Yep and yep. Especially regarding Japan I have a VERY good book on the time period which mentioned foreign involvement in great detail and the French will surely have a similiar role in Japan as in OTL.
Zu Schutz und Trutz - Bismarck killed in 1866
- Thread starter Iserlohn
- Start date
Yep and yep. Especially regarding Japan I have a VERY good book on the time period which mentioned foreign involvement in great detail and the French will surely have a similiar role in Japan as in OTL.
Well, I have to say that, sadly the TL is on a short hiatus, less than a month, probably, since university starts later this week and overall I think I might use the time to get adjusted to all that jazz... There might be a little goodie in for you guys in the mean time (Ares96, I'm looking at you, by the way, if you aren't reading his TL, you should), but otherwise you will only see the Japan update in a few weeks, followed by Italy and France (which are way too intertwined at this period, damn Nappy...).
But at least before I'm off "adventuring" in the real world, have a wrap-up, containing all previous updates in wonderful size 2 Tahoma!
But at least before I'm off "adventuring" in the real world, have a wrap-up, containing all previous updates in wonderful size 2 Tahoma!
Richard L. Pratchett, German History #10: 1849 to 1873 (London, 1999)
(…) The end of the condominion in Slesvig-Holstein with the Convention of Badgastein in 1865 was to some extent a victory for Bismarck and his policies. With Slesvig as well as Lauenburg under firm Prussian control Bismarck has been able to focus on other parts of his inter-German policies, namely the preparation of an alliance system which should end Austrian attempts at dominance in the German Confederation.
Having successfully isolated Austria in the case of a future war after meeting with Napoleon III in Biarritz in September 1865 and signing the Alvensleben Convention in 1863 with Russia (…), Bismarck negotiated an alliance with the Kingdom of Italy, which desired Venetia and other Habsburg-controled areas, promising them at least Venetia after the war was over. Furthermore a few of the smaller northern states in the Confederation declared themselves to be on Prussia's side in the planned conflict, most notably the two Mecklenburgs, Brunswick, Oldenburg and the Hanseatic cities. [1]
Bismarck was at his high point of his political career when we as assassinated in Berlin on the afternoon of May 7 by the radical democrat Ferdinand Cohen-Blind as he was walking across the Unter den Linden boulevard in Berlin near the Russian Embassy. Cohen-Blind, who wanted to stop the possible outbreak of a war between Prussia and Austria, first shot two bullets at the chancellor, one hitting him in the shoulder [2], the other one grazing him. Bismarck tried to attack and disarm the assassin, grabbed him, however Cohen-Blind fired three more shots, one in the stomach, one that ricocheted off the ribs and one in the head. Bismarck's death occurred later in the evening in the presence of King Wilhelm I and the King's physician Gustav von Lauer. Ferdinand Cohen-Blind committed suicide after being taken to police headquarters by members of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Guard. (...)
[1] Everything so far is OTL
[2] The point of divergence, ladies and gentlemen!
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Gerhard Voß, Military Tactics of the Second Half of the 20th Century (Cologne, 1982)
(…) The German Civil War [1] was the first mayor conflict in Europe to utilize the advantages of the improved infrastructure. The Prussian railway system, quite developed in contrast to the other German states, allowed fast movement of larger numbers of troops through allied territory. With this advantage Prussian military genius Moltke used the five railway lines the Prussian military could use in order to quickly concentrate the Prussian army. The 285,000 Prussian soldiers were fully mobilized and concentrated in less then thirty days. Austria lacked this advantage, having only one railway line available; not enough in order to concentrate its 200,000 men large army in a similar time frame. (…)
At first during the war there were signs of a Prussian victory despite the sentiment of the European monarchs that an Austrian victory was unavoidable. The First Prussian Army entered Saxony on June 22 near Zittau without meeting any resistance. Led by commanders such as Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (later Frederick III), Prince Friedrich Carl and General Bittenfeld the Austrians and their Saxon allies were beaten in the skirmishes near Hühnerwasser, Sichrow and Turnau. (...) At the First Battle of Podol Prussian Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke personally led the attack on the Bohemian village [2], however it was abandoned as soon as Moltke was hit in the shoulder by an Austrian rifleman. With Moltke removed from the front due to an infection of the wound the key strategist of Prussia was temporarily unavailable. (…)
As Prince Friedrich Wilhelm tried to pass the Riesen Mountains [3] on May 27 his troops were beaten by Austrian defenders at Nachod and Trautenau, luckily however the Prussian casualties were minimal. (…)
The Battle of Gitschin took place on June 29 between Prussia's 1st Army versus the 1st Austrian corps and the Saxon army. Commanded by Prince Friedrich Carl the first larger victory against Austria was achieved with the rather small Prussian army defeating the German Confederation troops which were superior in numbers. The victory was achieved by the usage of breech-loading rifles, the Dreyse needle gun, which fire more rapid shots than the Austrian Lorenz Rifles. (…)
On July 2 the Battle of Königgrätz (also known as Sadowa) took place under the command of King Wilhelm and General Bittenfeld. The Prussian forces converged at flanked the Austrian army, which was assisted by Saxon troops. This manoeuvre was planned by the temporary replacement of Moltke, Leonhard von Blumenthal. The Battle of Königgrätz ended in a decisive Prussian victory and was crucial in ending the war due to the heavy losses suffered by the Austrians led by Ludwig von Benedek. (…)
In the south Austria however had more military successes, beating the Italian army at Custoza on June 24 (…). However with an Italian naval victory near Lissa [4] on July 20, in which the inferiority of the Austrian navy showed, and with the successful skirmishes the Hunters of the Alps led by Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi in southern Tirol the situation for Austria became dire. (…)
Northern Germany saw suprisingly little fighting. The Battle of Langensalza on June 27 between Prussian forces aided by Saxe-Coburg-Gotha against Hanover was the sole genuine victory by Austria's non-Saxon allies. (…) However the heavy losses of Hanover made this a Phyrric victory, with more then one thousand Hanoverian troops wounded and almost 400 killed. With the Hanoverian military practically shattered the Kingdom of Hanover surrendered relultently two days after the battle. (…)
The Main area saw also little fighting, with Hessian and Bavarian troops facing defeat from the better organized Prussian troops. (...) [5] All of the Hessian states north of the Main were occupied by the July 17.
[1] The English name of this war is quite different from OTL here, though the term Seven Weeks' War is also popular in English. In German it is usually called the German-Prussian War (or sometimes the German Brother's War -> Deutscher Bruderkrieg) ITTL.
[2] In OTL Moltke refrained from leading battles, excluding Sadowa. Here he makes a mistake for once.
[3] The Krkonoše or Riesengebirge. This is TTL's English name for the mountain range.
[4] A change from OTL that is quite drastic. The Italian navy was superior in terms of equipment and size, however OTL the Austrians managed to win using ramming (one of the last few cases in which that was useful). Also the Italian admirals are a bit less "bitchy" towards eachother ITTL, at least for the course of the war, leading to better coordination.
[5] That whole paragraph is up to that point basically OTL.
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Henri Lebeau, The History of the Germanies after the Second Slesvig War (Metz, 1970)
(…) With the Seven Weeks' War decided after Sadowa the new Minister President of Prussia, Hermann Ludwig von Balan, previously Prussian ambassador to Belgium, quickly wanted to negotiate a peace. After an armistice was signed delegates from the North German Confederation, the military alliance led by Prussia, and from Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, the Hessian states and Hanover met in Munich to determine the terms of the peace treaty. Simultaneously Austrian, French and Italian delegates met in Vienna.
The Prussian delegation, consisting out of Balan, the recently recovered Field Marshal Moltke, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and Under-Secretary of State Thile previously negotiated the Treaty of Nikolsburg, which laid the foundations of the dissolution of the German Confederation, the formation of the North German Confederation and the annexation of the Kingdom of Hanover. Also Luxemburg and Limburg were to be excluded from the North German Confederation. (…) In the Treaty of Munich a few more changes were made to the Germanies. The North German Confederation should contain all German states north of the Main line, with the Free City of Frankfurt (...) and the Kingdom of Hanover as well as the Kingdom of Saxony being annexed to Prussia. Furthermore it was decided that Austria itself had to cede no territories but instead paying roughly one quarter of the war's cost, namely about 20 million Thaler. The Hessian states north of the Main were, according to Prince Friedrich Wilhelm to be annexed as well, however the Prussian delegation accepted the Austrian and Wettin offer of Saxony if Prussia kept the states (excluding Frankfurt) independent. (…)
Two major problems arose during negotiations, however. First of all Wuerttemberg occupied parts of the Prussian province of Hohenzollern, namely the western section which formerly was Hohenzollern-Hechingen. [1] Secondly the Grand Duchy of Hesse had territories both north and south of the Main, which raised questions about its future membership in the North German Confederation. The first problem was solved by ceding Hohenzollern, which Prussia only aquired 16 years ago, to Bavaria in exchange for 10 million Thaler (including reparations). While mostly forces from Wuerttemberg occupied the ancestral lands of the Hohenzollerns, it was decided that Catholic Bavaria would be more suitable to control the region and it would strengthen their position as the future South German leader [2]. Hesse however was a bit more problematic. (…) In the end the Grand Duke agreed to cede the areas formerly belonging to Hesse-Homburg as well as the province of Upper Hesse, seperated from the south by the now Prussian city of Frankfurt, to Prussia in exchange for receiving 10 million Thaler from the Hohenzollern king in exchange for paying no reparations. The Russian Tsar Alexander II. was not pleased by this due to his marriage to Marie von Hesse-Darmstadt (...).
Furthermore Prussia was awarded with full control over Slesvig-Holstein, however a plebiscite was to be held in five years in which it would be decided whenever or not Danish-speaking North Slesvig wanted to return to Denmark or not. [3] In regards to Hanover it was decided that the wealth of the House of Hanover should be returned to them, a strong demand made by George V. [4] His estates however were confiscated. (…) In regards to the House of Wettin they were also allowed to keep their wealth and King John of Saxony chose to take up new residence in Prague, spending the rest of his years reading and translating Italian peotry [5] while his younger relatives started careers in the Austrian bureaucracy and military. The last addition to Prussian territory was the tiny Bavarian enclave of Kaulsdorf in Thuringia, the sole territorial concession of Bavaria [6].
Just as important as the formation of the North German Confederation following the dissolution of the German Confederation was the formation of the South German Federation, an offer made by both Balan and the Bavarian politician Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst [6]. The South German Federation was to be under Bavarian leadership but also under Austrian influence. The member states, Bavaria, Wuerttemberg, Baden and Starkenburg (the former Grand Duchy of Hesse), agreed to create the South German Federation on January 1 1867. Austria was to be included as a nominal member with one permanent, Emperor-appointed member in the South German legislature. (…)
The Peace of Vienna (…) ended with Italy being awarded with Venetia and most of Friuli, which were given directly to Italy even though Napoleon III offered to serve as the middleman in this procedure. (…) Napoleon III, who was promised the Bavarian Palatinate and Rhenish Hesse or Belgium and Luxembourg by Bismarck for his neutrality received no territories, since Balan was unaware of these unofficial agreements. [8] (...)
[1] A minor butterfly, probably. I can't find info regarding Hohenzollern during the war.
[2] Based on suggestions and due to the fact that other former Hohenzollern possesions in South Germany were also awarded to Bavaria throughout history (Ansbach in particular comes to mind)
[3] This plebiscite was planned in OTL as well, however both Prussia and Austria essentially forgot about it.
[4] In OTL all of the wealth of the House of Hanover was confiscated, leading to the controversial Welfenfond of OTL, used to counter Hanoverian nationalism and to buy off the Bavarians in 1870/1871.
[5] King John famously wrote a translation of Dante's Divine Comedy under the pseudonym of Philalethes, published in 1849.
[6] OTL Bavaria also ceded parts of todays eastern Hesse in 1866, however here with Kurhesse surviving these annexations are butterflied away.
[7] These plans were proposed by Bismarck in OTL as well, here it comes into being. Also Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst will play an important role later...
[8] Yep, Nappy tried to get these territories as a compensation, which Bismarck denied him in OTL even though he made faint promises. Since Balan probably wouldn't know of any of these informal agreements as well as his good relationship with Belgium he naturally refuses this as well.
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Richard L. Pratchett, German History #10: 1849 to 1873 (London, 1999)
(...) The South German Federation was a peciuliar construct, especially considering the time period. In contrast to the North German Confederation it was less united. For instance the South German Federation had three strong member states: it's leader Bavaria, Wuerttemberg and Baden. That alone lead to great difficulties to pass laws concerning the Federation as a
whole, especially since Baden in particular but also to a lesser extent Wuerttemberg were quite pro-Prussian (...).
Secondly the power of the Bavarian king Louis II of Wittelsbach was quite limited in contrast to the North German Emperor [1]. Louis' function in the Federation to act as nominal leader of the armed forces in time of war as well as the promulgation of laws and appointment of the rather weak federal government and the federal judges, military officers and civil servants. [2] The federal government of South Germany was to suggest laws to the member states which were then voted upon by the state parliaments. (...)
On the international stage the South German Federation was torn between the neighbours with the member states divided on whom to support. Baden had quite close relationship with Prussia because of Grand Duke Frederick I's marriage to Princess Louise of Prussia, daughter of Emperor Wilhelm I. (...) Wuerttemberg also was relativly close to Prussia with King Charles I being married to the famous Olga of the House of Holstein-Gottrop-Romanov [3], whose family was closely intertwined with the Hohenzollerns. Also Prince August von Wuerttemberg served as a Prussian commander during the German Civil War and later became Wuerttemberg's ambassador to the North German Confederation [4]. (...)
Bavaria meanwhile was torn between Prussia, France and Austria. While Austria was Bavaria's traditional ally and France served a great inspiration to King Louis II the French were seen as a potential threat to the Bavarian Palatinate and fellow Federation members Starckenburg and Baden. Meanwhile Bavarian chancellor Chlodwig Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was very pro-Prussian having previously served as a Prussian diplomat and generally had very liberal and pan-German views, which stood in contrast to Louis II's vision of a South German (and a Bavarian) national identity and the concept of enlightened absolutism, which manifested itself in Louis' pompous buildings and life style. [5] (...)
[1] Butterflies, ho! With the King of Prussia being the sole king in the NGC no-one objected when Wilhelm I suggested this in 1872. Granted this section mostly covers the structure and foreign politics of the SGF prior to that, but in retrospect...
[2] The power of Louis / Ludwig suprisingly mirrors those of the OTL president of the FRG... Louis like to object to this but Wuerrtemberg and Baden objected to him having greater power.
[3] To quote the later Empress of Austria Elisabeth: "She makes a most imposing appearance ... the only one who is a queen ..." Also she was quite a noted geologist (with a formation in Northern Australia named after her) and was active in various social causes.
[4] He did really. Also this should tell you how foreign policies in the SGF workd, namely all of its member states have the right to send ambassadors to foreign countries (in addition to the SGF ambassador). In practice most only send their ambassadors to the direct neighbours, Italy and Great Britain. Starckenburg and Wuerttemberg also have embassies in Russia.
[5] Yes, Ludwig still builds Neu Schwanstein ITTL even though funding will be more difficult due to the missing Welfenfond. What will happen with Ludwig and his projects in the future... Only time will tell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward J. Holland, L'Empire Resurgent: France under Napoleon III (Washington D.C., 1982)
(...) After the failed attempt to re-establish French power in North America
Napoleon's reputation was severly damaged. With the death of Maximilian von Habsburg
Napoleon III saw himself as an unlucky gambler, now lacking the honor and prestige he
had when he re-established his uncle's empire. (...) So Napoleon III saw the addition
of European territory as a way to improve France's prestige. (...)
When the German Civil War was on the horizon France was promised portions of
the German Confederation, with the Bavarian Palatinate and Rhenish Hesse or the
fortress-principality of Luxembourg being the two offers the late Otto von Bismarck
gave to the French emperor, with some sources claiming parts of the Rhineland and
Belgium also being part of the offer. [1] (...)
However when the war had ended in Prussia's favor the new Prussia minister president
Hermann Ludwig von Balan declined the emperor's demand for these regions, citing
the lack of an official treaty as the main reason. (...)
In late February 1867 Napoleon and his government offered William III of the
Netherlands 5,500,000 guilders for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg which the House
of Orange-Nassau still ruled in personal union with the Netherlands. On 21 March
William accepted the French offer due to the Netherlands being in deep financial
trouble. North Germany however saw multiple problems with this offer. (...)
Several nationalistic newspapers saw Luxembourg as a necessary addition to the
North German Confederation even though the Luxembourgers shown disinterest in
joining the Confederation. Also various members of parliament in the Confederation,
especially in Berlin, objected heavily to this. Balan himself primarily saw
the border with France increasing and the buffer state of Belgium being threatended
by further Napoleonic expansionism. (..) In the end Balan had nothing more to say
than that because of the position the parliament had on this issue it would
be unacceptable for Luxembourg to be annexed by France, especially considering
the strategical relevance of the Luxembourg fortifications which hosted a
Prussian garrison.(...) Napoleon III meanwhile threatened with military force
if Prussia weren't at least to withdraw from Luxembourg city no matter the outcome. [2]
Austria's foreign minister Count Beust suggested that Luxembourg should be added
to Belgium, with Brussels ceding some border areas to France and demolishing the
fortifications in exchange. Napoleon III accepted this proposal,
so did Balan after some discussion with the foreign secretary. (...) However the
Belgian king Leopold II objected to this, refusing to part with any of his land,
especially when he would not have been allowed to keep the Gibraltar of the North's
main asset. [3]
The Russian government then proposed to solve that in a conference hosted in London.
On 8 May France, the North German Confederation, the United Kingdom, Russia,Belgium
and the Netherlands met. (...) The result of this conference was the Treaty of London,
signed on 12 May. By this treaty Luxembourg was added to the Kingdom of Belgium,
however the fortress were to remain intact at the insistance of King Leopold II.
In exchange Belgium ceded the French-speaking portions of Flanders [4], the region around the towns of Momignies and Chimay [5], the municipality of Bouillon [6] as well as the
border municipality of Honnelles [7] to France. Furthermore France paid 2,000,000
guilders to the Netherlands. Last but not least Prussia withdrew its garrison from
Luxembourg city. (...)
[1] An uncertainty and controversy also mentioned in the second update.
[2] Napoleon threatened with military intervention in OTL as well, however Bismarck
had the alliance with the South Germans to scare Nappy off. Here... no alliance and no Bismarck. So Prussia has to give in in some shape or form.
[3] I don't know about Leopold's stance on the Luxembourg fortification business
but I assume with Balan's good relation to Belgium he could've persuaded him to agree that plan if he were to keep this "asset".
[4] Essentially the enclave of Hainaut in Flanders or #20 on this map. The region has by OTL about 17,000 inhabitants.
[5] #50 and 18 on this map, by OTL 2012 with about 15,000 inhabitants.
[6] Yet another ca. 5,500 souls in a town, #7 on this map (Luxembourg province)
[7] #39 on this map, in OTL roughly a town with 5,000 souls.
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Richard L. Pratchett, German History #10: 1849 to 1873 (London, 1999)
(…) The North German Confederation was, for all intents and purposes, just an extension of the Kingdom of Prussia, which can easily be proven by a look at the composition of the Bundesrat,
one of the two legislative bodies of the Confederation. Prussia had 17 votes within the Bundesrat,
with Hesse-Cassel being the state with the second-highest amount of votes, three [1]. Nassau, Oldenbourg [2], Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Brunswick each had two votes. (…) Also the position of the Federal Chancellor, the head of the federal government, was appointed by the President and later Emperor [3] of the North German Confederation, the King of Prussia, and typically filled out by the Prussian minister president, who also was appointed by the King of Prussia. (…).
In terms of foreign politics Balan and his successors had generally quite similar goals:
First and foremost close relations with the South German Federation were to be maintained, while cordial relations to the other European states excluding Austria were established. Especially Great Britain and Italy were seen as the two most useful partners of North Germany. (…) The Kingdom of Italy especially profited from this close partnership thanks to Prussian military instructors and close business ties. (…) The United Kingdom meanwhile was both scared and fascinated by the North German Confederation considering Prussia's rise to power since the Seven Year's War. However a close relationship to the Confederation was established by Great Britain out of necessity due to the cold relations with France and Russia, the British main rivals on the global stage, particularly in Asia. [4] (…)
[1] I based that on comparing population statistics, with Hesse-Cassel being just about as big the three-vote-strong Hesse-Darmstadt. Also, yes: Prussia looses 5 votes in comparision to OTL (Nassau and Hesse-Cassel) but gains 5 in return (4 from Saxony, 1 from Upper Hesse).
[2] Minor butterfly. Prussia gives it's close, spread-out ally two votes even though it is/was quite small. But hey, what Brunswick can do, Oldenburg can do as well, as far as I am concerned.
[3] Emperor since 1872, as mentioned in the SGF update.
[4] Ominous hints... Or rather just the Great Game. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazuya Masatoshi, The Fairy Tale King Louis II (Tokyo, 2003) [1]
(...) Louis was shattered by the message of the loss of the Habsburg monarchy in the German Civil War the young king looked for diversion. While Louis himself was glad that the South German Federation came into being as a counterweight to the "uncultured, militant Prussia" [2]. (...) On January 22nd he announced his engagement with Duchess Sophie Charlotte, his cousin and younger sister of the famous Austrian empress Elisabeth of Austria. This relationship with his childhood friend, which he had just met again the previous day for the first time in years, was doomed to fail on a romantic level.
This had various reasons: For one thing three days after the engagement between the two was announced Sophie began an affair with the merchant and photographer Edgar Hanfstaengl [3]. Secondly Louis generally was uninterested in women, having almost entirely male friends only, most of them actors, artists or courtiers. (...) Last but not least the sole connection between the two came from their mutual admiration for the operas of Richard Wagner [4].
In late October 1867 Louis announced the break up of the engagement after pushing back the wedding date several times despite most preparations already being met [5]. Louis would never attempt to marry again, which would become a problem in later years (...). In his diaries he wrote about these problems extensivly, always questioning his sexuality and his Roman Catholic faith, even though homosexuality hasn't been illegal in Bavaria since 1813. [6] (...)
With the South German Federation stuck between a rock and a hard place these private problems of the king were of national concern, especially after tragedy struck in 1874 (...) [7]
[1] Ludwig's status as a internationally famous, colourful figure in history remains unchanged, more on that later in the TL.
[2] Not an OTL quote, but it fits Ludwig's attitude well.
[3] Later Sophie will still marry Prince Ferdinand d'Orleans with Hanfstaengl remaining a close confidant of hers until his death.
[4] To quote Ludwig himself: "The main substance of our relationship has always been (...) Richard Wagner's remarkable and deeply moving destiny."
[5] The Pope has been informed, several pictures were taken with Sophie already dressed in regal attire and a carriage has been built as well.
[6] That's true! In OTL it became illegal in 1871 because of the Prussian laws on this. Here...
[7] Hint, hint...Look forward to this, but you'll have to wait a while.
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Peter Alexander Höke, Kaiser und König - The History of Austria-Hungary from 1848 up to the 20th Century (Vienna, 1972)
(...) The Danubian Monarchy took a great shock from loosing the German Civil War. While it still held minor influence in the South German states Austria had to abandon it's focus on Germany. [1] (...) This manifested itself in a change of priorities, shifting from Central to Eastern Europe. (...)
Six years prior in 1860 the Hungarian constitution from 1848 was essentially restored thanks to the October Diploma (...) and a Hungarian state parliament was established. (...) The newly established constitutional monarchy which was created back then instead of the neoabsolutist government from 1851 led to the revival of various national minorities of the empire. Predominantly the Czechs in Bohemia and Moravia, the Galician Poles and the Croatians wanted to use this as an opportunity to gain greater autonomy within the empire. [2] (...) With the so-called Ausgleich in 1867 the eastern half of the Austrian Empire formed the second half of the new Empire of Austria-Hungary. (...)
While the Czech demands were ignored due to Germanization policies from Vienna the Croatians and the Poles were quite vocal in demanding autonomy. The Croatians, traditionally part of the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephan, based their demands on their continued loyalty to the Habsburgs even during the 1848 revolutions [3]. (...) The Poles however had a strong, educated local elite which already held great influence in the crown land of Galicia-Lodomeria. (...)
Both groups tried to establish seperate kingdoms with a similiar autonomy to Hungary, which both Buda and Vienna rejected. However a compromise was reached: Croatia would become part of the Austrian half of the empire and was to be granted limited autonomy and united with the Kingdom of Dalmatia [4], which even prior to the Austro-Croatian Ausgleich was deemed to become part of Cisleithia. (...) Galicia and Lodomeria, as well as neighbouring Bukovina were to be added to the Crown of Saint Stephan, again with limited autonomy, making it an exception to the other lands integrated into the Crown like the Banat, Vojvodina and Transylvania. [5].(...)
[1] Remember, they have a single representative within the South German legislature, which isn't that helpful. Though it is "better" than OTL.
[2] Yes, they ALL tried to establish seperate states in a just union with Austria proper, just like Hungary. In OTL and ITTL these plans fail, though they fitted with early federalism concepts which emerged in the late 1850s.
[3] Croatian Ban Josip Jelačićhelped to put down the Hungarian rebels in 1848, just to have an example of Croatian loyalty even though the so-called Illyrian movement was persecuted. Because of that ITTL they get their little bit autonomy from Vienna. Divergence can be fun...
[4] Croatia claimed Dalmatia and refered itself sometimes as the Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia, even after 1868. Here Croatian nationalists get some love by uniting these parts again.
[5] Both Galicia and Lodomeria (and Bukovina) and Croatia essentially have the same autonomy as in OTL, however they have switched places to some extent. Yep, attempted Magyarization in Galicia, no Germanization or anything similiar in Croatia. Believe me, this might do wonders
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Robert Patrick Kennedy, History of Modern Korea (Boston, 1981) [1]
(...) While the Joseon's approach of cautious exchange with the Western nations active in China was successful in the first few years it was destined to fail due to an ever expanding interest in East Asia (...), so the events of 1866 weren't surprising in retrospect. Since the 18th century Catholic missionaries where active in Korea, first through Korean envoys in the Beiping court. (...) The French especially were active starting in the 19th century, officially sending missionaries into Korea since the 1840s. Siméon-François Berneux was appointed Bishop of Korea in 1856. By 1859 about 17,000 Koreans were Roman catholic, according to estimates from the M.E.P. (…)
The Hermit Kingdom’s court under King Cheoljong seemed to ignore the Christians active in the country, however that was bound to change. On 13 December the eleven years old Gojong took the throne and being a minor a regency was established. Traditionally the position of the regent went to the dowager queen (…) but the true regent was Gojong's father Daewowang Yi Ha-eung. The Prince of the Great Court became the one of the most powerful leaders in the history of the Joseon Dynasty. (…) The Daewowang's goal was to strengthen central authority and to sustain the role of Joseon as a Hermit Kingdom. (…)
When in January 1866 the Russian Empire flexed its muscles demanding trading rights on the eastern coast of the Korean peninsular, similar to how Western nations treated China, Korean Christians saw this as an opportunity to improve their situation. Those with connections to the royal court suggested an alliance with France in order to stop Russian influence on the kingdom. When those Christians suggested that Bishop Berneux would be a good negotiator he was summoned to the capital Hanyang [2] but then jailed and executed in February. (…) Eight other French missionaries were also executed, as well as roughly 10,000 native converts (…) because of fears of a Korean rebellion similar to Taiping. (...)
Only three missionaries survived, along them Father Félix-Claire Ridel, who managed to escape thanks to a group of Korean Christians to the city of Chefoo in China, which he reached in early July 1866, where he told his story to the commander of the French Far Eastern Squadron, Rear Admiral Pierre-Gustave Roze, who at the time was stationed in Tianjin. (…) Seeing how Korea was a Qing vassal these acts were seen as contradicting with French rights in China. According to Roze the French were to “avenge (the nine French dead) by killing 9,000 Koreans.” [3] (…)
[1] Ah, the Kennedys... They cannot be avoided with a POD as late as ITTL and this alternate member of the family became involved in foreign politics...
[2] Joseon name for Seoul
[3] This update only contains OTL stuff, the next Korea update (coming on Monday, probably) will deal with the divergence in Korea. And yes, Roze did say that.
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Robert Patrick Kennedy, History of Modern Korea (Boston, 19 81)
(…) While Rear Admiral Roze heard about the murder of the Jesuits, the British trading firm Meadows and Co., coincidentally also based in Tianjin, chartered the SS General Sherman, a former Confederate blockade runner, in order to negotiate a trade treaty. The heavily-armed steamer (…) left the harbor on 2 August [1], commanded by Captain Page, and set out for the Korean coast. Also on board, besides the 16 sailors, was Chief Mate Wilson, the ship's owner W.B. Preston, as well as British Protestant missionary and interpreter Robert Jermain Thomas. (…) The ship, together with a few Chinese consort ships, entered Taedong River on Korea's west coast and sailed towards Pyongyang. Near Kupsumun the crew dropped anchor on 9 August where they were soon greeted by an emissary of Park Kyoo Soo, governor of Pyongyang, who informed the crew that Joseon was not interest in outside trade, offering provisions as compensation if they were to leave. (…)
However Captain Page decided to travel further along Taedong River, getting nearer to Pyongya ng, which they reached thanks to heavy rainfall easing the travel across the rapids of the river. There the provisions promised by Park Kyoo Soo were delivered to the General Sherman, along with a message which stated that the ship's crew were not to pass Keupsa Gate and that the King were to decide what to do with the ship and it's crew. (…) In the following days tensions began to escalate between the locals and the crew and from here the reports are contradicting. On 24 August the edict of the king reached governor Park, which stated that if the General Sherman were not to exit Taedong River she crew should be killed. On 28 August Preston and a Malay sailor left the ship on a small boat with the command that if difficulties were to arise the ship should return to the mouth of Taedong River. [2] What happened in the days between the arrival of the edict and the sinking of the General Sherman is uncertain: Korean reports indicate aggression of the schooner, the accounts of W.B. Preston indicate that the Koreans assaulted the ship and crew. On 2 September the General Sherman was however destroyed by Korean turtle ships and the entire remaining crew of the ship was killed. [3] Mister Preston reached Tianjin on 14 September, where he heard of the French problems with the Koreans since February. Rear Admiral Roze, with the permission of the French government, contacted the US government to discuss the possibility of a joint intervention. (…)
Based on Preston's reports, as well as the knowledge of the Korean atrocities with the French missionaries as well as natives converts, led to the US press attempting to cover the events in Korea in exaggerated detail, which led to the State Department of William H. Seward to set up a expeditionary force after the request of President Johnson (...) which was supposed to meet up with the French ships in Chefoo. This expedition was considered to be a waste of money by the Radical Republicans, such as Charles Sumner. (…) The American ships were the USS Monocacy [4], the USS Powhatan, the USS Saratoga and the USS Germantown and the expedition was led by Henry H. Bell, with assistance from Anson Burlingame, the US envoy to the Qing dynasty. (…) The total amount of American sailors were roughly 400 sailors and 100 marines. (...)
The three US ships met up with the French frigate Guerrière, as well as the six smaller boats, which made up the French forces commanded by Admiral Roze. [5] The French mustered 300 naval fusiliers, of which 170 together with 50 marines landed on Ganghwa Island, quickly occupying the city of Ganghwa and the nearby fortress, thus leading to Franco-US forces controlling Han River on 18 October. Also they seized several cannons, muskets and several artworks from Oikyujanggak library. (…) Later 130 fusiliers and 40 marines attacked the monastery and fortress of Munsusansong on 27 October, successfully seizing it while meeting heavy resistance [6]. (…) When winter approached the expedition came to a halt and Korean reinforcements were approaching, so Roze and Bell decided to retreat. (…) During the expedition 2 French and three Americans were killed, with about 40 wounded. Portions of Hanyang were damaged and a dozen Korean soldiers were killed. (...) While at large the expedition was minor it paved the way for the 1870 Korean Intervention. [7] (...)
[1] Butterflies in effect: The mission of the General Sherman beings a week earlier than in OTL.
[2] Here it generally starts to diverge. In OTL the crew stayed, though there are reports of portions of the crew trying to “escape” via boat. Here they do and so, they save their lives...
[3] There are reports of the SS General Sherman not being destroyed and returned to the US in 1868, however Korean reports indicate it was burned until only a metal skeleton remained.
[4] The Monocacy has this as it's first mission ITTL. In OTL it opened the ports of Osaka and Hyogo in early 1868 and was later involved in the 1871 intervention in Korea.
[5] The French send exactly the same forces as in OTL, but at least they have American reinforcements here.
[6] This attack failed in OTL due to superior Korean numbers.
[7] Foreshadowing!
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Just want to say that, most likely, I will post the next update in a week, maybe in ten days. University is surprisingly "lush" and I've started writing the Italy update (for the Japan/Boshin War one I have the outlines from late September which I have to put into text form soon as well).
So I hope this will be going soon again, thanks to the inability of my university to organize a schedule properly (either too few dates for necessary classes OR the faculties deliberately putting one in two classes simultaneously)...
So I hope this will be going soon again, thanks to the inability of my university to organize a schedule properly (either too few dates for necessary classes OR the faculties deliberately putting one in two classes simultaneously)...
Just want to say that, most likely, I will post the next update in a week, maybe in ten days. University is surprisingly "lush" and I've started writing the Italy update (for the Japan/Boshin War one I have the outlines from late September which I have to put into text form soon as well).
So I hope this will be going soon again, thanks to the inability of my university to organize a schedule properly (either too few dates for necessary classes OR the faculties deliberately putting one in two classes simultaneously)...
Good news everyone! My university schedule is looking better, I will post the next update on Saturday, I promise. First Italy, next Wednesday (or maybe Thursday) it will FINALLY be Japan's turn.
Thus my TL will make it's return, be prepared!
BUMP BUMP!
What a mean bump... Well, I want to continue this, but I had a severe writer's block the last two months. On Wednesday I will try to write a new update finally covering Japan. Also Ares96 still is working on the Germanies map and I'm looking forward to see that, too.
So yeah, let's hope I can continue this.
abc123
Banned
It's a double bump because of 10 letters rule...
Good TL, more-less ( except that I really don't see why Italians, given the POD, have won at Lyssa ), and I look forward to update.
Since I'm from Croatia, if you need any help about Croatia, feel free to ask.
It was more the bump itself, not the double bump. Also, well the Italian naval victory at Lyssa is based on statistics and luck, since I know it was the bad coordination and the rivalry between the Italian commanders that led to their defeat (so yeah, not the most plausible, but it can be ignored in my opinion).
Also thanks for your offer, I'll come back to you once I need your assistance.
Please continue this - I like where it's going, and Europe without one of its key nineteenth-century statesmen could go all kinds of directions. Meiji Japan should be interesting with the Franco-American forces running rampant in Korea.
If you need any advice on African or Pacific Island matters, feel free to run it by me, although I doubt I could comment intelligently about much else.
If you need any advice on African or Pacific Island matters, feel free to run it by me, although I doubt I could comment intelligently about much else.
Yep, even though in case of the Boshin War butterflies will be minimal. After all the French don't even send more troops to Korea in their first intervention. Later however... Oh this will be fun!
*geekout! squee! overreacting!*
Thanks, I will definitely have good use of your knowledge, partly even quite soon because I wanted to do something with Hawaii. I'll write you a PM about the details.
PS: I was kind of busy last week, I'll try to write the update on Thursday. Maybe I can even write it this evening, it depends.
Okay, I re-read my primary source when it comes to Japan-related stuff though considering that both Monday and Tuesday are busy (tomorrow I'm only home at 8 PM, on Tuesday I have a long day as well AND I have to do some "homework"), I'll post the update on the 19th.
Also I'll try to make a map for this update as well and be done before Christmas (I can probably recycle my old Catholic Japan map), though it won't be that spectacular (don't expect to see semi-random balkanization).
Also I'll try to make a map for this update as well and be done before Christmas (I can probably recycle my old Catholic Japan map), though it won't be that spectacular (don't expect to see semi-random balkanization).
Sorry guys, but I'm officially putting the TL on an indefinite hiatus. I just lack the ambition to write at the moment and starting in January I have my exams and thus no time to continue then. So in this post, to end this timeline for now, I'll post a few notes on the stuff I had planned as well as stuff that I'd add in case of a redux.
The "future":
- the "Roman Question" will ultimately be resolved in 1872 after the Death of Napoleon III and the ensueing civil war in France
- for the Pope... I figured he might go to South Germany, but I'm rather unsure
- the "tragedy" in 1874 was supposed to be the future king Otto of Bavaria going crazy followed by a killing spree. I don't know if I would incorporate it into the redux
- a Franco-Austrian alliance is a certainty
- Korea will, just like Japan, modernize and be very much under the influence of France, but with Protestant missionaries playing a major role in the country
- the NGC will diplomatically focus on Great Britain and Italy, as well as Belgium
- Japan was supposed to take over Hawaii
- I am generally unsure on how to handle Spain and Russia
The "redux":
- Hohenzollern would go to Württemberg (just like originally planned)
- future King of Prussia Frederick III will quit smoking during the German Civil War, saving his life in the long run
- I'd like to change Paraguay's fate as well in the potential redux, considering that the War of the Triple Alliance is still in full force and it could easily end in 1868 instead of 1873; however I wasn't knowledgeable enough to implement this story thread into this version, so I'd do some research on the Prussia of South America
Last but not least I hope that Ares96 still finishes the map I commissioned him to do since I'd love to see it regardless and give you a small goodbye treat.
And off I go from June to May! Whoever gets that reference gets a free internet cookie!Also not really, but the opportunity presented itself to make this reference.
The "future":
- the "Roman Question" will ultimately be resolved in 1872 after the Death of Napoleon III and the ensueing civil war in France
- for the Pope... I figured he might go to South Germany, but I'm rather unsure
- the "tragedy" in 1874 was supposed to be the future king Otto of Bavaria going crazy followed by a killing spree. I don't know if I would incorporate it into the redux
- a Franco-Austrian alliance is a certainty
- Korea will, just like Japan, modernize and be very much under the influence of France, but with Protestant missionaries playing a major role in the country
- the NGC will diplomatically focus on Great Britain and Italy, as well as Belgium
- Japan was supposed to take over Hawaii
- I am generally unsure on how to handle Spain and Russia
The "redux":
- Hohenzollern would go to Württemberg (just like originally planned)
- future King of Prussia Frederick III will quit smoking during the German Civil War, saving his life in the long run
- I'd like to change Paraguay's fate as well in the potential redux, considering that the War of the Triple Alliance is still in full force and it could easily end in 1868 instead of 1873; however I wasn't knowledgeable enough to implement this story thread into this version, so I'd do some research on the Prussia of South America
Last but not least I hope that Ares96 still finishes the map I commissioned him to do since I'd love to see it regardless and give you a small goodbye treat.
And off I go from June to May! Whoever gets that reference gets a free internet cookie!Also not really, but the opportunity presented itself to make this reference.
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Well, my exams are in January and early February, by late March I need to finish my term papers and THEN I have my summer semester starts. University is weird, or at least different from what I'm used to.
And yeah, it saddens me as well, but I just don't get to write. But hopefully I can launch the redux after my exams, if I have the ambition to write by then.