AHC: Superpower Hapsburg Empire

Or precipitate a world war; a civil war in the A-H is a too big event for the big power to remain outside it.

Unless it looks like AH is actually falling apart (big Hungarian victories) I think you are overestimating French aggressiveness.

Bruce
 
Guys, the OP is asking for a superpower Hapsburg Empire, not necessarily superpower Austria-Hungary. So perhaps there is a way for a Hapsburg to become an emperor of another power (Spain? Italy? Britain? Germany? Russia?) and than have his empire conquer Mackinder's heartland at some point down the line (potentially decades after the initial POD). Not saying this is easy, but it does open up more options than just superpower Austria-Hungary.

Well, if we can somehow get a Habsburg on the Russian throne, bang, you have most of the Heartland at one go. :D

Bruce
 
Unless it looks like AH is actually falling apart (big Hungarian victories) I think you are overestimating French aggressiveness.

Bruce

Not by very much, the period was a one diplomatic/military crisis after another, basically all power were ready themselfs for war...this is a thing too big to be resolved by a diplomatic conference, so it's more probable that we will get the WWI scenario with one nation begin mobilization so prompt the others to do the same...and Great War here we come.
 
It's certainly true that "Habsburg" and "competent ruler" are not words that often appear in the same sentence... :)

Bruce

I don't know. Austria-Hungary enjoyed better economic growth than the successor states, and it was far less autocratic than Poland or Hungary...
 
I don't know. Austria-Hungary enjoyed better economic growth than the successor states, and it was far less autocratic than Poland or Hungary...
Growth was there because they had more possibilities for trade. After WWI and creation of successor states, creation of new borders, new currencies brought also border taxes, protectionism etc.
 
I don't know. Austria-Hungary enjoyed better economic growth than the successor states, and it was far less autocratic than Poland or Hungary...

On the other hand, look what a mess they made with the Spanish Empire...well, not much worse than the Bourbons, to damn with faint praise.

Bruce
 
Growth was there because they had more possibilities for trade. After WWI and creation of successor states, creation of new borders, new currencies brought also border taxes, protectionism etc.

I'm not sure you disprove my point by arguing that the successor states were all led by idiots.
 
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