What is going to happen? If Franz Joseph died in 1909 because of pneumonia and Franz Ferdinand could reform Habsburg monarchy?
IMO it could looks like it:
- 1910 after funeral and gaining full control of state. FF started negotiations about new organization of K.u.k. The new emperor broke the Hungarian resistance because of support of all other nations, and threats of Hungary division.
- In September 1910 FF announced September Constitution. Austria-Hungary changed in Danubian Empire, federation of five states:
*Archduchy of Austria consisted by: Austrian Littoral, Princely County of Tyrol, Voralberg, Upper and Lower Austria, Duchies of Carinthia, Styria and Salzburg
* Kingdom of Bohemia consisted by: Kingdom of Bohemia, Margraviate of Moravia and Austrian Silesia
* Kingdom of Illyria consisted by: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Duchy of Carniola, Kingdom of Dalmatia, Fiume and Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia
* Kingdom of Hungary.
* Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria consisted by: Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria and Duchy of Bukovina
with common emperor, state council, army, government, foreign, customs and military policy. Rest (together with local landwehrs) will be in the hands of local authorities.
- State in reconstruction threaten by Hungarian nationalists actions were weak and FF knows it
- Balkan Wars will be like in OTL but during London Conference in exchange for recognition of Bosnia annexation and secret non-agression pact with Russia Vienna agreed for Serbia, Montenegro and Greece territorial claims in Albania:
* Greece gets Northern Epirus
* Montenegro gets Shkoder
* Serbia gets Lezhe
* From rest (Tirana and Durres) were created Principality of Albania under international (mostly Italian) control
- In 1914 shortly after arrived of new prince Wilhelm zu Wied, civil war broke out.
- Because rebellion were dangerous for new lands (and some militarists from Black Hand weren’t satisfied because of little Lezhe) Serbs troops crossed Albanian border
- Italy recognized it as violation of Albanian independence and send ultimatum to Belgrade
- Berlin supported Rome and pushing it to tough stance
- On 14 August Italy declared war on Serbia
- On 15 August Russia announced partial mobilization
- On 16 August Russia announced full mobilization
- On 18 August France announced mobilization and Germany declared war on Russia
- On 19 August… Danubian Empire announced neutrality in incoming war
- Shock in Berlin, Schlieffen Plan with Austria was risk without them is madness, Aufmarsch I Ost plan were launched
- France felt blood and declared war on Germany…
What do you think about that new Great War beginning?