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Part 7
Part VII: Foreign Powers


Emperor Napoleon III and Queen Victoria

The outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War left Great Britain and Queen Victoria in a difficult position. For the past two decades, the queen had fostered an alliance with France. English and French troops had fought side by side in the Crimean War. Victoria had developed a close friendship with the French Emperor and Empress. However, Prussia was Britain’s historic ally since the time of Frederick the Great and Victoria’s eldest daughter was married to the Prussian Crown Prince Frederick. It was not in England’s interest that these two powers fight a bloody war and the queen had hoped it would come to a swift end.

Tsar Alexander II of Russia was in similar straits to Victoria. Alexander’s mother had been a Prussian Princess, Prussian King Wilhelm was his uncle and he had grown up reading German literature. However, despite his Germanophile nature, Alexander feared the rise of a powerful German state on his western frontier that could one day threaten Russia. This made improving relations with France a natural step, but he had a personal dislike for the nation. Alexander blamed France for the Crimean War and subsequent death of his father Tsar Nicholas. Emperor Napoleon had attempted to smooth things out in 1856, dispatching his half brother Charles de Morny to the Russian court. Morny was able to form a close bond with Alexander, the Russian monarch even attended his wedding to a Russian princess. The untimely death of Morny in 1865 however left a void in two nations relationship. Alexander had traveled to France in 1867 to meet the Emperor in person only to be nearly assassinated by a Polish nationalist. Alexander had always suspected Napoleon of having pro polish leanings and this only hurt the relationship. When the war broke out, Alexander personally sympathized with Prussia but he concluded that it was to Russia’s advantage if neither side gained a clear victory.

Italian King Victor Emmanuel’s sentiments were with the French. He had fought by Emperor Napoleon’s side at the Battle of Solferino and appreciated French support in driving the Austrians from northern Italy. The main issue between the two powers was the French garrison in Rome. Napoleon’s decision to withdraw these soldiers at the beginning of the conflict with Prussia was greatly appreciated by Emmanuel. The Italian King was now seriously considering open support for France in the conflict. Though the immediate concern for Emmanuel was the safety of his daughter Princess Maria Clotilde. Clotilde, the wife of Prince Napoleon, was living in Paris and refusing to return to the safety of Italy.

Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary was never fond of the French Emperor. The two men had battled personally in the field at Solferino. Franz Joseph also held a grudge against Napoleon for the death of his brother Maximilian. Napoleon had implicated Maximilian in his scheme to sit a European monarch on the Mexican throne. The venture ended with the French abandoning the Austrian prince to be shot by a firing squad. Austria’s weak condition after its defeat at the hands of Prussia, however, left Franz Joseph rethinking Austria’s relationship with France. A combined French-Austrian alliance might be the only thing to prevent Prussian hegemony. With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war, the Austrian Emperor hoped for a French victory and contemplated entering the conflict.

Note: Here is a summary of foreign rulers opinions on the conflict. If I left out any important information, please leave a comment.:)

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