Österreich und Preußen - Ein Geschichte von zwei Adler
The point of divergence is the conception of Frederick the Great of Prussia, a slightly different sperm cell hits the ovum, and due to butterflies, at his birth he is named Ludwig. This different person is going to make for a very different 18th Century...
The Agreement
The conversation is hushed. One of the figures is old, grey-haired. The Soldier-King, they call him. The other is blond, young, blue-eyed. Ludwig Hohenzollern, Crown Prince of Prussia.
'Marriage is just another tool, Ludwig,' the old man says. 'You can have all the mistresses you want...'
'So what? I would never marry her,' Ludwig replies. 'She does not gain me anything. She is not important, and never will be.'
'So who do you intend to marry, Ludwig?' he asks piercingly.
'It's simple,' Ludwig says. He raises a document, with a woman's face on it. The old man looks shocked.
'Maria Theresa Hapsburg? But, she's Catholic...you can't marry!'
'I can convert. Vienna is worth a mass, father,' Ludwig replies. 'Besides, Austria and Prussia united...now that would be powerful. It would make you proud, I dare to say.'
'Indeed, son,' the old man replies. 'We just have to contact Charles and see if he would accept it...'
The point of divergence is the conception of Frederick the Great of Prussia, a slightly different sperm cell hits the ovum, and due to butterflies, at his birth he is named Ludwig. This different person is going to make for a very different 18th Century...
The Agreement
The conversation is hushed. One of the figures is old, grey-haired. The Soldier-King, they call him. The other is blond, young, blue-eyed. Ludwig Hohenzollern, Crown Prince of Prussia.
'Marriage is just another tool, Ludwig,' the old man says. 'You can have all the mistresses you want...'
'So what? I would never marry her,' Ludwig replies. 'She does not gain me anything. She is not important, and never will be.'
'So who do you intend to marry, Ludwig?' he asks piercingly.
'It's simple,' Ludwig says. He raises a document, with a woman's face on it. The old man looks shocked.
'Maria Theresa Hapsburg? But, she's Catholic...you can't marry!'
'I can convert. Vienna is worth a mass, father,' Ludwig replies. 'Besides, Austria and Prussia united...now that would be powerful. It would make you proud, I dare to say.'
'Indeed, son,' the old man replies. 'We just have to contact Charles and see if he would accept it...'