Chapter 25: Leopold The Grandfather of Europe?
Spring was beginning to settle in, and as it did so, the court had moved from Schönbrunn to Hofburg, and Leopold had carried his worries and his hopes with him. In the west, the war with France did not seem to be reaching an end and indeed the French seemed to be winning, something that could not remain acceptable to him if he wanted to bring peace. In the East, well in the east, the Turks seemed to be caving. And at home, things were fine, a discussion about a marriage between his eldest son and heir Joseph and either a Danish Princess or some other Princess of Europe was being discussed, though whether the Danish marriage would occur was something that Leopold was uncertain about.
He put those thoughts aside for the time being and looked around the room. There were faces around him that he had known since he had ascended the Imperial dignity. Some were men who had served his father toward the end of his reign, and others who he had appointed upon his own ascension. Leopold took a breath and said. “We have noticed that the flow of reports coming from both the west and the east seems to have levelled out, we wish to discuss the state of things within the Western front before moving onto other issues.”
Caraffa answered. “Sire, the situation on the Rhine is not as desperate as it was this time last year. Whilst the French still hold many of the towns that they took earlier in the war, the pressure being exerted on them by the Elector of Bavaria and the Elector of Hanover is such that soon enough they shall have to retreat from Mainz. The Prince of Orange has also agreed to send a host to aid in the relief of Bonn.”
Leopold nodded. “Good, the more pressure we can exert on the French the better. Have the English agreed to raid into French territory?” He knew that there was some sort of restraint that the English felt they needed to exercise whenever it came to these wars, they had only sent eight thousand men after all.
“Yes, Sire. They have agreed to deploy their forces into raiding the North Western part of France to draw Vauban and his men away.” Caraffa answered.
Leopold nodded, that was good news indeed. He turned to Metternich and asked. “And what terms have our friends of Constantinople offered us?” When he had been told that the Sultan wanted to discuss peace, he had been ecstatic that would mean he could consolidate power within the regions, end high taxation in his own domains and focus on knocking the French out.
Metternich was getting on in years, he was stooped where previously he had stood tall. “Sire, Sultan Mehmed states that in return for an ending to the war effort, he would pull Ottoman troops out Serbia, cease all efforts at regaining Transylvania and Croatia.”
Leopold wanted to laugh, these were excellent terms. “And in return?”
“In return, Sire, all he asks is that you cease with the efforts to command troops into Wallachia and that the remaining territories in the continent be recognised as his.” Metternich said.
These terms were good, almost too good. Leopold knew that the Sultan was desperate and perhaps was looking to string them along until his army regrouped, but Leopold knew that his own treasury was running low, that if he kept taxing the Hungarians and his own domains, that he would face revolt somewhere. “Very well, inform the Ottoman ambassador that we wish to discuss these terms with him and that we find them agreeable.” He would not sign anything just yet, but it would not hurt to hear it from the man’s mouth himself.
Metternich nodded, then raised another issue. “Sire, if you do not mind, there is the issue of Spain that must be discussed.”
Leopold bit back a sigh, Spain. The issue of their family policy kept rearing its ugly head. He knew that perhaps they should reconsider everything, he knew himself that the marriage of his granddaughter with his second son Charles was not something to be considered lightly. But if he wanted to keep Spain and its possessions within the family the marriage was needed. “What about Spain?”
“His Majesty, King Carlos is ailing.” Metternich said, then cleared his throat. “He has been ailing for some time, this is true, but there is more to this present illness. Letters from our ambassador in Madrid state that the King is now abed, that he has not said anything for three weeks, and that even the Queen has taken ill.”
It was clear what his advisor was saying and still he asked. “Do you mean to suggest that the man is dying?” The thought that the Spanish Habsburgs were going to be dead within the next few months was something that would have consequences far beyond a mere family tragedy.
“Yes, Sire. I believe he is dying. The whole court believes he is dying.” Metternich said. The man hesitated then went on. “I know, Sire that you had wished to see your son, His Royal Highness, Archduke Charles married to your granddaughter Her Highness Margaret Theresa, but in light of this news, and the birth of a son for your daughter, perhaps it would be better to start preparing for your daughter’s ascension to the Spanish throne?”
Leopold took a moment to think of this, he did not want for his daughter to ascend the throne, had he had a brother, or even a cousin, he would have married her to them instead of that grasping fool Bavaria, but he did not. “Would the other powers accept this?” He wondered.
“Sire, I believe that in order to prevent this current war continuing, they would do whatever it took to accept it.” Metternich said.
“Then begin searching out the other nations see what they say, and then prepare a treaty.” Leopold said, he had an idea of what land he could give his second son, even if the throne was not an option.