Maximilian von Habsburg and Italy

[Richter von Manthofen]

I expect that Austria either annexes "Russian Poland" or creates an independent Poland with a Habsburg King and gives Galica (polish majority part) as Birthday present to this new nation - Possible King - Karl Ludwig - brother of Maximilian (and Father of Franz Ferdinand)

This woudl have hige implications on the german unification Process. A-H would be stronger and probably Prussia would not suceed...

 

[Grey Wolf]

I expect that Austria either annexes "Russian Poland" or creates an independent Poland with a Habsburg King and gives Galica (polish majority part) as Birthday present to this new nation - Possible King - Karl Ludwig - brother of Maximilian (and Father of Franz Ferdinand)

This woudl have hige implications on the german unification Process. A-H would be stronger and probably Prussia would not suceed...

Don't forget the Teschen branch of the Habsburgs, tho I don't know how well established they are as the "Polish Habsburgs" by the 1850s

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

 

[Razgriz 2K9]

Yeah, chances are, the Polish throne would be given not to Charles Louis but rather to the Duke of Teschen, which at the time would be Archduke Albrecht (as Albert I)

Though if the draft is going to be what happens in addition to this, expect Russia and Prussia to not be happy about this.

 

[isabella]

Oh, I was looking to the future where a confederal kingdom was created that included the others, either by their willing accession (I expect you could browbeat Tuscany) or by popular uprising. But I guess you're right about the starting position.

France won't like that!

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Is likely who the various Italian Kingdom (Kingdom of Italy or better North Italy, Granduchy of Tuscany, Kingdom of Two Sicilies, Duchy of Parma, Duchy of Modena, Papal States) will unify in one confederation similar to the German Empire and its leader can be only the King of Two Sicilies (who was the bigger and richest state of the peninsula) or the Pope. A name for that state can be Roman Empire or Empire of Italy...

Yeah, chances are, the Polish throne would be given not to Charles Louis but rather to the Duke of Teschen, which at the time would be Archduke Albrecht (as Albert I)

Though if the draft is going to be what happens in addition to this, expect Russia and Prussia to not be happy about this.

Yes, Karl Ludwig will be the obvious candidate for an Italian Crown (or maybe also for an Hungarian one, but for an eventual Polish throne the Duke of Teschen is the most likely choice

 

[Midnight-Blue766]

And so you will have in Italy three Habsburg kingdom (the new Kingdom of Italy, the Gran-duchy of Tuscany and the Duchy of Modena), two Bourbon (The kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Duchy of Parma) and the Papal States...

The problem is that Maximilian was a liberal and would probably be quite sympathetic to Italian unificaton. While cutting down on the Habsburgwank, a unified Italian state under a junior Habsburg would probably be more likely.

Also, Napoleon III himself was rather sympathetic to the Italian cause (though it took nearly being killed by an Italian nationalist for him to do anything). Would he just sit around doing nothing while Max basically turns Italy into his bitch?

 

[Razgriz 2K9]

The problem is that Maximilian was a liberal and would probably be quite sympathetic to Italian unificaton. While cutting down on the Habsburgwank, a unified Italian state under a junior Habsburg would probably be more likely.

Also, Napoleon III himself was rather sympathetic to the Italian cause (though it took nearly being killed by an Italian nationalist for him to do anything). Would he just sit around doing nothing while Max basically turns Italy into his bitch?

Nope, expect France and Austria to engage in Cold War over who rules the Italian Peninsula.

 

[isabella]

Nope, expect France and Austria to engage in Cold War over who rules the Italian Peninsula.

Tthen a Conferations (or Empire) of the Italian States (the rulers of Two Sicilies and Tuscany and likely Parma had the love of their subjects) is the likely solution and the King of the Two Sicilies, being the ruler of the biggest and richer state of Italy, is the logical choice as leader

 

[Grey Wolf]

IMHO nobody would give Sicily the unified crown as most people thought it a backward and autocratic country. If a junior Habsburg is given the Kingdom of Italy by the Austrian Emperor then there would be a move to unite the rest under him. The grand duchies and duchies no problem, but you might have to end up with an Italian EMPEROR in order to get Sardinia and Sicily inside without conquering them, and even then you'd still need to overthrow the temporal rule of the Pope

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

 

[Midnight-Blue766]

Hmm... how would Maximilian and Otto von Bismarck interact? Maximilian, while highly intelligent, seemed to have been overly trusting and optimistic, Bismarck, on the other hand (as we all know) was quite cunning and ruthless, and would probably take full advantage of Max's idealism.

 

[Midnight-Blue766]

Errr... anyone?