Hey Guys,
In February, 1853 there was an assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph I's life, it obviously failed and the Emperor would rule for another 63 years. However what if he had been killed?
In 1853 he had no children, thus the Austrian crown would've passed onto his 21 year old brother Ferdinand II (whom IOTL became Emperor of Mexico). Ferdinand (or commonly known as Maximilian IOTL) was Liberal in his views and also well cultured. What would've been the effects of there being a Ferdinand II?
I can think of the repercussions effecting the Polish, Italians, Prussians, French and perhaps even the Hungarians.
What do you think would've happened?