austria colonies in north africa

if Austria tried to colonize north Africa in early 1800s ,maybe Libya and Tunisia could it actually keep control of colonies ?
 
can the ottomans actually win against austria?
yes the ottomans have a bigger fleet. Native loyal population in north africa. Muhammad Ali they can call upon depending on time period. Also the ottomans for the most part have been able to stop austrian expansionism, how is fighting in bosnia going to get them north africa?
 
yes the ottomans have a bigger fleet. Native loyal population in north africa. Muhammad Ali they can call upon depending on time period. Also the ottomans for the most part have been able to stop austrian expansionism, how is fighting in bosnia going to get them north africa?
austrian defeat the ottomans in land and get ottoman territory of north africa in peace
 
austrian defeat the ottomans in land and get ottoman territory of north africa in peace
Or the ottomans just wait them or defeat them in a battle the austrians are not russia they don't have infinite resources and money to keep fighting, also they don't have the forces strong enough to take the entire balkans.
 
Why would Austria want this? Austria wouldn't be able to win in a war against a united Italy and definitely not France. Plus, if it won in a war against the Ottoman Empire, it would wanna just own some more Balkan lands rather than a bleeding colony North Africa. I could perhaps see Austria colonizing some Central African land. However, remember: African Colonization ≠ American Colonization.
 
I could see an international Congress awarding Tunisia to Austria in order to keep it out of Italian hands and prevent Italy from being able to militarily dominate the Central Mediterranean.
 
I could see an international Congress awarding Tunisia to Austria in order to keep it out of Italian hands and prevent Italy from being able to militarily dominate the Central Mediterranean.

But you can't see that happen as an international congress would be past 1860 and by then, Tunisia is within Fremch sphere of influence. France won't go for it and neither will Italy.
 
Problems I see:

Early 1800... I imagine betwee 1800-1830...

So...

Between 1800-1815: Austria is in an all out war every few years with France. It is highly unlikely they would consider a North African Colony in the crucial parts of the Napoleonic Era. Andddd... no Navy to help.

Between 1815-1830: Austria still does not have a navy to enforce the deal. They could get victories in Bosnia and Serbia but that won't get them North Africa. OTL Principality of Serbia might get awarded to Austria but this goes against the will of Metternich.

The only option I see is Austria-Hungary being awarded with Libya between 1878-1908. The Ottomans may get Bosnia back as a compensation and that is generous.
 
Problems I see:

Early 1800... I imagine betwee 1800-1830...

So...

Between 1800-1815: Austria is in an all out war every few years with France. It is highly unlikely they would consider a North African Colony in the crucial parts of the Napoleonic Era. Andddd... no Navy to help.

Between 1815-1830: Austria still does not have a navy to enforce the deal. They could get victories in Bosnia and Serbia but that won't get them North Africa. OTL Principality of Serbia might get awarded to Austria but this goes against the will of Metternich.

The only option I see is Austria-Hungary being awarded with Libya between 1878-1908. The Ottomans may get Bosnia back as a compensation and that is generous.
Ditto to that. Technically, the only time frame in which Austria can properly project power into North Africa and the southern shore of the Mediterranean is after the reforms of admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff in the 1860's, and even then, i don't think Austria would have much of an interest in overseas expansion, other than some penal colonies or bargaining chips.
 
But you can't see that happen as an international congress would be past 1860 and by then, Tunisia is within Fremch sphere of influence. France won't go for it and neither will Italy.
Yes but Britain isn't tied into the European alliance system until after 1905 remember. An Anglo - German alliance or an Anglo-French conflict after Fashoda and what France and Italy want may not be decisive
 
Ditto to that. Technically, the only time frame in which Austria can properly project power into North Africa and the southern shore of the Mediterranean is after the reforms of admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff in the 1860's, and even then, i don't think Austria would have much of an interest in overseas expansion, other than some penal colonies or bargaining chips.


And Franz Josef was a complete landlubber who may not even have possessed a naval uniform. His brother Maximilian seems to have been far more interested in the wider world, so might have gone for it. And if Italy could conquer Libya in 1911-12 there's no particular reason why Austria couldn't - if its ruler wanted to badly enough
 
And Franz Josef was a complete landlubber who may not even have possessed a naval uniform. His brother Maximilian seems to have been far more interested in the wider world, so might have gone for it. And if Italy could conquer Libya in 1911-12 there's no particular reason why Austria couldn't - if its ruler wanted to badly enough

Italy was almost bankrupt in 1912 for Libya. Austria-Hungary has other important priorities to spend the money they have.
 
Yes but Britain isn't tied into the European alliance system until after 1905 remember. An Anglo - German alliance or an Anglo-French conflict after Fashoda and what France and Italy want may not be decisive

That still doesn't mean much. France has the means to enforce their claim, so has Italy. Austria-Hungary does not. Especially not before the 1880s. Austrian claim on Tunisia is as good as a reason for war with Italy and or France.
 
And Franz Josef was a complete landlubber who may not even have possessed a naval uniform. His brother Maximilian seems to have been far more interested in the wider world, so might have gone for it. And if Italy could conquer Libya in 1911-12 there's no particular reason why Austria couldn't - if its ruler wanted to badly enough

I agree. For much of its history, Austria-Hungary had to fight hard against the Ottomans, but at this time, the latter are but a defeat waiting to happen. And Italy isn't the only winner, look at the First Balkan War and at the abysmal state of the Turkish Navy.
But the problem is your last sentence. It's relatively easy for the Austrian-Hungarian fleet based in Trieste to go and conquer Libya, the difficulty is in convincing the decision makers in Vienna that they really need that. For what? Because every other great power is scrambling for colonies might be a (weak!) reason.
 
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