A Different 1867

[Franz Josef II]

Following the Seven Weeks War Vienna was forced to make concessions to Budapest resulting in the Dual Monarchy. We are all aware of how that panned out...but what if at the same time as the Hungarians are making their pitch to the Emperor, the Czechs do the same? I don't know of any notable Czech politicians who might have the diplomatic credit with the Emperor to pull it off, though.

Perhaps the Old Czechs will make their appeal through Empress Elizabeth and this for two reasons: 1) she was widely loved by the people of the Empire, and indeed by many people outside the Austrian realm. By all accounts she was very kind and approachable. 2)She had considerable influence with her husband, so a soft word from her would undoubtedly be worth far more than all the political grandstanding in the world.

A 'triple Monarchy' -although consider it probable the State will simply be referred to as Austria- would go a long way to making things better for Empire in the long run.

[Franz Josef II]

I read some more about Empress Elizabeth...what a flighty bird

So...maybe get rid of Mayerling...and Franz Josef abdicates a year later.
Will he make changes to the Ausgleich?

[Gladi]

Bright day
Are we talking about Fundamental Articles or entirely new thing? And I take offense at that remark, Riegere wasn't that bad a politician.

[Franz Josef II]

I'm afraid I'm a little confused as to both points? Exactly what do you take offense at?

Empress Elizabeth was, quite frankly, a weird character - she sojourned all over Europe, was obsessed with beauty, etc., and had a strained relationship with all of her children, especially Rudolf. Now, I am well aware that this was most likely all caused because of the strict Court etiquette and the mean spirited mother in law she had (she wasn't even allowed to raise her kids -WTF?!?).

More on topic: I was thinking something along the lines of Franz Josef abdicating in favour of Rudolf around 1885. Rudolf was said to be more liberal, so maybe he will try to enact something that is more fair to the Czechs. When the Language Crisis in Bohemia erupted, it would have been very interesting indeed if things had taken a different course then OTL.

[Hapsburg]

Perhaps when the suggestion comes around in 1906 by Aurel Popovici, Rudolph might reorganize the empire into the United States of Greater Austria?

[DuQuense]

This would be a seperate POD, but sound like a great canidate for Mosacic Earth.

[Franz Josef II]

I was thinking that a division of Bohemia would have been the most effective means of settling the Language Crisis w/Count Bedeni. In ourtimeline it was accerbated by the pan - Germans and German nationalists throughout the Empire who sided w/Germans in Bohemia. However, the Czechs were also to blame, since they weren't interested in just having equal rights (government services, etc., available in Czech) but they wanted to impose the Czech language on Germans, too.

Old Franz Josef got pissed off and gave Bedeni the boot, then flushed the whole Language Bill down the toilet. Even though there were no
toilets yet

Maybe if Rudolf is Kaiser he will see a long term solution in dividing Bohemia and giving greater rights to the Czechs. Of course, he will then have to face the Hungarians, but I think he wouldn't mind taking them on.