Witch0Winter
Banned
I was already PMed but currently I am not taking requests nor commissions as I am currently heavily involved in creating graphics for my own timeline.
Lone Star Republic
- Thread starter Kaiser Chris
- Start date
No promises for how good it'll turn out, but I'll give it a try.Guys, I was originally going to make America the next focus of the update, however I can't do that right now as I need a clear American electoral map and I can't create one with the huge amount of butterflies that I have created with the new borders. So the next one will be Germany, I would like to ask you guys if anyone would be up for making a blank U.S states map with the following borders:
Also keep in mind the addition of British Columbia up to the 54.5 N, the Bahamas, and West Virginia being a part of Virginia. Also Tennesse is divided up like so:
Any takers?
I will an interested in how Tejanos will develop as a distinct Hispanic people. While that identity was around before the war I think it will get a major jump start postwar. A final cutting of ties with Mexico for whatever that was still worth; but also Seguin's presidency really cementing Texas as a land they are part of and vital too and not just living in.
Sadly such things are inevitable.
This is the last official world map for the timeline (circa 1861)....
From looking at the way things have shaped up, I am quite curious to see the what will happen to the Ottoman Empire, Greece, and Serbia will develop without the 1870s Russo-Turkish war of OTL.
Along with the Lesser powers like Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and Italy when the scramble for Africa. As a Second British Empire in the decline would mean they have better claiments for territory to gain. So a Pink Map would lead to a west to east Continental Railway
Yes but he's head by now, having died in 1856.
Right on the ball, Blacks from Texas and the United States are going to be two completely different groups due to the different cultures and histories of the two nations. Blacks in Texas are going to be known mostly as rural countryfolk who primarily do farming, ranching, and hard labor. Of course you do have some black presence in the big cities, though they are mostly small and concentrated in ethnic neighborhoods with most urban blacks either being middle class or laborers. Overall though no matter what happens, they are going to be hugely outnumbered by Tejanos, Whites, and Asians, so Black Texans won't really be too influential of an ethnic group.
I'm still developing paths for how black culture in America will go, however I can promise that there will be a few black-majority states, which will lead to interesting developments.
In the Texan racial hierarchy Tejanos are most likely going to be near equal to whites at the top, with Tejanos overall being considered the same as most traditional white ethnicities due to the shared history and their role in building the Republic, along with intermarriages which will most likely have a majority of whites have some portion of Tejano blood in them. Overall Texas may become just as Latin as Mexico and other countries, though this won't be apparent in some areas with Deseret and Northern California being mostly White along with Asian in the latter.
I'll deal with them later but they're mostly going to go along the same path as OTL until the 20th century. After the Great War is when things will really kick off in Africa.
Deleted member 82792
Hey @Kaiser Chris I'm going to Hawaii later this year (in April to be precise), so I was wondering how it would develop into the 21st Century. Would it still be the 'Kingdom of Hawaii'?
Chapter 98 Austria's Twilight and Bismarck's Masterpiece
Chapter 98 Austria's Twilight and Bismarck's Masterpiece
"Many say that Austria's slow death began in 1848, I believe it to be two centuries earlier in 1648. Ever since our loss in the Thirty Year's War and Austria's inability to project power as the Holy Roman Emperor, our country was in a slow decay that destined it to die as others such as Prussia rose to greatness. Our Empire only lasted so long thanks to neighbors who were somehow even more backwards in their governance and culture, along with Austria's allies covering for them. With no allies and both Russia and Germany industrializing at incredible rates, Austria was doomed."- Archduke Otto von Hapsburg 1948
"It is time to finish what I started."- Kaiser Wilhelm I 1864
"True freedom for the Magyar peoples will never be obtained so long as there is a Hapsburg who shall rule as a sovereign."- President Lajos Kossuth 1850
While the Ottoman Empire is traditionally viewed by historians as the "Sick man of Europe", in the 1850's that title couldn't have gone more appropriately to the Austrian Empire. Half a century earlier Austria was a leading nation in the Napoleonic Wars and the driving force behind the Vienna Conference which set the course for much of 19th century geopolitics and greater developments in Europe. For five centuries House Hapsburg were one of the most powerful royal families in Europe and for a time through their Spanish cousins, looked to become an hegemony of power throughout the Western world. Yet thanks to their mistreatment of the Hungarian people, the strong leadership and progressive nature of the Prussian monarchy, along with discontent of the various German states at the negligence of Vienna, Austria lost it all and became a hollow shell of its former self, barely fit to be called an Empire and most contemporaries referring to it as an Archduchy. It was the most humiliating time in Austria's history and at the time the Hapsburgs failed to see how it could get any worse. In 1864 a series of events would soon occur that would start a second war that made the losses of the Revolutions seem small in comparison, forever ending Austria's position as a sovereign nation.
Following the signing of the Stockholm Conference, life within Austria became unbearable for most of the people within their borders. During the war of Hungarian Independence alongside the First War of German Unification, over two hundred thousand Austrians perished in the fighting, depriving the country of loyal and able-bodied workers, further making sure that the Germans were an increasing minority in affairs. In addition the loss of Hungary and the Sudetenland ensured that some of the most economically productive portions of the Empire would no longer be a part of Austria's GDP, further increasing their revenue. Lastly and worst of all, Austrian trade was nearly killed in the 1850's. With the Second Industrial Revolution spreading at an incredible rate in Western Europe, forcing the markets of the world to buy British, French, German, Italian, but not Austrian. Austrian goods were also heavily tariffed in their hostile neighbors with Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Russia all producing tariffs on Austrian good around 40% so that their people would buy their goods and avoid the markets of Vienna. The trade war also went a step further with multiple insane regulations being placed on trade goods from Austria that made it near impossible for them to ship any goods outside of the country. Only land travel through Switzerland and sea travel from Trieste produced any significant amount of foreign trade. All of these together forced the creation of the Austrian Depression in 1855, causing a collapse of the Austrian stock market and unemployment to rise in the double digits throughout the empire. While the rest of Europe became flooded in cash and job opportunities seemingly infinite, Austria was suffering and their economy grinding to a halt. In these hard times the Hapsburg, more specifically the unilateral actions of Emperor Franz Joseph did what any autocrat would normally do in a time of crises, blame the minorities.
A Galician funeral in a rural village during the harsh winter. In the 1850's tens of thousans of Galicians died of malnutrition and poverty
In the 1850's life within Austria for the Slavic Poles, Czechs, Jews, and any other minority within the Empire became increasingly difficult. The Austrian German citizens of the Empire blamed their troubles on these minorities for being disloyal citizens of the Empire and causing the collapse of Austria power when they rose up against Vienna in 1846, seemingly forgetting that the Empire's troubles began when it was the Liberal Austrians who rose up against the autocratic rule of Emperor Ferdinand. In many ways it was quite a sadly ironic reaction as the remaining territories of Austria such as Bohemia and Galicia were all firmly loyal members of the Empire who sided with Vienna against Hungary and Germany during the Revolutions. Any remembrance of loyalty was found on deaf ears as Franz Joseph decided that the Slavs, Jews, and other non-German peoples would make the perfect scapegoat for the Austrian people to shift their attentions away from starting another revolution against Hapsburg rule. Any semblance of autonomy in the Slavic lands was destroyed entirely and the Slavic nations centralized under the sole rule of Vienna. Oppressive racial laws against the Slavs were passed with Slavs become secondary citizens in comparison to their German counterparts; their rights of freedom of speech and organization being taken away and any semblance of treason being treated with hostile force. The German language and Austrian culture was forced upon Slavic children in schools and in some areas it was banned to speak non-German. The remnants of the Austrian Army were sent to Slovenia, Bohemia, and Galicia and enforced the harsh laws with severity, the Army having been purged of most non-German officers and seemingly free to do as they pleased with little repercussions. The only comfort the Slavs could find in was for those in the Catholic faith that their freedom of worship and the Church was not attacked. Pope Pius himself condemned the actions of Franz Joseph and the Archdioceses of Prague and Krakow acting as protectors for persecuted Slavs and Liberal Austrians. Within the span of a couple of years Franz Joseph had turned Austria into a land ruled by fear through his iron fist. With the Empire secured and most of the Austrian people seemingly on his side, Franz Joseph looked for ways to tear apart the German Empire and regain Austrian power. In 1864 he would find a solution, or so he thought.
An early photograph of Czech rebels being executed by the Austrian Army.
At the end of the Schleswig-Holstein War it seemed to many within Europe that Germany's quest for more land was finished, however the truth was far from the case. While Chancellor Heinrich von Gagern was more than content in halting Germany's expansion, switching his attention to the domestic politics and ongoing social reforms within Germany, Foreign Minister Otto von Bismarck was not. To him global politics was in many ways a mere game of Risk, one where the most powerful countries were the ones with the most land and through expansion came great prestige and power. For the German Empire there would be no greater everlasting glory than the total reunification of their peoples, a dream that Kaiser Wilhelm wholeheartedly indulged in. After the Revolutions there were only five German-speaking territories left; Austria, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxembourg, Belgian Luxembourg, and the Duchy of Limburg. Of the five the only one that Bismarck had no sights on was Alsace-Lorraine. While there were some German-speakers in the two French provinces, they were barely a fraction of the population and were never in the German Confederation, having left the Holy Roman Empire nearly two centuries ago. Trying to get Alsace-Lorraine would result in war with France, presumably dragging in other great powers such as Russia, Spain, and Italy in order to stop German expansion. The other four however were very ripe targets. Austria was a dying empire with no allies, Limburg and Luxembourg were both former members of the Confederation who remained independent though under the personal-union of the King of Netherlands (The Dutch not annexing either for fear of German retaliation), and Belgian Luxembourg was sparsely populated and had barely any Belgians in it. Pan-German settlement was ripe within each of the territories and since the end of the Revolutions they were itching for unification with Berlin. Fortunately for Germany, Bismarck was a master politician and the brainchild behind Realpolitik, he had a plan that could get rid of all five birds with one stone.
Bismarck speaking before the Reichstag
Bismarck's main plan for complete and total unification was to act aggressive on Germany's western borders and make it look like they were going for a play at Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Such an audacious move would encourage Austria to jump in a possible war against Germany while they would be distracted on the western front, the Austrians believing it would be the ripe moment to take back their rightful lands and leadership position in Germany. This was the ploy that Bismarck wanted Austria to believe so that they would declare war on Germany and give Kaiser Wilhelm the complete casus belli to invade and annex Austria into the Empire, all the while Bismarck would actually be acting diplomatically to acquire the Western German territories without a single shot. Throughout 1862 and 1863 Bismarck worked to make sure that his master plan would unfold behind the scenes, most of Europe's attention shifted to North America with their ongoing wars. Bismarck's first steps was to recruit as many possible allies in the future war against Austria and ensure that no great power would go to their side in the war. First he focused on Austria's neighbors; Bismarck traveling to St. Petersburg, Budapest, and Rome in 1862. He shared his plans with Tsar Alexander, President Kossuth, and Prime Minister Garibaldi. Once revealed Bismarck drew them all in with promises of a "Partition of Austria", one that would result in all three of the Great Powers receiving territory. Russia would receive Galicia, Hungary Bukovina, and Italy would receive the remainder of Tyrol and most of Trieste. All three powers were enticed since for Russia it would be another easy expansion and further unify all Slavs under Russia, Hungary would see the end of Austria as a sovereign nation, and Italy would finish their unification. With that out of the way Bismarck would turn attentions west and begin the second part of his plan, to complete Western German Unification and draw Austria into attacking Germany. For the Netherlands it was an easy move as the populations of both Limburg and Luxembourg were near revolt at times in their desire to get away from the rule of Amsterdam and become states of Germany. Not wanting to face another war similar to the Belgian war of Independence that would destroy the Netherlands, King William III agreed to annexation of the two states in the German Empire in return for a favorable trade agreement, 3 million Reichsmarks in compensation, and William's sons Prince's Maurice and Alexander being installed as the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg and Limburg respectively. Bismarck returned the deal to the German Reichstag in February with a supermajority passing the treaty. Thus allowing the Duchies of Luxembourg and Limburg to enter into the German Empire on March 7th.
The Grand Duchy of Limburg (Left) and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Right)
The next portion of the strategy was a difficult one as Belgian Luxembourg had become a core part of the Kingdom of Belgium for three decades and the sovereignty of Belgium was one that had been agreed to be respected by all major powers, most importantly the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Germany's latest ally. Bismarck's Belgian ambitions were one with very few realistic chances of success. All the European powers were supportive of Belgium's current state and King Leopold refused to budge an inch on the most favorable of offers. It got to the point where even Kaiser Wilhelm told Bismarck to cease and desist. While Bismarck was frustrated that he could not get Belgium to comply with Germany, he merely resolved to adapt his plans and deal with Belgium the same way he planned with Alsace-Lorraine, make it look like Germany was going to war with them. Bringing Kaiser Wilhelm and Chancellor Gagern into his conspiracy, Bismarck planned to station German troops on the western border and make it look as though Germany was prepared to fight in order to complete their unification. Gagern though skeptical, agreed and 150,000 German troops under Field Marshal von Lohengramm were sent to both the French and Belgian borders, with Gagern and Wilhelm making regular speeches about the need to "liberate" their German brothers. While most of the public of Western Europe feared that another war would commence, the ruling class and diplomats were unnerved. Bismarck had already made previous trips incognito to both Paris and London, making the case that the German troop movements were a complete bluff and that no war would come from the German Empire. At the end of the crisis when the situation was favorable for a war with Austria, Bismarck promised two agreements; he would draft a treaty affirming Germany's respect of Belgian independence and withdrawing their claims on the rest of Luxembourg, and he would exchange Germany's recently acquired territory in Ghana to France, the Germans having not done much with it at all. Queen Victoria and her cabinet agreed (though the Queen was secretly saddened that Germany would not go to war with France so that Britain could take France's colonies) and Napoleon cautiously accepting, all the while placing three French corps on the border just in case. For Bismarck everything was set, the last player needed for his grand act being Austria.
Bismarck conversing with Emperor Napoleon
During 1863 it looked to the outside observer that Germany was purposely antagonizing Western Europe in order to fulfill their Nationalistic desires of expansion, even President Abraham Lincoln appeared to be fooled by Bismarck's efforts, offering the United States to act as a neutral arbiter in the crises. To Emperor Franz Joseph it looked to be a dream come true. Germany was making enemies out of seemingly every major European power and was looking to enter into an all-out war with France, along with Britain if they were to invade Belgium. To the delusional Franz Joseph who still believed that most of Southern Germany yearned for Austrian leadership, the time to strike was now, all he needed were allies in his struggle. In January 14th it appeared that Franz Joseph would have his day with representatives from both the French and Russian courts looking to form an alliance against possible German aggression. The French one was very much earnest and wanted Austria to join France should they come in attack. The Russian envoys however were part of the Bismarck conspiracy and wanted to entice Austria into aggression in order to claim Galicia, the fact that France appeared at the same time was a sheer coincidence of pure luck. The Russian ambassador promised Austria a blank check, that should they move in Russia would support them wholeheartedly. It was a false claim but one Franz Joseph believed fully. With Austrian High Command filled with nobles and puppets who Franz Joseph placed into power, the Emperor called for a total mobilization against the German borders. On March 1st Emperor Franz Joseph called for an ultimatum, Germany shall return the Sudetenland or else Austria would declare war. Such a call caused immense outrage within much of the German Empire over the weak and dying Austria making demands of the glorious German Empire. The Reichstag unanimously refused, in Franz Joseph's view giving him the casus belli and righteousness of the war. On March 14th Austria declared war on the German Empire, Austrian soldiers marching into Germany with the hope of a glorious conquest. Unfortunately for Franz Joseph he would learn in the coming days of just how far he had been duped. For in the coming days neither France nor Britain went to war against Germany, and Hungary along with Italy declared war on the 15th. On the 16th of March came the greatest betrayal of all, Russia had declared war on the Austrian Empire. For in Russia's eyes their relationship with Austria was severed ever since Vienna refused to help them in Crimea, giving Alexander the right to do away with the Hapsburgs. The last days of Austria were finally upon them, and by the end of the year the Empire would be no more.
Austrian advance into Germany
"Many say that Austria's slow death began in 1848, I believe it to be two centuries earlier in 1648. Ever since our loss in the Thirty Year's War and Austria's inability to project power as the Holy Roman Emperor, our country was in a slow decay that destined it to die as others such as Prussia rose to greatness. Our Empire only lasted so long thanks to neighbors who were somehow even more backwards in their governance and culture, along with Austria's allies covering for them. With no allies and both Russia and Germany industrializing at incredible rates, Austria was doomed."- Archduke Otto von Hapsburg 1948
"It is time to finish what I started."- Kaiser Wilhelm I 1864
"True freedom for the Magyar peoples will never be obtained so long as there is a Hapsburg who shall rule as a sovereign."- President Lajos Kossuth 1850
While the Ottoman Empire is traditionally viewed by historians as the "Sick man of Europe", in the 1850's that title couldn't have gone more appropriately to the Austrian Empire. Half a century earlier Austria was a leading nation in the Napoleonic Wars and the driving force behind the Vienna Conference which set the course for much of 19th century geopolitics and greater developments in Europe. For five centuries House Hapsburg were one of the most powerful royal families in Europe and for a time through their Spanish cousins, looked to become an hegemony of power throughout the Western world. Yet thanks to their mistreatment of the Hungarian people, the strong leadership and progressive nature of the Prussian monarchy, along with discontent of the various German states at the negligence of Vienna, Austria lost it all and became a hollow shell of its former self, barely fit to be called an Empire and most contemporaries referring to it as an Archduchy. It was the most humiliating time in Austria's history and at the time the Hapsburgs failed to see how it could get any worse. In 1864 a series of events would soon occur that would start a second war that made the losses of the Revolutions seem small in comparison, forever ending Austria's position as a sovereign nation.
Following the signing of the Stockholm Conference, life within Austria became unbearable for most of the people within their borders. During the war of Hungarian Independence alongside the First War of German Unification, over two hundred thousand Austrians perished in the fighting, depriving the country of loyal and able-bodied workers, further making sure that the Germans were an increasing minority in affairs. In addition the loss of Hungary and the Sudetenland ensured that some of the most economically productive portions of the Empire would no longer be a part of Austria's GDP, further increasing their revenue. Lastly and worst of all, Austrian trade was nearly killed in the 1850's. With the Second Industrial Revolution spreading at an incredible rate in Western Europe, forcing the markets of the world to buy British, French, German, Italian, but not Austrian. Austrian goods were also heavily tariffed in their hostile neighbors with Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Russia all producing tariffs on Austrian good around 40% so that their people would buy their goods and avoid the markets of Vienna. The trade war also went a step further with multiple insane regulations being placed on trade goods from Austria that made it near impossible for them to ship any goods outside of the country. Only land travel through Switzerland and sea travel from Trieste produced any significant amount of foreign trade. All of these together forced the creation of the Austrian Depression in 1855, causing a collapse of the Austrian stock market and unemployment to rise in the double digits throughout the empire. While the rest of Europe became flooded in cash and job opportunities seemingly infinite, Austria was suffering and their economy grinding to a halt. In these hard times the Hapsburg, more specifically the unilateral actions of Emperor Franz Joseph did what any autocrat would normally do in a time of crises, blame the minorities.
A Galician funeral in a rural village during the harsh winter. In the 1850's tens of thousans of Galicians died of malnutrition and poverty
In the 1850's life within Austria for the Slavic Poles, Czechs, Jews, and any other minority within the Empire became increasingly difficult. The Austrian German citizens of the Empire blamed their troubles on these minorities for being disloyal citizens of the Empire and causing the collapse of Austria power when they rose up against Vienna in 1846, seemingly forgetting that the Empire's troubles began when it was the Liberal Austrians who rose up against the autocratic rule of Emperor Ferdinand. In many ways it was quite a sadly ironic reaction as the remaining territories of Austria such as Bohemia and Galicia were all firmly loyal members of the Empire who sided with Vienna against Hungary and Germany during the Revolutions. Any remembrance of loyalty was found on deaf ears as Franz Joseph decided that the Slavs, Jews, and other non-German peoples would make the perfect scapegoat for the Austrian people to shift their attentions away from starting another revolution against Hapsburg rule. Any semblance of autonomy in the Slavic lands was destroyed entirely and the Slavic nations centralized under the sole rule of Vienna. Oppressive racial laws against the Slavs were passed with Slavs become secondary citizens in comparison to their German counterparts; their rights of freedom of speech and organization being taken away and any semblance of treason being treated with hostile force. The German language and Austrian culture was forced upon Slavic children in schools and in some areas it was banned to speak non-German. The remnants of the Austrian Army were sent to Slovenia, Bohemia, and Galicia and enforced the harsh laws with severity, the Army having been purged of most non-German officers and seemingly free to do as they pleased with little repercussions. The only comfort the Slavs could find in was for those in the Catholic faith that their freedom of worship and the Church was not attacked. Pope Pius himself condemned the actions of Franz Joseph and the Archdioceses of Prague and Krakow acting as protectors for persecuted Slavs and Liberal Austrians. Within the span of a couple of years Franz Joseph had turned Austria into a land ruled by fear through his iron fist. With the Empire secured and most of the Austrian people seemingly on his side, Franz Joseph looked for ways to tear apart the German Empire and regain Austrian power. In 1864 he would find a solution, or so he thought.
An early photograph of Czech rebels being executed by the Austrian Army.
At the end of the Schleswig-Holstein War it seemed to many within Europe that Germany's quest for more land was finished, however the truth was far from the case. While Chancellor Heinrich von Gagern was more than content in halting Germany's expansion, switching his attention to the domestic politics and ongoing social reforms within Germany, Foreign Minister Otto von Bismarck was not. To him global politics was in many ways a mere game of Risk, one where the most powerful countries were the ones with the most land and through expansion came great prestige and power. For the German Empire there would be no greater everlasting glory than the total reunification of their peoples, a dream that Kaiser Wilhelm wholeheartedly indulged in. After the Revolutions there were only five German-speaking territories left; Austria, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxembourg, Belgian Luxembourg, and the Duchy of Limburg. Of the five the only one that Bismarck had no sights on was Alsace-Lorraine. While there were some German-speakers in the two French provinces, they were barely a fraction of the population and were never in the German Confederation, having left the Holy Roman Empire nearly two centuries ago. Trying to get Alsace-Lorraine would result in war with France, presumably dragging in other great powers such as Russia, Spain, and Italy in order to stop German expansion. The other four however were very ripe targets. Austria was a dying empire with no allies, Limburg and Luxembourg were both former members of the Confederation who remained independent though under the personal-union of the King of Netherlands (The Dutch not annexing either for fear of German retaliation), and Belgian Luxembourg was sparsely populated and had barely any Belgians in it. Pan-German settlement was ripe within each of the territories and since the end of the Revolutions they were itching for unification with Berlin. Fortunately for Germany, Bismarck was a master politician and the brainchild behind Realpolitik, he had a plan that could get rid of all five birds with one stone.
Bismarck speaking before the Reichstag
Bismarck's main plan for complete and total unification was to act aggressive on Germany's western borders and make it look like they were going for a play at Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Such an audacious move would encourage Austria to jump in a possible war against Germany while they would be distracted on the western front, the Austrians believing it would be the ripe moment to take back their rightful lands and leadership position in Germany. This was the ploy that Bismarck wanted Austria to believe so that they would declare war on Germany and give Kaiser Wilhelm the complete casus belli to invade and annex Austria into the Empire, all the while Bismarck would actually be acting diplomatically to acquire the Western German territories without a single shot. Throughout 1862 and 1863 Bismarck worked to make sure that his master plan would unfold behind the scenes, most of Europe's attention shifted to North America with their ongoing wars. Bismarck's first steps was to recruit as many possible allies in the future war against Austria and ensure that no great power would go to their side in the war. First he focused on Austria's neighbors; Bismarck traveling to St. Petersburg, Budapest, and Rome in 1862. He shared his plans with Tsar Alexander, President Kossuth, and Prime Minister Garibaldi. Once revealed Bismarck drew them all in with promises of a "Partition of Austria", one that would result in all three of the Great Powers receiving territory. Russia would receive Galicia, Hungary Bukovina, and Italy would receive the remainder of Tyrol and most of Trieste. All three powers were enticed since for Russia it would be another easy expansion and further unify all Slavs under Russia, Hungary would see the end of Austria as a sovereign nation, and Italy would finish their unification. With that out of the way Bismarck would turn attentions west and begin the second part of his plan, to complete Western German Unification and draw Austria into attacking Germany. For the Netherlands it was an easy move as the populations of both Limburg and Luxembourg were near revolt at times in their desire to get away from the rule of Amsterdam and become states of Germany. Not wanting to face another war similar to the Belgian war of Independence that would destroy the Netherlands, King William III agreed to annexation of the two states in the German Empire in return for a favorable trade agreement, 3 million Reichsmarks in compensation, and William's sons Prince's Maurice and Alexander being installed as the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg and Limburg respectively. Bismarck returned the deal to the German Reichstag in February with a supermajority passing the treaty. Thus allowing the Duchies of Luxembourg and Limburg to enter into the German Empire on March 7th.
The Grand Duchy of Limburg (Left) and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Right)
The next portion of the strategy was a difficult one as Belgian Luxembourg had become a core part of the Kingdom of Belgium for three decades and the sovereignty of Belgium was one that had been agreed to be respected by all major powers, most importantly the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Germany's latest ally. Bismarck's Belgian ambitions were one with very few realistic chances of success. All the European powers were supportive of Belgium's current state and King Leopold refused to budge an inch on the most favorable of offers. It got to the point where even Kaiser Wilhelm told Bismarck to cease and desist. While Bismarck was frustrated that he could not get Belgium to comply with Germany, he merely resolved to adapt his plans and deal with Belgium the same way he planned with Alsace-Lorraine, make it look like Germany was going to war with them. Bringing Kaiser Wilhelm and Chancellor Gagern into his conspiracy, Bismarck planned to station German troops on the western border and make it look as though Germany was prepared to fight in order to complete their unification. Gagern though skeptical, agreed and 150,000 German troops under Field Marshal von Lohengramm were sent to both the French and Belgian borders, with Gagern and Wilhelm making regular speeches about the need to "liberate" their German brothers. While most of the public of Western Europe feared that another war would commence, the ruling class and diplomats were unnerved. Bismarck had already made previous trips incognito to both Paris and London, making the case that the German troop movements were a complete bluff and that no war would come from the German Empire. At the end of the crisis when the situation was favorable for a war with Austria, Bismarck promised two agreements; he would draft a treaty affirming Germany's respect of Belgian independence and withdrawing their claims on the rest of Luxembourg, and he would exchange Germany's recently acquired territory in Ghana to France, the Germans having not done much with it at all. Queen Victoria and her cabinet agreed (though the Queen was secretly saddened that Germany would not go to war with France so that Britain could take France's colonies) and Napoleon cautiously accepting, all the while placing three French corps on the border just in case. For Bismarck everything was set, the last player needed for his grand act being Austria.
Bismarck conversing with Emperor Napoleon
During 1863 it looked to the outside observer that Germany was purposely antagonizing Western Europe in order to fulfill their Nationalistic desires of expansion, even President Abraham Lincoln appeared to be fooled by Bismarck's efforts, offering the United States to act as a neutral arbiter in the crises. To Emperor Franz Joseph it looked to be a dream come true. Germany was making enemies out of seemingly every major European power and was looking to enter into an all-out war with France, along with Britain if they were to invade Belgium. To the delusional Franz Joseph who still believed that most of Southern Germany yearned for Austrian leadership, the time to strike was now, all he needed were allies in his struggle. In January 14th it appeared that Franz Joseph would have his day with representatives from both the French and Russian courts looking to form an alliance against possible German aggression. The French one was very much earnest and wanted Austria to join France should they come in attack. The Russian envoys however were part of the Bismarck conspiracy and wanted to entice Austria into aggression in order to claim Galicia, the fact that France appeared at the same time was a sheer coincidence of pure luck. The Russian ambassador promised Austria a blank check, that should they move in Russia would support them wholeheartedly. It was a false claim but one Franz Joseph believed fully. With Austrian High Command filled with nobles and puppets who Franz Joseph placed into power, the Emperor called for a total mobilization against the German borders. On March 1st Emperor Franz Joseph called for an ultimatum, Germany shall return the Sudetenland or else Austria would declare war. Such a call caused immense outrage within much of the German Empire over the weak and dying Austria making demands of the glorious German Empire. The Reichstag unanimously refused, in Franz Joseph's view giving him the casus belli and righteousness of the war. On March 14th Austria declared war on the German Empire, Austrian soldiers marching into Germany with the hope of a glorious conquest. Unfortunately for Franz Joseph he would learn in the coming days of just how far he had been duped. For in the coming days neither France nor Britain went to war against Germany, and Hungary along with Italy declared war on the 15th. On the 16th of March came the greatest betrayal of all, Russia had declared war on the Austrian Empire. For in Russia's eyes their relationship with Austria was severed ever since Vienna refused to help them in Crimea, giving Alexander the right to do away with the Hapsburgs. The last days of Austria were finally upon them, and by the end of the year the Empire would be no more.
Austrian advance into Germany
Last edited:
The rest of the Paraguayan War including its conclusion will be Chapter 101.
Hawaii will be dealt with in the 1890's. Let's just say it's not going to be an American state. Hawaii will take an interesting path.
Fare thee well Austria.
The Tsar will get a boost at home for this I expect.
I hope Otto being Titled archduke meas the Habsburgs are able to remain in Vienna as sub royals.
Hmm, did Ludwig II live and reign ITTL?
The Tsar will get a boost at home for this I expect.
I hope Otto being Titled archduke meas the Habsburgs are able to remain in Vienna as sub royals.
Hmm, did Ludwig II live and reign ITTL?