What if, during the 1840s, both France and Austria realise the threat that represents Prussia and choose to put their disagreements on Italy aside, and join their forces to avoid the formation of Germany.
What if, during the 1840s, both France and Austria realise the threat that represents Prussia and choose to put their disagreements on Italy aside, and join their forces to avoid the formation of Germany.
Until 1846, Guizot was in full entente cordiale mode. You could have a window of opportunity in 1846, but you'd need to butterfly away the 1848 Revolutions.
Would it be possible that a Thiers government with Guizot at Foreign Affairs helped to enlarge vote to lower midlle classes, who were the leaders of the 1848 revolution ?
Thiers and Guizot hated each other and would not have accepted such a coalition.
What if, during the 1840s, both France and Austria realise the threat that represents Prussia and choose to put their disagreements on Italy aside, and join their forces to avoid the formation of Germany.
No chance in the 1840s. No one then saw Prussia as a threat.
In the 1860s maybe if FJ dies and Maximilian becomes (depending on the timing) either Emperor or Regent. He and Napoleon III might have hit it off .
No way they would ally after war of Italy
Wouldn't be so sure about that. Under Metternich's embassy France and Austria we'e growing closer and Franz Josef nearly sided with Napoleon III in the early days of the Franco-Prussian war. So a 1860s alliance could happen.
Wouldn't be so sure about that. Under Metternich's embassy France and Austria we'e growing closer and Franz Josef nearly sided with Napoleon III in the early days of the Franco-Prussian war. So a 1860s alliance could happen.
The war with Italy took place after Metternich had lost most of his influence, so that doesn't contradict his assertion. And the fact that the Austrians did sit the Franco-Prussian War out despite it being an opportunity for revenge, well, it at least suggests that their prior altercation with Napoleon III had poisoned the well. Avoiding that conflict seems important.
Talking about his son Richard, whose ambassadorship didn't start until after the 1859 war.
As the Olmutz Punctuation showed, Austria was capable of keeping the lid on Prussian ambitions in Germany in the 1840s- in fact, the bigger problem seems to be the threat of France, against who Prussia and Austria are busy collaborating. It's not impossible that Prussia could be a problem earlier, but you'd need a more substantial set of changes to make them actually appear a serious threat at this stage.
That wasn't all they were disagreeing about: the German Confederation (1815-1848, 1850-1866) had an Austrian president, and the Erfurt Union had a Prussian one. The wider point which you seem to have missed is that Austria was able to force Prussia to back down without outside assistance. That undermines your assertions about 'the threat that represents Prussia' needing a Franco-Austrian alliance. Instead, as the military planning shows, it's the threat of France that requires an Austro-Prussian alliance.talking of Olmutz is a total anachronism ... in the 40s, Austria and Prussia were disaggreing on small or great germany