Hi Guys.

I've been following TLs and discussions in this forum for a while now and have decided to start writing a timeline myself. Its going to be titled
The Great Compromise
The idea is, that with a POD in the 1850s/60s, Austria and Prussia unify Germany peacefully without the Prusso-Austrian war taking place. A royal marriage between the heir of the Hohenzollern family and a daughter of the Habsburg Emperor takes place. They rule the German Empire with their son possibly being heir to Prussia and Austria. Hungary is released to independence with a habsburg king.
In my view, there are serveral factors standing in the way of such an event which have to be evaded. Then, I will have to create pulling and pushing factors which make the leaders of the two nations take this massive step.
First, my ideas about factors that have to be evaded:
1.
Prusso-Austrian rivalry
At the time, the relations between the two countrys were quite hostile as they were competing for hegemony in Germany. To improve them to a degree that a peacefull Unification is possible, I have several ideas:
-the second italian war of independence 1859(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Italian_War_of_Independence)
This war resulted in the unification of italy and the loss of serveral Austrian provinces. Prussia vetoed military help by the German Confederation. Possible, as a POD, Prussia could not do this and the German Confederation goes to war aside Austria. This would probably better the Prusso-Austrian relations a lot and increase the Unification-mouvement.
-the Second Schleswig war 1864
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Schleswig_War)
Possibly, Italy could seize the chance to jump in on Austria (don't know how plausible this is) and invades the remaining Austrian possesions in Italy. Prussia comes to help Austria which again improves the relations and Prussias standing in Germany.
2. The Habsburg Empire being a relatively stable nation with a convincing future
The Hungarian Independence mouvement hast to be stronger, so the Austrian Emperor sees that the Habsburg Empire will break apart eventually and that in this case, Austria will loose anyway. Possibly the male Austrian heir has to die so that the Austrian emperor doesn't see a way to continue his line.. optionally, he rules hungary as a king or rules Austria as part of the German Empire.
3. The political opposition of Prussian landowners who don't want a lot of catholic voters joining.
Hard to work on that really, either they have to be influenced by a stronger Unification mouvement or they have to have their power & influence reduced somehow, if u have ideas, u are welcome. Possibly the p&p factors will just have to outweigh their resistance.
Now the pushing factors:
For both
1. The Unification mouvement in all of Germany is very strong, putting a lot of political pressure on the rulers of Austria and Prussia. They need to work on the German Unification or face trouble.
For Austria
2. Possibly Russia gets more agressive, and the common threat puts pressure on the countries to work together.
3. The Austrian Emperor, Francis-Joseph, sees that his multinational Empire is on the verge of breaking apart. He is also threatened by Italy and Russia. He knows that he'll probably loose a war against Prussia as Hungary might not jon him and rebell instead, so he sees a way to solidify Habsburg rule differently by joining up with Prussia.
For Prussia
4. Some kind of politician who takes the place of Bismarck (or a changed , more pro-Austrian Bismarck) and supports a Unified Germany that includes Austria.
5. Possibly Prussia faces increased French hostility because of some economical or diplomatic succes and sees, that he cannot risk a war with Austria which France would possibly join.
Pulling factors:
For both
1. They increased power of the new nation under joint rule (which will according to the plan, consist of Austria, Prussia and the German nations) is a pulling factor as well.
For Prussia:
2. For the Prussian King, the chance to see his heir (possibly even himself) on the throne of a unified Germany is a prestigious prospect.
For Austria
3. The house of Habsburg will still be continued as rulers of Hungary, Bohemia and maybe other released nations and basically of co rulers of Germany, Austria might stay Habsburg ruled kingdom under the overlordship of the German Emperor.
4. Prussia could promise the Habsburgs that they will rule Poland if such a country will be created after a possible war against Russia.
5. Prussia could promise a financial gift as they did with the Bavarian king in otl.
6. Prussia could promise heavy investments in Austrian industry, infrastructure and military.
7. Possibly Vienna could become the new capital instead of Berline. Idk whether that would be attractive/televant/possible thoough.
8. Prussia could promise Vienna to help Austria win back the lost Italian provinces.
9. The heir born of the royal marriage could be warded at the court of Vienna to grow up there.
10. Austria will get some other priviliges in the newly formed Germany.
That are my ideas so far as to how such an event could be happening.
If you have any points or ideas to add, please add them.
If you have any questions, ask them.
If you have any opinion about my points, please state them.
If you think some of my points are highely unlikely or historically not make sense, feel free to tell me so. I want to write this timeline as realistic as possible so any help is welcome. But remember, most of all, I want to write thi timeline. So comments such as 'never gonna happen' are not helpful.
I have not yet written down anything about the reactions of other countries or the actual events even though I have a lot of ideas. Feel free to add your own

. Thank you for your help.
PS: Please Excuse my Grammar mistakes as I am no native speaker.