Maximilian becomes Emperor of Austria-Hungary

Say in 1860, Franz Joseph and his son Crown Prince Rudolf die, and Franz's brother Maximilian becomes Emperor of Austria-Hungary, what might this change for the EMpire and the world at large? Maximilian was said to be reasonably liberal, could that change the course of the empire and bring some needed reform?

What would happen in Mexico, who would be given the imperial throne there?
 
It would require quite a gruesome accident to quickly get read of both the Emperor and his heir... On the other hanf 1860 means that Max has already some experience as a governor in Lomvardy-Venetia and great influence on the navy (for what that's worth in a continental power like Austria). It is also too late to avoid war against France-Sardinian and the Italian unification...

However, he seemed a better (or luckier) picker of officers than FJ (see Teghetthoff)... could a differrnt corps commander in the right position at Sadowa (or equivalent) make a difference? Without that defeat German dualism would continue and maybe Veneto could be kept. Could this even butterfly away the Ausgleich or make it different in some ways?

Why not using, instead, the 1853 POD of Janos Libenyi assassination attempt succeeding?

However it's not a given that a very young Maximiliam would develop the same (very blandly) "liberal" views he had iotl or that the 6 years before 1859 would be enough to avoid Italian Unification and to find a constitutional solution able to placate a bit the nationalities question without having to accept otl's 1866 Ausgleich.

Would Maximilian still marry Charlotte of Belgium in this scenario? Nene? Sisi?
 
Would Maximilian still marry Charlotte of Belgium in this scenario? Nene? Sisi?

He married Charlotte in 1857. I could see a Kaiser Maximilian not accepting Dualism, but a complete Danubian Confederacy of nationalities. Also, due to his liberal nature and his OTL policies, I could see him allying with Napoleon III, maybe even join the Franco-Prussian war, which would completely butterfly the Concert of Europe and World War I, or at least not joining the Triple Alliance but ally with Britain and France and we could see a Russo-German alliance. However, the Danubian Confederacy would be much stable for when Kaiser Franz Ferdinand will take over.
 
He married Charlotte in 1857. I could see a Kaiser Maximilian not accepting Dualism, but a complete Danubian Confederacy of nationalities. Also, due to his liberal nature and his OTL policies, I could see him allying with Napoleon III, maybe even join the Franco-Prussian war, which would completely butterfly the Concert of Europe and World War I, or at least not joining the Triple Alliance but ally with Britain and France and we could see a Russo-German alliance. However, the Danubian Confederacy would be much stable for when Kaiser Franz Ferdinand will take over.

Considering German and Russian fears of one another would they be tempted to ally with one another?

Also, what's there stopping Maximilian hacing a son with his wife?
 
Considering German and Russian fears of one another would they be tempted to ally with one another?

Also, what's there stopping Maximilian hacing a son with his wife?

Considering the precedent of the League of the Three Emperors, Austria's allying with Britain and France and the Willy-Nicky thing it is entirely within reason.
Also, considering that Maximilian didn't have any child until 35, would he have any after?
 
Considering the precedent of the League of the Three Emperors, Austria's allying with Britain and France and the Willy-Nicky thing it is entirely within reason.
Also, considering that Maximilian didn't have any child until 35, would he have any after?

Circumstances being different might prompt him to have kids
 
He married Charlotte in 1857.

Of course, I meant in the context of my alternative 1853 POD :)

The Napoleon Maximilian alliance is quite interesting if it can really happen. As long as it holds I can't see Italy getting Rome and Veneto, which means Turin (or Florence) will likely join the German/Russian side unless a diplomatic settlement is found, which I consoder a quite unlikely event.

Post 1848 Italian Nationalism in Veneto was really weak, Vienna should be able to hold it without too many internal problems... Of course the cost of the quadrilateral fortifications will still be there, but I think Veneto can still be a net fiscal contributor.
 

Thomas1195

Banned
Considering the precedent of the League of the Three Emperors, Austria's allying with Britain and France and the Willy-Nicky thing it is entirely within reason.
Also, considering that Maximilian didn't have any child until 35, would he have any after?
The problem is that both Napoleon and Palmerston were Italian sympathizers, and tended to support Italian nationalist movements. The former also supported nationalist movements to break the Concert of Europe.
 
The problem is that both Napoleon and Palmerston were Italian sympathizers, and tended to support Italian nationalist movements. The former also supported nationalist movements to break the Concert of Europe.

Yes, but Napoleon III also backed the fledging Papal States from being conquered by Italy, so maybe he could strike a deal with a federalized Danubian Confederacy. As for Britain, maybe Disraeli or Gladstone would gain any interest?
 
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