and her allies have undertaken drastic military reforms.

Yanez de Gomera · Jul 1, 2015

I always like some good Savoy bashing

. If your TL fulfills those premises, the Archdukess Sophie might well be remembered as the grandmother of the European Union, as the Habsburg led central European block, if it manages to keep good internal relations, will certainly be a very strong power.

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

Part I

Venice, Lombardy-Venetia; May 4th, 1849

Daniele Manin was a stubborn man, and it was beginning to grate on Ferdinand Maximilian's nerves.

Escorted by a small army, Ferdinand Maximilian had come to Venice in order to negotiate a surrender of the rebels and the short lived Venetian Republic. And, all things considered, it was going pretty well. When Maximilian's older brother Franz Joseph had announced the splitting up of the Austrian Empire, it had shocked most of Europe, throwing a wrench into the plans of many, many people. The royal family of Piedmont-Sardinia were counted among that many people. While earlier in the year, the Papacy and the Two Sicilies had both withdrawn from the war against the Austrian possessions in Italy, the Savoyards had decided to continue their plight, backing the Venetian Republic with both funds and men. Even after King Charles of Sardinia abdicated in favor of his son and technically surrendered, the funding continued.

They would pay, soon enough.

Maximilian rubbed his eyes and shifted from one foot to another uncomfortably, waiting for the leader of the rebels to approach him. The Venetian rebels weren't exactly sure what to do at this point; their point of campaigning was to separate from Austria, and to have independence. And now they had it. Not in the way they intended, of course, but they hadn't expected the Austrians to even consider anything of the sort. So, when Maximilian, escorted by a large army of heavily armed men, had bowed to the guards and told them the news, it had sent a ripple of shock through the lagoon, and soon, a ceasefire was called as they negotiated a peace.

Maximilian thought the shock of it all was to his advantage.

Manin walked up to Maximilian with a perplexed look on his face, and the two began to whisper to each other. People began to gather around the men, keeping a short distance, watching in both confusion and curiosity. After a few minutes of talking the two came to an agreement. Maximilian, as much as he disliked the man, decided that his charisma and hold over the Venetian people would be to his advantage as well. He offered Daniele a position as Governor of Venice, and full amnesty for the rebellion, if they surrendered the city to the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Maximilian let Daniele know that all other matters could be settled later, and that ending this rebellion needed to happen now, and if it didn't, the Austrian armies would storm the city, as much as he didn't want it to happen. Daniele looked back at the crowd that was watching with beads of sweat falling from his forehead, and nodded. The two shook hands, beginning the Treaty of San Marco. The treaty would be fully written later that week, after Maximilian's coronation.

Despite the surrender, Daniele Manin walked away from Maximilian, and proclaimed victory.

Milan, Lombardy-Venetia; June 20th, 1849

The coronation of Maximilian Ferdinand was his mother's idea. She had pushed Franz to send the Iron Crown of Lombardy to Milan, heavily guarded, and to use it as a symbol of Maximilian's legitimacy as King of Lombardy-Venetia in order to help quell the rioting. She knew it would be a snub towards the Savoy family, who were beginning to push themselves as the champions of the Italian peninsula. Maximilian, an Italian romantic himself, was more than happy to take it.

Instead of it being a private event, the citizens of the Kingdom were all invited to watch the coronation of their new King. King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia did not attend, despite being invited. Held in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Milan, it was to be a grand party to celebrate Maximilian's ascension. Many people, nobles and commonfolk alike showed up and partook in the celebrating, even those who did not care about the new King (as a free party is a free party, no?). Sometime near the beginning of the celebrating, everyone's attention was called to the temporarily built stage in the middle of the courtyard, and the crowd gathered around to watch as their new King was coronated. And symbolically, the Bishop put the crown on his head as all the onlookers watched.

"By the Grace of God, Ferdinand Maximilian, King of Lombardy and Venetia!"

Small parts of the crowd, mostly that of his relatives, began clapping. Daniele Manin, after a short hesitation, began clapping as well. Slowly the people in the crowd followed suit, until the courtyard was full of clapping. Already he had set a good precedent in his ruling by peacefully approaching the rebels in Venetia instead of continuing the war. The way he gave Daniele Manin full amnesty, and on top of that, a job, had pleased the rebels in Venice greatly. And the people realized it wasn't a perfect situation, but they weren't sure what to make of their new King as of yet, and some decided to wait and see. A group of drunken Milanese nobles had joked that if all Austrian parties were as fun as the coronation, they'd be just fine with the new order. But although he was young, and not against partying his heart out, Maximilian knew he had work to do. His distant cousin, Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany was one of the attendees of the coronation, and Maximilian planned to have a talk with him before the end of the celebration.

Afternote: A short update, focusing more on Ferdinand Maximilian and Italy. I tried giving a feel of his diplomatic, liberal personality, and how much of an Italian romantic he is, as well as setting up the rivalry with the Savoys. I'll add more about the general world in the next few updates (kind of left Germany in a huge cliffhanger, heh).

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

darthfanta said:
If Prussia wants to solve the problem militarily,I think they can probably still do it provide Austria and her allies have undertaken drastic military reforms.

Well, Prussia won't be the super powerful monster that it was IOTL for long. Think of this as a realistic Prussia-screw.

Yanez de Gomera said:
I always like some good Savoy bashing. If your TL fulfills those premises, the Archdukess Sophie might well be remembered as the grandmother of the European Union, as the Habsburg led central European block, if it manages to keep good internal relations, will certainly be a very strong power.

The Savoys were just so bad for Italy, so it's so easy to bash them trying to make a better one. Lel. That's very true; Habsburg Italy, Germany, and Croatia-Hungary make quite a case for an alliance. The only trouble is keeping the rest of the world from chasing after it, heh.

Archduchess Sophia will be a legendary figure on par with Queen Victoria ITTL. (Not that she'll be Queen of the United Kingdom, just that everyone fondly remembers her).

Avrorrange · Jul 1, 2015

I guess Maximillian and Charlotte might have children in this timeline given they will most likely be married to other people since Max is probably going to marry someone for an alliance?

JCVocke · Jul 1, 2015

Honestly while Prussia will likely be the most immediate concern, I doubt they would be able to win against Austria, or rather Germany, and their Allies. The biggest threat to this new Habsburg Order will actually likely be Russia, who will be none too pleased to now have an independent Polish State on their border.

I think it might be a better idea to give Galicia-Lodomeria to Hungary Directly, even if that means there is one less state to give to one of the Habsburg Kids.

The Undead Martyr · Jul 1, 2015

Galicia could be traded to Russia as thanks for their assistance in the revolutions (and placating them for an alliance..) Of course its also a poisoned pill- with more Poles in Russia and a curbstomped Prussia I imagine they might start getting their own ideas about spinning off a Romanov Poland if not independence.

Perhaps they could split off Croatia and Dalmatia to a new "kingdom of Illyria" and transfer some of Istria or the Tentino to Lombardy/Venetia instead of Dalmatia? Trieste was Austria's most important port but also heavily Italian, but if its under control of a Habsburg king of Italy (eventually

) then it might not matter that much.

Ditto for parts of the South Tyrol/Trent, and enlarging that kingdom could be a bone thrown to the Italian nationalists by their new king...
Where is Garibaldi at this time? I really want him to meet Ferdinand, I expect it would be interesting.

JCVocke · Jul 1, 2015

Giving Galicia-Lodomeria to Hungary and splitting Croatia off would probably be the best thing to do. It would also be a nice reward to the Croats who stayed loyal to the Habsburgs in the Revolutions. The stumbling block there would of course be the Hungarians, but Galicia-Lodomeria may placate them.

And nay to giving South Tyrol and Trent to an Italian State, its very German, and has been historically part of Austria for hundreds of years. Italian Nationalists be damned.

Curt Jester · Jul 1, 2015

I like the idea of giving Galicia to Hungary and making an independent Croatian state under Ludwig Viktor, I'll edit that when I get home. Austria isn't giving up Trieste no matter what though.