Had Austria defeated Prussia and annexed Silesia, what would have been the effect of this victory on the Ausgleich?
Austria would have more Germans and more revenues.
Austria would have more Germans and more revenues.
In the 1866 conflict? Might that also mean Austria also still has Venetia?
And if Nappy III gets scared by the (re)annexation of Silesia and militarily intervenes?Might? Guranteed.
And if Nappy III gets scared by the (re)annexation of Silesia and militarily intervenes?
And if Nappy III gets scared by the (re)annexation of Silesia and militarily intervenes?
To what degree would that actually fly though? The entire point of the German Confederation was to counter France, it'd be a bad look if Austria's dominance of the GC started with handing over the Rhineland on a silver platter.Austria's treaties radifying the annexation won't be getting through without Nappy III's approval, and I'm sure if he's hesitant Austria would be willing to sweeten the pot by adding terms that give France what gains she likes in the Rhineland. Further, historically France did have agreements with Austria to stay uninnvolved in an inter-German conflict so long as her interests were represented in any peace, and unlike Prussia IOTL she actually has somebody else's chips (The Prussian Rhineland) to bargin with.
To what degree would that actually fly though? The entire point of the German Confederation was to counter France, it'd be a bad look if Austria's dominance of the GC started with handing over the Rhineland on a silver platter.
Perhaps. Though IIRC the Austrians also had plans to put the Italian Habsburgs in an independant Rhineland, so depending on the scope of Nappy III's ambitions they could still find themselves at an impasse.*Austria can't afford to enforce hegemony on the GC anyways; the best they can hope for is to keep it a friendly, decenteralized body that's cooperative to their interests or at least unable to be actively hostile, and they need to escape their post-Crimean diplomatic isolation anyways, especially since they look like a bigger threat now. This is the perfect oppritunity to get a Great Power ally.
Oh yes.Then again, I probably have some slight tunnel vision on this particular topic at the moment, as you would know Seal. You follow my timeline, after all![]()
Perhaps. Though IIRC the Austrians also had plans to put the Italian Habsburgs in an independant Rhineland, so depending on the scope of Nappy III's ambitions they could still find themselves at an impasse.*
Oh yes.
*although a strong Austria which is still looking around for thrones for the Italian Habsburgs could be interesting.
Also, if the Ottomans appear are particularly weak, Habsburg kingdoms in the Balkans would be a convenient way to secure the planned Vienna-Salonica railway.Well, in a few years Spain will be looking for a head to stick a crown on, and Romania will be looking for a King about a decade after that. For the former I'm sure France would be willing to return the solid Austria gave by allowing France first picks on the Left Bank, (Bonus points for Habsburg dynastic legitimacy), though the later might run into opposition from a Russia skeptical of Austrian ambitions.
Also, if the Ottomans appear are particularly weak, Habsburg kingdoms in the Balkans would be a convenient way to secure the planned Vienna-Salonica railway.
True.If the Austrians are staring down a revachist Prussia and Italy and bumping up against Russian interests? Not likely. Austria can't project power in every direction at once; she needs to prioritize to avoid losing everything. Russia and Britain, as much as they dislike each other, both would prefer the Balkans in passive Ottoman hands than Austrian clients,which is far more opposition than Vienna is going to be willing to stand up to.
True.