AHC: Austro-Hungarian Borneo/Sabah?

From digging through a few articles, it seems that Sabah/North Borneo had quite a journey before it ended up as a British possession. After exchanging hands a few times, the rights to North Borneo were eventually sold to Gustav von Overbeck, the Austro-Hungarian Consul to Hong Kong. The Sultan of Brunei even awarded Overbeck the title "Maharaja of Sabah".

(note: Malay kingdoms give titles away as freely as candy back in those days, and in Brunei the highest authority is given by the Sultan; a maharajah is subservient to him unless he would break away his territory like the Brookes did).

He tried to gain the Austro-Hungarian government's support for the colony, but failed and eventually sold it to his British partner.

Given the state of A-H during the 1870s, it's clear that the government wasn't in good shape to start any sort of colony. So here's the challenge: make Austria(-Hungary) strong enough to actually go for Sabah.
 

SunDeep

Banned
Perhaps if Gustav von Overbeck decides to run it himself and become the 'Maharajah of Sabah' in a similar manner to James Brooke in Sarawak? In this manner, von Overbeck builds up his case for Austro-Hungarian government support, and Austria-Hungary comes in to take von Overbeck up on his offer when it's ready to do so, around the turn of the century- perhaps upon Raja von Overbeck's death in 1894, if he doesn't have any successors to his newly established dynasty. If he does have a successor though, chances are that the offer to take control of the kingdom wouldn't be on the table any more. If Austria Hungary does take Sabah though, they probably won't be able to hold on to it for long. Expect the Japanese to make claiming the region for themselves during WW1 a top priority- and if they do get it along with the Imperial German Pacific Protectorates, they've got their very own oilfields to exploit which they always wanted IOTL.
 
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Perhaps if Gustav von Overbeck decides to run it himself and become the 'Maharajah of Sabah' in a similar manner to James Brooke in Sarawak? In this manner, von Overbeck builds up his case for Austro-Hungarian government support, and Austria-Hungary comes in to take von Overbeck up on his offer when it's ready to do so, around the turn of the century- perhaps upon Raja von Overbeck's death in 1894, if he doesn't have any successors to his newly established dynasty. If he does have a successor though, chances are that the offer to take control of the kingdom wouldn't be on the table any more. If Austria Hungary does take Sabah though, they probably won't be able to hold on to it for long. Expect the Japanese to make claiming the region for themselves during WW1 a top priority- and if they do get it along with the Imperial German Pacific Protectorates, they've got their very own oilfields to exploit which they always wanted IOTL.

Possible, except for one thing. While it's true that von Overbeck could pull off a James Brooke and develop the area by himself and a few German business interests, he massively underestimated the cost and hard work needed to actually develop Sabah (for instance, promising to give 12000 Dollars per year without building any infrastructure yet on land). It was this and the A-H government not in a colonial mood that shut down the whole project, forcing Overbeck to give up his rights to the British. Of course, he could just hand the rights over to a member of his family (James Brooke was succeeded by his nephew Charles, so there is a precedent), but is that other family member more astute than he is?
 
Yeah, I think a better way to keep it Austro-Hungarian is to pass it to a wealthier or/and more capable Austro-Hungarian. Just about anyone could've gotten Sabah. I know someone who made North Borneo passed to Ottomans having Sultan Abdul Hamit II buying it. It will later be safe haven for Chinese Huis.
 
If it ends in AH hands it could quite likely have a significant slavic speaking minority or if immigration is substantial maybe even a plurality.
 
So much for being original eh? The route I was considering is likely cheating for an Austrian Sabah, but it would fairly easy with a Habsburg Grossdeustchland of sorts. ;)

If Austro-Hungary has to be around however then... I am not a wizard at its finances but I don't think I am going too far out in saying it perhaps wasn't in a state to support the economic drain of a far flung colony. So something would have to be done besides sprinkling fariy dust to make Vienna not only interested in colony making, but actually capable of shouldering the burden. All that comes to mind is them preforming better against Prussia in 1866 and somehow getting territorial cessions like Silesia. That is a different can of worms though.

If a second Brooke is in the cards I would see the rising German navy taking the role of protecting the adventurer more so than the k.u.k. Kriegsmarine. In fact, someone from a Hanseatic city may be in a (very slightly) better position to try than von Overbeck...
 
If it ends in AH hands it could quite likely have a significant slavic speaking minority or if immigration is substantial maybe even a plurality.

Just like how Malaysia has a sizable English minority... If European immigration is supposed to occur in the far away colony© during this era, an economic incentive is needed. What that may be in this case I couldn't say.
 
So much for being original eh? The route I was considering is likely cheating for an Austrian Sabah, but it would fairly easy with a Habsburg Grossdeustchland of sorts. ;)

If Austro-Hungary has to be around however then... I am not a wizard at its finances but I don't think I am going too far out in saying it perhaps wasn't in a state to support the economic drain of a far flung colony. So something would have to be done besides sprinkling fariy dust to make Vienna not only interested in colony making, but actually capable of shouldering the burden. All that comes to mind is them preforming better against Prussia in 1866 and somehow getting territorial cessions like Silesia. That is a different can of worms though.

If a second Brooke is in the cards I would see the rising German navy taking the role of protecting the adventurer more so than the k.u.k. Kriegsmarine. In fact, someone from a Hanseatic city may be in a (very slightly) better position to try than von Overbeck...

Yeah, Vienna's finances were probably the cause for Austria-Hungary not supporting Overbeck's claim. A better 1866 and no Compromise of 1867 would probably lend the empire support, but that would open a HUGE can of worms in regards to Italy and Germany. I was also hoping that a trading company made up of rich Austrian Germans/Hungarians would do the trick, but given the state of affairs that's near-impossible to achieve.

On the family thing, I was actually referring to Overbeck ceding the Sabah rights to someone from his own family or a rich Austro-Hungarian one. Then again, was there a rich and influential A-H family that could even come close to the Brookes? or make an ITTL North Borneo Company?

If it ends in AH hands it could quite likely have a significant slavic speaking minority or if immigration is substantial maybe even a plurality.

Just like how Malaysia has a sizable English minority... If European immigration is supposed to occur in the far away colony© during this era, an economic incentive is needed. What that may be in this case I couldn't say.

Yeah, I don't see it either. While Sabah did have lots of resources (coal, oil, etc.) there isn't anything much to garner immigration from the Empire. Agricultural land? Well yeah, if you prefer year-round mosquitoes and malaria. Workers? India and China has lots of them; cheaper than hauling Europeans across the globe. Administrators? Why not the ex-Bruneians and ex-Sulus?
 
Good old fashion colonial propaganda trump it up as a new start there must be plenty of people in the empire who would go for it. Offer prisoners a chance to either seek a fresh start in this faraway land or stay in prison there's always a way if one has the will.
 
Good old fashion colonial propaganda trump it up as a new start there must be plenty of people in the empire who would go for it. Offer prisoners a chance to either seek a fresh start in this faraway land or stay in prison there's always a way if one has the will.

I don't think petty criminals and imprisoned Balkan nationalists would last that long in tropical Borneo, though I have to admit, I do love the butterflies...

Also, shameless bumping for more attention. :p
 
I don't think petty criminals and imprisoned Balkan nationalists would last that long in tropical Borneo, though I have to admit, I do love the butterflies...

Also, shameless bumping for more attention. :p
Does a colony need colonists? Brooke didn't. What Brooke used were European mercenaries, a bit of RN support and loyal locals.

Though of course, all that requires money.
 
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Does a colony need colonists? Brooke didn't. What Brooke used were European mercenaries, a bit of RN support and loyal locals.

Though of course, all that requires money.

However, the Brooke's also had one thing almost every other power on Borneo lacked: Respect. They were respected by the natives to the point that one observer noted that "the Dyaks sang songs and poems in praise of James and Charles (Brooke)". Voluntarily.

I think that even with the money, the Dayaks of Borneo would have been a running sore for Overbeck (or any other Austro-Hungarian) and would bleed the colony dry of money. Other than that, Overbeck massively underestimatd the revenues he would make whereas the Brookes were more realistic on financial matters.

What Norh Borneo needs was a competant Austro-Hungarian; A different diplomat in Hong Kong that would buy the rights to North Borneo. Anyone know any names?

EDIT: About the money problem; I can see an alt-Overbeck roping in some German business interests to get involved. The Sultan of Sulu wanted the British and the Germans to intervene against Spain at about the same time period, so the area was not unknown to them.
 
Given the state of A-H during the 1870s, it's clear that the government wasn't in good shape to start any sort of colony. So here's the challenge: make Austria(-Hungary) strong enough to actually go for Sabah.

Off the top of my head, I recall that Austria was offered the isle of Corfu during a round of negotiations at the Congress of Vienna ending the Napoleonic Wars. It declined, however I think this would be a good POD to get the Habsburgs thinking beyond their borders and outside the Adriatic.

I used this WI in a short ATL with the Austrians befriending the Emperor of Abyssinia and later extending their possessions to include Borneo and even to include a portion of California - how else to explain the eventual rise to office of Arnold Schwarzenegger?
 
I don't think petty criminals and imprisoned Balkan nationalists would last that long in tropical Borneo, though I have to admit, I do love the butterflies...

Glad to oblige :p though it would always be in the spirit of the Australian model if only to pave the way for voluntary colonists.
 
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