Odyssey of Fritz, the Turncoat Prince
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
That reminds me of something said about Napoleon: "Promote this man, or by god he will do it himself"
So why shouldn't Freddy win in Italy (like Napoleon) return to Vienna and elope with Maria Theresia... or better jet, get send to Poland.
Clearly he would win there to, then crown himself king of Poland, then take care of his father.
And surely the king of Poland and Prussia should be more than good enough for MT.
Btw the allegations of Fredrick being homosexual are most likely just that, allegations!
In his youth he had quite a few affairs. But after his failed escape his father forced him to marry someone he absolutly hated.
Who among you would want to have sex with someone you hate, who is rater simpleminded and not even good looking?
(OK there may be those who say it is still better than no sex at all, buts let us not focus on that)
First time I ever heard FtG had "quite a few affairs" with ladies ! He sure did not like his wife but what prevented him from having mistresses ? Fear of God ?
OK "quite a few affairs" may be to generous.
But there was Dorothea Ritter, who officially was just a friend with which he just "made music together".
Back then this was often an euphemism for courtship. But as far as i know there is no definite proof of an affair.
Source:
Jürgen Kloosterhuis: Katte, Ordre und Kriegsartikel. Aktenanalytische und militärhistorische Aspekte einer „facheusen“ Geschichte. P 44–50.
Wilhelm Petsch: Doris Ritter. Westermanns Monatshefte, Band 27 (1870), P. 260.
Holger Skorupa: Der Katteprozess – Justizmord oder Gesetzestreue? GRIN, München 2008, P. 19.
Furthermore there are some who speculate his lack of children is the consequence of an venereal disease, with which he got infected at the "Zeithainer Lustlager" an event hosted by August the Strong.
Source: Joachim Campe: Andere lieben. Homosexualität in der deutschen Literatur. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 1988, P. 110 f.;
Johannes Kunisch: Friedrich der Große. Der König und seine Zeit. Beck Verlag, München 2004, P. 79
Chapter 11: Spiraling
Chapter 11: Spiraling
"Royal Prussia" (i.e. Northwest Polish Commonwealth)
By the Spring of 1736, the entirety of the European concert was in discordant chaos. While the age-old alliance systems were faltering, the temporary (and, in some cases, unnatural) new alliances were proving chimerical at best.
The King of Prussia, nominally an ally of France, had effectively conquered his ally's realm in northwestern Poland while giving no pretense of aid to "King" Stanislaus, especially given the minor fact that Stanislaus' son-in-law, the King of France, seeming to care more about conquering Milan than fighting in Poland. While Frederick William sat happily in the corner of Poland that separated his two realms (the Kingdom of Prussia and his main realms in the Holy Roman Empire), Stanislaus, Emmanuel of Portugal and Frederick Augustus of Saxony's forces proved relatively evenly matched. With France, Prussia, Russia and, to an extent, Austria, apparently somehow indifferent to the nominal cause of the war expanding the length of the continent, the Commonwealth became of a battleground for a dozen different foes. Several local dignitaries even made their own claims to the throne as the "native candidate". The Sejm was called in a dozen cities and isolated members voted for one candidate or another. In the meantime, peasant rebellions generally reacting to the violence sprung up and defeated several armies.
Vienna
Emperor Charles of Austria found his bankrupt assortment of nations fighting in Milan, Naples, the Balkans, Poland and having to garrison the Austrian Netherlands. In truth, the Imperial forces found few allies. Both Bavaria and Saxony were at odds with the Emperor. The King of England and Elector of Hanover only cared for his ancestral home and that meant peace with Prussia and France. Russia had effectively deemed the war in the Caucasus and the Ukraine more of a priority.
Austria was without effective allies and spread too thine across multiple fronts.
It was a very bad time for Emperor Charles to have a heart attack.
However, later historians would point out that it may have proven a very fortunate time to have a heart attack. With the continent at war, many with the Habsburg domains, the feared internal opposition to the inevitable succession would be unlikely to side with those with whom they were at least nominally at war (Prussia, Saxony and France were busy elsewhere anyway) or nominally allied (Russia could not give a damn). While Emperor Charles lay senseless and his daughter the Archduchess feared for his life, the Hungarian, Illyrian and other Diets would, almost without hesitation, pronounced in favor of the Succession of Maria Theresa.
London
King George II's fears were growing by the day. Not for an immediate invasion of Hanover. Oddly, that did not happen as both France and Prussia were less interested in invading Hanover than their other priorities.
Rather it was the King's Ministers whom were agitating to bring the nation into the general conflict. As best the King could see, there was little to gain and much to lose in doing so. If France was not threatening the Low Countries and Prussia keeping clear of the Hanover frontier, George II was happy to remain aloof from the fray.
Yet the political classes of the nation were up in arms over the Spanish conquest of Habsburg Sicily and threats against Naples (assumed to be under attack shortly) as they feared the Mediterranean turning into a Bourbon lake. British trade apparently trumped all. War against Spain implied war with France...and Prussia. No doubt the Austrian Netherlands, the Dutch Republic and, of course, Hanover would come under attack.
With limited resources in the Mediterranean (was Britain supposed to carry on the war from Gibraltar?), Parliament was already debating how they would prosecute any involvement in the war. Generally, the consensus was to attack Spanish possessions in the New World. Would taking one or two of the little slaving islands in the West Indies force Spain to surrender Sicily and, maybe, Naples back to the Habsburgs? Would taking Martinique force France to give up Milan?
George II doubted it.
Certainly, the British public were not enthused with the idea of sending tens of thousands of soldiers to fight to defend Hanover.
George II was adamant that he would put off war to the final moment.
Milan
The summer of 1736 continued at a breathless pace for Prince Fritz of Prussia. Serving under the aged Prince Eugene as French, Sardinian-Piedmontese and Parmese troops surrounded the Habsburg Duchy of Milan, Fritz sprung into action leading large spoiling attacks of cavalry and light infantry against the supply lines of the besieging enemies.
Much to Eugene's surprise, the Prussian prince would prove quite adept at wiping out the supply depots, bridges and other necessary support forces of the enemy. One by one, the frustrated attackers would break off and retreat back into the valleys approaching the Habsburg fortresses. Having believed that his positions would fall to siege one by one, Eugene was euphoric and gave enormous credit to the Prussian in his reports to the Emperor.
Sadly, it was not Charles but Maria Theresa whom was reading them. Still an invalid, the Archduchess assumed defacto control of the nation in spite of her lack of training by her father.
Charles lived, so the question of the title of Emperor was pushed off, but the Habsburg monarchy remained powerful indeed.
Pleased with her friend's progress, the Archduchess would promote Frederick to Major General and order him to return to Vienna by winter.
Prince Frederick was to assume command of a small army bound for Naples in the 1737 campaign, where the poorly trained local Habsburg armies were in dire straights against the Spanish invaders.
Naples
Having already see Sicily fall in 1735, the initial reaction of the Neapolitans was bemused indifference. The Habsburgs had only been in power for a couple of decades in southern Italy and the locals didn't like them any more than the Bourbons. Indeed, the invading armies of Louis I of Spain found many supporters at the beaches of Naples. The nation had been aligned with Spain for over two centuries before being stripped in the War of Spanish Succession and handed to the Habsburgs (like Sicily, Milan and the "Spanish" Netherlands).
15,000 Spanish and allied troops made shore against little resistance. Landing was the easy part. Effectively an impassible pile of mountains rising out of the sea, the key to controlling Naples was the navy, something the Habsburg barely possessed. With control of the seas, the Bourbons were able to land forces anywhere, leaving the Habsburgs to hole up in fortifications and hoping the natives rose up in a peasant's revolt.
They were disappointed. The Habsburg's greatest ally was the expanses of Naples and near impossibility of inland travel. This bought time for the beleaguered Archduchess to put together a relief column and sail it down the following spring.
The young Prince Fritz would be ready.
"Royal Prussia" (i.e. Northwest Polish Commonwealth)
By the Spring of 1736, the entirety of the European concert was in discordant chaos. While the age-old alliance systems were faltering, the temporary (and, in some cases, unnatural) new alliances were proving chimerical at best.
The King of Prussia, nominally an ally of France, had effectively conquered his ally's realm in northwestern Poland while giving no pretense of aid to "King" Stanislaus, especially given the minor fact that Stanislaus' son-in-law, the King of France, seeming to care more about conquering Milan than fighting in Poland. While Frederick William sat happily in the corner of Poland that separated his two realms (the Kingdom of Prussia and his main realms in the Holy Roman Empire), Stanislaus, Emmanuel of Portugal and Frederick Augustus of Saxony's forces proved relatively evenly matched. With France, Prussia, Russia and, to an extent, Austria, apparently somehow indifferent to the nominal cause of the war expanding the length of the continent, the Commonwealth became of a battleground for a dozen different foes. Several local dignitaries even made their own claims to the throne as the "native candidate". The Sejm was called in a dozen cities and isolated members voted for one candidate or another. In the meantime, peasant rebellions generally reacting to the violence sprung up and defeated several armies.
Vienna
Emperor Charles of Austria found his bankrupt assortment of nations fighting in Milan, Naples, the Balkans, Poland and having to garrison the Austrian Netherlands. In truth, the Imperial forces found few allies. Both Bavaria and Saxony were at odds with the Emperor. The King of England and Elector of Hanover only cared for his ancestral home and that meant peace with Prussia and France. Russia had effectively deemed the war in the Caucasus and the Ukraine more of a priority.
Austria was without effective allies and spread too thine across multiple fronts.
It was a very bad time for Emperor Charles to have a heart attack.
However, later historians would point out that it may have proven a very fortunate time to have a heart attack. With the continent at war, many with the Habsburg domains, the feared internal opposition to the inevitable succession would be unlikely to side with those with whom they were at least nominally at war (Prussia, Saxony and France were busy elsewhere anyway) or nominally allied (Russia could not give a damn). While Emperor Charles lay senseless and his daughter the Archduchess feared for his life, the Hungarian, Illyrian and other Diets would, almost without hesitation, pronounced in favor of the Succession of Maria Theresa.
London
King George II's fears were growing by the day. Not for an immediate invasion of Hanover. Oddly, that did not happen as both France and Prussia were less interested in invading Hanover than their other priorities.
Rather it was the King's Ministers whom were agitating to bring the nation into the general conflict. As best the King could see, there was little to gain and much to lose in doing so. If France was not threatening the Low Countries and Prussia keeping clear of the Hanover frontier, George II was happy to remain aloof from the fray.
Yet the political classes of the nation were up in arms over the Spanish conquest of Habsburg Sicily and threats against Naples (assumed to be under attack shortly) as they feared the Mediterranean turning into a Bourbon lake. British trade apparently trumped all. War against Spain implied war with France...and Prussia. No doubt the Austrian Netherlands, the Dutch Republic and, of course, Hanover would come under attack.
With limited resources in the Mediterranean (was Britain supposed to carry on the war from Gibraltar?), Parliament was already debating how they would prosecute any involvement in the war. Generally, the consensus was to attack Spanish possessions in the New World. Would taking one or two of the little slaving islands in the West Indies force Spain to surrender Sicily and, maybe, Naples back to the Habsburgs? Would taking Martinique force France to give up Milan?
George II doubted it.
Certainly, the British public were not enthused with the idea of sending tens of thousands of soldiers to fight to defend Hanover.
George II was adamant that he would put off war to the final moment.
Milan
The summer of 1736 continued at a breathless pace for Prince Fritz of Prussia. Serving under the aged Prince Eugene as French, Sardinian-Piedmontese and Parmese troops surrounded the Habsburg Duchy of Milan, Fritz sprung into action leading large spoiling attacks of cavalry and light infantry against the supply lines of the besieging enemies.
Much to Eugene's surprise, the Prussian prince would prove quite adept at wiping out the supply depots, bridges and other necessary support forces of the enemy. One by one, the frustrated attackers would break off and retreat back into the valleys approaching the Habsburg fortresses. Having believed that his positions would fall to siege one by one, Eugene was euphoric and gave enormous credit to the Prussian in his reports to the Emperor.
Sadly, it was not Charles but Maria Theresa whom was reading them. Still an invalid, the Archduchess assumed defacto control of the nation in spite of her lack of training by her father.
Charles lived, so the question of the title of Emperor was pushed off, but the Habsburg monarchy remained powerful indeed.
Pleased with her friend's progress, the Archduchess would promote Frederick to Major General and order him to return to Vienna by winter.
Prince Frederick was to assume command of a small army bound for Naples in the 1737 campaign, where the poorly trained local Habsburg armies were in dire straights against the Spanish invaders.
Naples
Having already see Sicily fall in 1735, the initial reaction of the Neapolitans was bemused indifference. The Habsburgs had only been in power for a couple of decades in southern Italy and the locals didn't like them any more than the Bourbons. Indeed, the invading armies of Louis I of Spain found many supporters at the beaches of Naples. The nation had been aligned with Spain for over two centuries before being stripped in the War of Spanish Succession and handed to the Habsburgs (like Sicily, Milan and the "Spanish" Netherlands).
15,000 Spanish and allied troops made shore against little resistance. Landing was the easy part. Effectively an impassible pile of mountains rising out of the sea, the key to controlling Naples was the navy, something the Habsburg barely possessed. With control of the seas, the Bourbons were able to land forces anywhere, leaving the Habsburgs to hole up in fortifications and hoping the natives rose up in a peasant's revolt.
They were disappointed. The Habsburg's greatest ally was the expanses of Naples and near impossibility of inland travel. This bought time for the beleaguered Archduchess to put together a relief column and sail it down the following spring.
The young Prince Fritz would be ready.
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Chapter 12: New Allies, New Enemies
Chapter 12: New Allies, New Enemies
Late Spring, 1737
Though still a youth, the Prussian Prince now bore the rank of Major General. Having impressed his commander in Milan and befriended the Archduchess whom continued to rule Vienna while her father drooled and groaned, Fritz was able to select 12,000 elite Hungarian and Illyrian light troops for his daring counterattack in southern Italy.
Having expected to be forced to brave the Adriatic Sea and the Spanish Navy, Fritz was relieved to find out that the Venetians, long a fading power in the Mediterranean, would allow his army to march through their territory.
During the recent Ottoman-Austrian War, the Venetian Republic had largely sided with Austria against the Ottoman. This had cost Venice their colony in southern Greece, the Morea.
For years, new challengers had risen up to steal Venice's trade: Genoa, Austria via Trieste, Britain, etc. Their once mighty merchantman fleet was a mere shell of her past self while her navy was similarly truncated. By 1737, Venice was better known for being a prosperous and quiet corner of Italy reaching the Po Valley, oddly more of a land power than a sea power by this junction.
Few believed Venice would enter the war given their lack of resources. But two reasons prompted the Republic's actions:
1. The fact that BOTH Austria and Russia were at war with the Ottoman led the Venetian Republic to believe they may easily reconquer the Morea and reverse the century long decline in fortunes.
2. The aggressive expansion of the Bourbons Powers (France, Spain and Parma) throughout Italy led the Venetians to believe that they may be next...if the Bourbons didn't try to conquer Rome first. Both Venice and the Papal States were nervous of this expansion and desired the Habsburgs to stall it. But with the Habsburg Monarchy broke and facing wars on multiple fronts, this seemed unlikely.
Thus Venice threw caution to the wind and allowed the Habsburg forces to cross their soil even as they Italians prepared their meager forces to invade the Morea once more.
Prince Fritz was just happy to be out of Vienna. Maria Theresa was getting far too handsy with him and even intimated that he may make an excellent Holy Roman Emperor some day. Nothing got the Prussian back to the battlefield with more fervor than his unwanted suitor.
The light army made record time through the rugged countryside. With little baggage (most made it to southern Italy by ship. It turned out the Spanish weren't even in the Adriatic) to carry, the small army moved fast and crossed the mountain passes with little resistance by "Bourbon" loyalists. Most villages were just happy to see the army pass in peace.
Upon arrival through the passes towards Naples, Fritz found the capital city under occupation by the Spanish, only the great fortress still flying the Habsburg flag.
He wasted no time whatsoever in ordering an immediate assault on the apparently surprised Bourbon forces. Though he lacked heavy artillery or much in the way of food (or powder), Fritz' initial cavalry and light infantry (he was rewriting the military manual as he went) and crashed into the unprotected Spanish flank. Evidently, the Spaniards hadn't bothered to augment the city defenses either.
Surprise was total as was the victory. While the Spanish fleet witnessed from their anchorage, 5000 Spanish soldiers and "Bourbonists" surrendered and the rest were scattered north and south, leaving their artillery and baggage to Fritz.
Within a few days, the Prussian had relieved the fortress and position his new artillery on the heights of Naples. Prudently, the Spanish fleet retired out of range.
Raiders sent north and south continued to scatter the Spanish and Bourbon Italian forces further, bringing in thousands of other prisoners. The Spanish navy attempted to collect the rest at various fishing villages and small ports.
The expected easy Spanish conquest of Naples would fail to materialize in the way that Louis I of Spain envisioned. Certainly, it would take more than that of Sicily.
Missing "Her Prussian", Maria Theresa demanded that Frederick return immediately for greater honors. The Habsburg Empire remained under assault and her most victorious warrior would have a new assignment.
The Crimea
The Russian steamroller continued into the Crimea, where the Ottoman-loyal tribesmen were driven before the Cossack horsemen by 1738, the northern shore of the Black Sea was almost entirely in Russian hands.
The tribesmen, long hated for their raids into Slavic territory, were slaughtered whenever encountered by the 50,000 man Russian army.
Istanbul
The Sultan demanded his Grand Vizier "do something". The attempt to reconquer Belgrade from the Habsburgs had come to nothing. Indeed, the Ottoman army in the Balkans fell apart under the weight of rebellions by the Greeks, Albanians and Bulgarians before it even reached Belgrade.
Now, his northern forces were being destroyed as well. The tribesmen had been key for generations in keeping the Russians from the Black Sea.
Though he had loathed the idea of an alliance with Persia, also smarting from a loss to Russia, the Sultan was suddenly enthusiastic to making a pact with the Ottoman's age old eastern enemy.
Having expected the Habsburg and Russian Empires to be busy in Poland, instead the Ottoman was facing even greater threats than ever before.
Milan
By the end of 1737, Prince Eugene was barely hanging on. Half of Milan's mighty fortresses had fallen. He regretted allowing young Fritz to return to Vienna. He could use him now.
Besieged by French, Sardinian and Parmese forces, the old General was ready to crack along with his small army.
Poland
Not even the combatants knew who was winning in Poland.
Vienna
On New Year's Eve, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, died.
His death was bring an even more fiercely contested war in Europe as new challengers would arise to the young Archduchess.
Late Spring, 1737
Though still a youth, the Prussian Prince now bore the rank of Major General. Having impressed his commander in Milan and befriended the Archduchess whom continued to rule Vienna while her father drooled and groaned, Fritz was able to select 12,000 elite Hungarian and Illyrian light troops for his daring counterattack in southern Italy.
Having expected to be forced to brave the Adriatic Sea and the Spanish Navy, Fritz was relieved to find out that the Venetians, long a fading power in the Mediterranean, would allow his army to march through their territory.
During the recent Ottoman-Austrian War, the Venetian Republic had largely sided with Austria against the Ottoman. This had cost Venice their colony in southern Greece, the Morea.
For years, new challengers had risen up to steal Venice's trade: Genoa, Austria via Trieste, Britain, etc. Their once mighty merchantman fleet was a mere shell of her past self while her navy was similarly truncated. By 1737, Venice was better known for being a prosperous and quiet corner of Italy reaching the Po Valley, oddly more of a land power than a sea power by this junction.
Few believed Venice would enter the war given their lack of resources. But two reasons prompted the Republic's actions:
1. The fact that BOTH Austria and Russia were at war with the Ottoman led the Venetian Republic to believe they may easily reconquer the Morea and reverse the century long decline in fortunes.
2. The aggressive expansion of the Bourbons Powers (France, Spain and Parma) throughout Italy led the Venetians to believe that they may be next...if the Bourbons didn't try to conquer Rome first. Both Venice and the Papal States were nervous of this expansion and desired the Habsburgs to stall it. But with the Habsburg Monarchy broke and facing wars on multiple fronts, this seemed unlikely.
Thus Venice threw caution to the wind and allowed the Habsburg forces to cross their soil even as they Italians prepared their meager forces to invade the Morea once more.
Prince Fritz was just happy to be out of Vienna. Maria Theresa was getting far too handsy with him and even intimated that he may make an excellent Holy Roman Emperor some day. Nothing got the Prussian back to the battlefield with more fervor than his unwanted suitor.
The light army made record time through the rugged countryside. With little baggage (most made it to southern Italy by ship. It turned out the Spanish weren't even in the Adriatic) to carry, the small army moved fast and crossed the mountain passes with little resistance by "Bourbon" loyalists. Most villages were just happy to see the army pass in peace.
Upon arrival through the passes towards Naples, Fritz found the capital city under occupation by the Spanish, only the great fortress still flying the Habsburg flag.
He wasted no time whatsoever in ordering an immediate assault on the apparently surprised Bourbon forces. Though he lacked heavy artillery or much in the way of food (or powder), Fritz' initial cavalry and light infantry (he was rewriting the military manual as he went) and crashed into the unprotected Spanish flank. Evidently, the Spaniards hadn't bothered to augment the city defenses either.
Surprise was total as was the victory. While the Spanish fleet witnessed from their anchorage, 5000 Spanish soldiers and "Bourbonists" surrendered and the rest were scattered north and south, leaving their artillery and baggage to Fritz.
Within a few days, the Prussian had relieved the fortress and position his new artillery on the heights of Naples. Prudently, the Spanish fleet retired out of range.
Raiders sent north and south continued to scatter the Spanish and Bourbon Italian forces further, bringing in thousands of other prisoners. The Spanish navy attempted to collect the rest at various fishing villages and small ports.
The expected easy Spanish conquest of Naples would fail to materialize in the way that Louis I of Spain envisioned. Certainly, it would take more than that of Sicily.
Missing "Her Prussian", Maria Theresa demanded that Frederick return immediately for greater honors. The Habsburg Empire remained under assault and her most victorious warrior would have a new assignment.
The Crimea
The Russian steamroller continued into the Crimea, where the Ottoman-loyal tribesmen were driven before the Cossack horsemen by 1738, the northern shore of the Black Sea was almost entirely in Russian hands.
The tribesmen, long hated for their raids into Slavic territory, were slaughtered whenever encountered by the 50,000 man Russian army.
Istanbul
The Sultan demanded his Grand Vizier "do something". The attempt to reconquer Belgrade from the Habsburgs had come to nothing. Indeed, the Ottoman army in the Balkans fell apart under the weight of rebellions by the Greeks, Albanians and Bulgarians before it even reached Belgrade.
Now, his northern forces were being destroyed as well. The tribesmen had been key for generations in keeping the Russians from the Black Sea.
Though he had loathed the idea of an alliance with Persia, also smarting from a loss to Russia, the Sultan was suddenly enthusiastic to making a pact with the Ottoman's age old eastern enemy.
Having expected the Habsburg and Russian Empires to be busy in Poland, instead the Ottoman was facing even greater threats than ever before.
Milan
By the end of 1737, Prince Eugene was barely hanging on. Half of Milan's mighty fortresses had fallen. He regretted allowing young Fritz to return to Vienna. He could use him now.
Besieged by French, Sardinian and Parmese forces, the old General was ready to crack along with his small army.
Poland
Not even the combatants knew who was winning in Poland.
Vienna
On New Year's Eve, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, died.
His death was bring an even more fiercely contested war in Europe as new challengers would arise to the young Archduchess.
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Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
I'm not one who particularly fancies timelines during the eighteenth century. I find the intricacies of European politics too complex for my tastes but this is different. I like it and hope you post more when possible.
Sorry I know I'm being nit picky but here
Did you change the 7th Venetian-Ottoman war to be Venice coming to assist Austria and losing Morea as opposed to OTL?
Did you change the 7th Venetian-Ottoman war to be Venice coming to assist Austria and losing Morea as opposed to OTL?
I was referring to the Turkish-Venetian War of 1714 to 1718 which resulted in the loss of the Morea. It was occurring at the same time as the latest Austrian-Turkish War in which Austria crushed the Ottoman Army.
I believe the two wars were more parallel than Austria and Venice being actual allies.
Unless I got my facts wrong. This is an earlier timeline that I normally do.
Chapter 13: Reassessment
Chapter 13: Reassessment
Vienna
The now expected death of Charles VI, whom had been an invalid for a year, could not have come at a better time for the Archduchess. After years of war, the Habsburg forces were FINALLY starting to return to form and the constituent peoples of the Empire now generally on board with the "Pragmatic Solution" of a woman inheriting the throne. Indeed, the fact that France, Prussia, Russia and other great powers being militarily invested in other theaters (Russia in Asia, Prussia in "Royal Prussia" and France in Italy) assured that no great armies would march upon the Habsburg domains and it was unlikely than any national Diet under the Crown of St. Stephen or one of her other realms would seek to support a foreign candidate for their individual thrones (Charles VI had feared a division of the Habsburg Empire much as the "Spanish Habsburg" Empire had been broken up in the war of Spanish Succession by being stripped of her Italian and Low Country domains). One did not seek alliance with people whom have been trying to kill you for years.
Oddly, Maria Theresa's ascension was looking quite secure even if the overall Habsburg war effort was still looking bad: Milan was crumbling, Sicily had been taken, Naples was still under invasion, the French had far more forces along the Austrian Netherlands frontier than the Habsburgs (even accounting for Dutch and English assistance). Indeed, even the wars in Poland and the Balkans seemed stagnant as the Archduchess could not summon large enough forces to reach a critical mass on either front.
But then, against expectations, her cousins the Electress' of Saxony (Maria Josepha) and Bavaria (Maria Amalia), Emperor Joseph I's daughters, staked their branch's claim to the Habsburg thrones.
Charles VI inherited the Habsburg domains from his elder brother, Emperor Joseph I, whom died without a living son. As the only living male Habsburg, it was understood (By Joseph) that, should Charles die without a male heir, Joseph's daughters and their heirs would inherit. Instead, once in power, Charles spent years seeking foreign recognition for his own daughter's ascent despite his nieces' stronger claim.
Normally, neither Saxony nor Bavaria would dare challenge the great Habsburg Empire (or collection of pseudo-independent Kingdoms), at least not without A LOT of help from powerful allies. But with the general war ongoing throughout the continent, the already bankrupt Maria Theresa didn't need any more enemies.
Thus the Elector and Electress of Bavaria started negotiating with Maria Josepha, whom was governing Saxony while her husband Augustus III of Saxony (and claimant to the Polish throne) was fighting in Poland.
If the remnants of the Saxon Army would combine with the Bavarian Army (both 2nd tier in Europe), they might march upon Vienna through the weakened forces of their cousin Maria Theresa.
The Saxon House of Wettin and Bavarian House of Wittelsbach marched in the summer upon Vienna.
Vienna
"They dare! THEY DARE!" Archduchess Maria Theresa shrieked.
She turned to her "Dear Prussian" and commanded, "CRUSH THEM!!!! CRUSH THEM NOW!!!!!"
For once, Prince Fritz was happy to obey. While fighting the Saxons and Bavarians at least he would get a break from Maria Theresa's exhortations to marry her.
The Habsburg forces were, to choose a word, beleaguered. On the defensive in Milan, Naples and the Balkans (and having to garrison the Austrian Netherlands), the war effort in Poland was going poorly. Indeed, the three contenders were basically evenly matched and not much progress was being made by anyone save King Frederick William whom happily sat in "Royal Prussia" waiting for the winds to blow.
The Elector of Saxony was completely cut off from his Electorate by Habsburg Silesia and learned the news that his wife was invading Vienna from a captured Austrian soldier in late summer. He wasn't sure if he was proud or outraged.
Little did the Elector know that his wife had promised Saxon support for the Elector of Bavaria to be elected the first Holy Roman Emperor in centuries not of the Habsburg line (though, of course, virtually every Royal Family in Europe was related in some way).
Though Maria Theresa appeared to have her inheritance in her domains largely in hand, there was no way the Electors were going to stretch the legality of the Empire to select a female monarch. As she was unmarried, she could not even plant a husband on the (largely ceremonial) throne.
Prince Fritz spent much of the summer suggesting that Maria Theresa find another husband. Francis of Lorraine had finally married a French princess but the woman died in childbirth along with the infant.
Maybe Francis could be encouraged to make another try when the war ended.
Milan
Exhausted, Prince Eugene was forced to cede yet another border fortress in the Duchy of Milan. Outnumbered and nearly cut off from Austria, the Prince simply lacked the resources or energy to defend the Duchy. By the end of 1738, most of the Duchy was in foreign hands.
Naples
After Spain's humiliating defeat in Naples, King Louis I of Spain had commanded his forces to renew their efforts and funneled another 15,000 soldiers and mercenaries into Naples. With command of the sea, the Spanish King didn't care overly much as to the cost. Louis I was determined to reconquer as much of his ancestral patrimony as possible. It was bad enough his French cousin and his Parmese brother were cutting up Milan but the tension between France and the Austrian Netherlands may well end in that territory annexed to France as well.
While the Habsburgs controlled what was once the "Spanish Netherlands", Louis I could dream of regaining the valuable territory someday. If his French cousin Louis seized it...well, that would likely be the end of the matter.
Still, regaining Sicily was a good start for Louis I. Taking Naples would be a better second act.
He just prayed his forced didn't screw it up a second time.
London
King George II was getting increasingly worried as his government became ever more agitated at the prospect of the Mediterranean becoming a Bourbon lake. Many desired to prevent the conquest of Naples (or even roll back the Spanish seizure of Sicily, though many doubted the small army of Britain could possibly retake the island from afar). Naples, still unconquered, appeared the more reasonable goal. If the Royal Navy could prevent the Spanish from landing, then few to no British forces would be necessary in Italy.
The British public, though widely concerned with the direction of the general war in Europe, were divided as to how to proceed. There was not a major "War Party" but rather a disjointed series of concerns.
While his First Lord, Walpole, wished to avoid an expensive war which promised few tangible benefits to go with many detriments (the cost, the loss of Gibraltar and...Hanover, alienation of allies like the Dutch Republic), the probability of avoiding involvement was getting low. In the end, great powers can not stand aside and let others determine the fate of Europe.
Eventually, Britain would be pulled into the war. By now everyone knew this.
It was just a matter of time.
Vienna
The now expected death of Charles VI, whom had been an invalid for a year, could not have come at a better time for the Archduchess. After years of war, the Habsburg forces were FINALLY starting to return to form and the constituent peoples of the Empire now generally on board with the "Pragmatic Solution" of a woman inheriting the throne. Indeed, the fact that France, Prussia, Russia and other great powers being militarily invested in other theaters (Russia in Asia, Prussia in "Royal Prussia" and France in Italy) assured that no great armies would march upon the Habsburg domains and it was unlikely than any national Diet under the Crown of St. Stephen or one of her other realms would seek to support a foreign candidate for their individual thrones (Charles VI had feared a division of the Habsburg Empire much as the "Spanish Habsburg" Empire had been broken up in the war of Spanish Succession by being stripped of her Italian and Low Country domains). One did not seek alliance with people whom have been trying to kill you for years.
Oddly, Maria Theresa's ascension was looking quite secure even if the overall Habsburg war effort was still looking bad: Milan was crumbling, Sicily had been taken, Naples was still under invasion, the French had far more forces along the Austrian Netherlands frontier than the Habsburgs (even accounting for Dutch and English assistance). Indeed, even the wars in Poland and the Balkans seemed stagnant as the Archduchess could not summon large enough forces to reach a critical mass on either front.
But then, against expectations, her cousins the Electress' of Saxony (Maria Josepha) and Bavaria (Maria Amalia), Emperor Joseph I's daughters, staked their branch's claim to the Habsburg thrones.
Charles VI inherited the Habsburg domains from his elder brother, Emperor Joseph I, whom died without a living son. As the only living male Habsburg, it was understood (By Joseph) that, should Charles die without a male heir, Joseph's daughters and their heirs would inherit. Instead, once in power, Charles spent years seeking foreign recognition for his own daughter's ascent despite his nieces' stronger claim.
Normally, neither Saxony nor Bavaria would dare challenge the great Habsburg Empire (or collection of pseudo-independent Kingdoms), at least not without A LOT of help from powerful allies. But with the general war ongoing throughout the continent, the already bankrupt Maria Theresa didn't need any more enemies.
Thus the Elector and Electress of Bavaria started negotiating with Maria Josepha, whom was governing Saxony while her husband Augustus III of Saxony (and claimant to the Polish throne) was fighting in Poland.
If the remnants of the Saxon Army would combine with the Bavarian Army (both 2nd tier in Europe), they might march upon Vienna through the weakened forces of their cousin Maria Theresa.
The Saxon House of Wettin and Bavarian House of Wittelsbach marched in the summer upon Vienna.
Vienna
"They dare! THEY DARE!" Archduchess Maria Theresa shrieked.
She turned to her "Dear Prussian" and commanded, "CRUSH THEM!!!! CRUSH THEM NOW!!!!!"
For once, Prince Fritz was happy to obey. While fighting the Saxons and Bavarians at least he would get a break from Maria Theresa's exhortations to marry her.
The Habsburg forces were, to choose a word, beleaguered. On the defensive in Milan, Naples and the Balkans (and having to garrison the Austrian Netherlands), the war effort in Poland was going poorly. Indeed, the three contenders were basically evenly matched and not much progress was being made by anyone save King Frederick William whom happily sat in "Royal Prussia" waiting for the winds to blow.
The Elector of Saxony was completely cut off from his Electorate by Habsburg Silesia and learned the news that his wife was invading Vienna from a captured Austrian soldier in late summer. He wasn't sure if he was proud or outraged.
Little did the Elector know that his wife had promised Saxon support for the Elector of Bavaria to be elected the first Holy Roman Emperor in centuries not of the Habsburg line (though, of course, virtually every Royal Family in Europe was related in some way).
Though Maria Theresa appeared to have her inheritance in her domains largely in hand, there was no way the Electors were going to stretch the legality of the Empire to select a female monarch. As she was unmarried, she could not even plant a husband on the (largely ceremonial) throne.
Prince Fritz spent much of the summer suggesting that Maria Theresa find another husband. Francis of Lorraine had finally married a French princess but the woman died in childbirth along with the infant.
Maybe Francis could be encouraged to make another try when the war ended.
Milan
Exhausted, Prince Eugene was forced to cede yet another border fortress in the Duchy of Milan. Outnumbered and nearly cut off from Austria, the Prince simply lacked the resources or energy to defend the Duchy. By the end of 1738, most of the Duchy was in foreign hands.
Naples
After Spain's humiliating defeat in Naples, King Louis I of Spain had commanded his forces to renew their efforts and funneled another 15,000 soldiers and mercenaries into Naples. With command of the sea, the Spanish King didn't care overly much as to the cost. Louis I was determined to reconquer as much of his ancestral patrimony as possible. It was bad enough his French cousin and his Parmese brother were cutting up Milan but the tension between France and the Austrian Netherlands may well end in that territory annexed to France as well.
While the Habsburgs controlled what was once the "Spanish Netherlands", Louis I could dream of regaining the valuable territory someday. If his French cousin Louis seized it...well, that would likely be the end of the matter.
Still, regaining Sicily was a good start for Louis I. Taking Naples would be a better second act.
He just prayed his forced didn't screw it up a second time.
London
King George II was getting increasingly worried as his government became ever more agitated at the prospect of the Mediterranean becoming a Bourbon lake. Many desired to prevent the conquest of Naples (or even roll back the Spanish seizure of Sicily, though many doubted the small army of Britain could possibly retake the island from afar). Naples, still unconquered, appeared the more reasonable goal. If the Royal Navy could prevent the Spanish from landing, then few to no British forces would be necessary in Italy.
The British public, though widely concerned with the direction of the general war in Europe, were divided as to how to proceed. There was not a major "War Party" but rather a disjointed series of concerns.
While his First Lord, Walpole, wished to avoid an expensive war which promised few tangible benefits to go with many detriments (the cost, the loss of Gibraltar and...Hanover, alienation of allies like the Dutch Republic), the probability of avoiding involvement was getting low. In the end, great powers can not stand aside and let others determine the fate of Europe.
Eventually, Britain would be pulled into the war. By now everyone knew this.
It was just a matter of time.
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Chapter 14: Consequences of Audacity
Chapter 14: Consequences of Audacity
Summer, 1738
Saxony
The Austrian reserves smashed through the lightly held mountain passes of eastern Saxony with ease. With the bulk of the Saxon Army fighting under Augustus III in Poland, the Elector-King left his Electorate largely undefended on the assumption (hope) that the Habsburgs would be too pressed to add yet another front to their war (Austrian Netherlands, Milan, Naples, Poland and the Balkans to name a few).
But the half-hearted Austrian war effort so far allowed Maria Theresa to hoard her resources for a single attack. It was only a matter of which direction. Deeming Poland and the Balkans a priority, she had assumed that her gathering armies would attack in one of those directions, probably Poland while holding the line in the mountainous Balkans (where the Turk wasn't exactly doing well).
However, the arrogant posturing of her cousins in Saxony and Bavaria was too much to stand. The Electress of Saxony demanded the Habsburg thrones and the Electress of Bavaria demanded her husband be made Holy Roman Emperor, there apparently being some sort of agreement between the two. Evidently, Augustus III was too busy in Poland to be Emperor and take over all the Habsburg Kingdoms and Duchies.
Maria Theresa, tired of her old "fuddy-duddy" generals whom spent more time complaining about the Archduchess giving Fritz too much authority, granted the Prussian full command of a 60,000 strong army. Barely slowing down, the Prussian bypassed several mountain fortresses (manned by Saxons and borrowed Bavarian troops) and smashed forward into largely undefended Dresden, capturing the capital in no time, forcing Maria Josepha to flee for her life.
Leaving a modest force to keep the Saxon forces in the fortresses bottled up, Fritz used the supplies of Dresden to rearm his forces and march south, towards the relief column of 20,000 Bavarians. While a well-trained and respected army, a series of rapid maneuvers completely outflanked the Elector and would be Emperor's army, sending the Bavarians scurrying back across the border. By fall, all of eastern Saxony was in Austrian hands.
Berlin
King Frederick William could not believe the reports. Though he loathed his exiled son for his musical and artistic tastes, Fritz had been a good student of war as well. More than once, he'd regretted belittling the boy. But could the King have foreseen his son's rapid ascent up the continental martial peak?
Perhaps it would not have bothered Frederick William as much if his second son, and now heir, had not just been caught in a compromising position with one of his adjutants. Only a teenager, Frederick William took mercy and only beat his son HALF to death than fully and then ordered the boy's paramour executed...quietly.
How the hell did Frederick William continue to breed these perverts?
He may as well have stuck with Fritz.
It was a real slap in the face to see his exiled son outperforming the father in battle. After spending the better part of two years occupying northwestern Poland and watching as the vying combatants maneuver about Poland like idiots, Frederick William started to cast his eyes about for new conquests. Taking more land in Poland seemed pointless. They were all Catholics and it would put him permanently at odds with both Russia and Austria. He may be willing to challenge one but not both. That also crossed Saxony off the list.
Then he realized he hadn't looked west in a while. Hanover, the largest polity in northwest Germany (Holy Roman Empire) continued to sit on the sidelines with Denmark, Sweden, the Dutch Republic and Portugal. It seemed unlikely all these forces would remain aloof forever. Perhaps it would be best to put his stake in now, when the backs of the other great powers were turned?
It was too late in the year for a new campaign.
But 1739 may be pivotal for the old King.
Sweden
The "Cap" Faction had fallen to the "Hat" Faction in the Riksdag. With the King aging and without an heir, the Swedish Diet would now control the succession.
The Hats were pro-French and anti-Russian and desperately sought to regain the continental possessions in the Baltic lost to Russia in the "Great Northern War". The Caps had largely let the matter rest for the past few decades as victory seemed unlikely.
Selecting the right King may yet return Sweden to greatness. But who?
There were many candidates, even if they were restricted to Protestants, probably Germans. The Russian Czarina recommended a relative of her son, Adolf Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp. But no one cared what Russians wanted until the Czarina intended to hand back the Balkans if the Swedes cooperated.
Unlikely. So the net was caste ever further for a Protestant Prince. Oddly, few of the first rank (i.e. younger sons of great powers) were available. The younger sons of the Prussian and Hanoverian kings were minors. Denmark had been at odds with Sweden for years.
Who was left?
Milan
Now effectively surrounded and cut off from supply, the last of the Milan garrisons fell one by one to siege. More eager for a swift victory than gathering prisoners, the allied forces of France, Parma and Piedmont-Sardinia would grant generous terms including free passage back to Habsburg soil.
By New Years, the three allies were dividing up the little Duchy.
Naples
Using the extended campaign season in the south, the Spanish forces were able to make greater gains along the western coast of the Kingdom of Naples. All the larger cities fell, including the great bastions. Louis I's forces would not make the same mistakes as before. They rallied the loyal peasants and seized control over the mountain passes.
There would be no repeat to the humiliations of the previous year.
Persian-Ottoman Frontier (Mesopotamia)
For three years, the Sultan's minions had sought out an alliance with the Persians. Having thought he had finally received one, the Persians suddenly attacked the eastern frontier in Mesopotamia.
Persia deemed the Ottoman an easier nut to crack than Russia.
In the meantime, the Russian colossus cleaned out the remnant of Ottoman supremacy from the northern shores of the Black Sea to the Transcaucasus. Indeed, it seemed unlikely that the Russian army could be stopped at all.
With their campaign against the Austrians already moribund, the Sultan ordered his Grand Vizier to make peace with...someone. He didn't really care which enemy: Persia, Austria or Russia.
The continued decline of the Ottoman became even more pronounced as Venice invaded the Morea in southern Greece.
Summer, 1738
Saxony
The Austrian reserves smashed through the lightly held mountain passes of eastern Saxony with ease. With the bulk of the Saxon Army fighting under Augustus III in Poland, the Elector-King left his Electorate largely undefended on the assumption (hope) that the Habsburgs would be too pressed to add yet another front to their war (Austrian Netherlands, Milan, Naples, Poland and the Balkans to name a few).
But the half-hearted Austrian war effort so far allowed Maria Theresa to hoard her resources for a single attack. It was only a matter of which direction. Deeming Poland and the Balkans a priority, she had assumed that her gathering armies would attack in one of those directions, probably Poland while holding the line in the mountainous Balkans (where the Turk wasn't exactly doing well).
However, the arrogant posturing of her cousins in Saxony and Bavaria was too much to stand. The Electress of Saxony demanded the Habsburg thrones and the Electress of Bavaria demanded her husband be made Holy Roman Emperor, there apparently being some sort of agreement between the two. Evidently, Augustus III was too busy in Poland to be Emperor and take over all the Habsburg Kingdoms and Duchies.
Maria Theresa, tired of her old "fuddy-duddy" generals whom spent more time complaining about the Archduchess giving Fritz too much authority, granted the Prussian full command of a 60,000 strong army. Barely slowing down, the Prussian bypassed several mountain fortresses (manned by Saxons and borrowed Bavarian troops) and smashed forward into largely undefended Dresden, capturing the capital in no time, forcing Maria Josepha to flee for her life.
Leaving a modest force to keep the Saxon forces in the fortresses bottled up, Fritz used the supplies of Dresden to rearm his forces and march south, towards the relief column of 20,000 Bavarians. While a well-trained and respected army, a series of rapid maneuvers completely outflanked the Elector and would be Emperor's army, sending the Bavarians scurrying back across the border. By fall, all of eastern Saxony was in Austrian hands.
Berlin
King Frederick William could not believe the reports. Though he loathed his exiled son for his musical and artistic tastes, Fritz had been a good student of war as well. More than once, he'd regretted belittling the boy. But could the King have foreseen his son's rapid ascent up the continental martial peak?
Perhaps it would not have bothered Frederick William as much if his second son, and now heir, had not just been caught in a compromising position with one of his adjutants. Only a teenager, Frederick William took mercy and only beat his son HALF to death than fully and then ordered the boy's paramour executed...quietly.
How the hell did Frederick William continue to breed these perverts?
He may as well have stuck with Fritz.
It was a real slap in the face to see his exiled son outperforming the father in battle. After spending the better part of two years occupying northwestern Poland and watching as the vying combatants maneuver about Poland like idiots, Frederick William started to cast his eyes about for new conquests. Taking more land in Poland seemed pointless. They were all Catholics and it would put him permanently at odds with both Russia and Austria. He may be willing to challenge one but not both. That also crossed Saxony off the list.
Then he realized he hadn't looked west in a while. Hanover, the largest polity in northwest Germany (Holy Roman Empire) continued to sit on the sidelines with Denmark, Sweden, the Dutch Republic and Portugal. It seemed unlikely all these forces would remain aloof forever. Perhaps it would be best to put his stake in now, when the backs of the other great powers were turned?
It was too late in the year for a new campaign.
But 1739 may be pivotal for the old King.
Sweden
The "Cap" Faction had fallen to the "Hat" Faction in the Riksdag. With the King aging and without an heir, the Swedish Diet would now control the succession.
The Hats were pro-French and anti-Russian and desperately sought to regain the continental possessions in the Baltic lost to Russia in the "Great Northern War". The Caps had largely let the matter rest for the past few decades as victory seemed unlikely.
Selecting the right King may yet return Sweden to greatness. But who?
There were many candidates, even if they were restricted to Protestants, probably Germans. The Russian Czarina recommended a relative of her son, Adolf Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp. But no one cared what Russians wanted until the Czarina intended to hand back the Balkans if the Swedes cooperated.
Unlikely. So the net was caste ever further for a Protestant Prince. Oddly, few of the first rank (i.e. younger sons of great powers) were available. The younger sons of the Prussian and Hanoverian kings were minors. Denmark had been at odds with Sweden for years.
Who was left?
Milan
Now effectively surrounded and cut off from supply, the last of the Milan garrisons fell one by one to siege. More eager for a swift victory than gathering prisoners, the allied forces of France, Parma and Piedmont-Sardinia would grant generous terms including free passage back to Habsburg soil.
By New Years, the three allies were dividing up the little Duchy.
Naples
Using the extended campaign season in the south, the Spanish forces were able to make greater gains along the western coast of the Kingdom of Naples. All the larger cities fell, including the great bastions. Louis I's forces would not make the same mistakes as before. They rallied the loyal peasants and seized control over the mountain passes.
There would be no repeat to the humiliations of the previous year.
Persian-Ottoman Frontier (Mesopotamia)
For three years, the Sultan's minions had sought out an alliance with the Persians. Having thought he had finally received one, the Persians suddenly attacked the eastern frontier in Mesopotamia.
Persia deemed the Ottoman an easier nut to crack than Russia.
In the meantime, the Russian colossus cleaned out the remnant of Ottoman supremacy from the northern shores of the Black Sea to the Transcaucasus. Indeed, it seemed unlikely that the Russian army could be stopped at all.
With their campaign against the Austrians already moribund, the Sultan ordered his Grand Vizier to make peace with...someone. He didn't really care which enemy: Persia, Austria or Russia.
The continued decline of the Ottoman became even more pronounced as Venice invaded the Morea in southern Greece.
Md139115
Banned
I can just see it now. His Imperial Majesty, Fredrich IV, by the grace of God, forever august, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, King of the Swedes, of the Goths, of the Wends, and of Prussia, Prince Consort of Hungary, of Bohemia, of Dalmatia, of Croatia, of Slavonia, of Galicia, of Lodomeria, of Jerusalem, etc. etc. etc.
