Austrian Empire becomes Austro-Italian-Romanian- Hungarian Empire after the Crimean w

let say Austrian join western allies in Crimean war. win Romania in peace treaty of Paris 1856. Austrian have good relation with Napeloen III because they joint Crimean war in 1854. so that butterfly Franco-Austrian War of 1859. Bismarck still lead Prussia to unification of Germany. because Russia will be extra pissed off on Austria because the Crimean war. Russia will mobilize on extra long border between Russia and Austria. distracting Austria in war of 1866. unification of Italy is stillborn. Franco-Prussia war happen in 1871
so Austria keep Lombardy-veneto and gain Romania. can Hapsburg keep Quadruple monarchy working?.
what are effects will Quadruple monarchy have on balance of power in Europe in second half 19th century ?
 
Well, if the duplice monarchy was unwieldy, this will be a constantly deadlocked giant, ready to disintegrate at the first defeat.

The problem is that if you use absolutism, you will create ever increasing discontent and strife which will in the end turn to rebellion. Instead, if you use federalism, you risk a quick disintegration, 1989 style or at best deadlock when the various ethnicities start making reciprocal obstructionism in the federal parliament.

It could be made to work, but it will be extremely difficult and imho adding Romania makes things even more difficult. I would be happy to read a TL that makes this (or any other Habsburg "federal monarchy") plausibility work.
 
Well, it would still need to be the Austrian Empire, because Austria-Hungary represented a weakening of powers that undermined the state in the long run. Or more of was just an expression of the underlying disease in Austria-Hungary.

Now why would Austria annex Romania after the Crimean War? The conflict was about protecting the Ottoman Empire, and Romania (well, Wallachia and Moldavia) was legally an Ottoman vassal state. The most Austria could do is prevent the unification of the two states, as well as of course prevent a Hohenzollern from becoming King of Romania. The other Great Powers of Europe probably won't look too kindly on Austria taking that much land.

And even if they do, it's probably still likely the Austrian Empire disintegrates at some point in the 20th century.
 
Austrian get Romania as reward for their joining Crimean war and to stop Russia attack on ottoman trough Romania
 
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