Odyssey of Fritz, the Turncoat Prince
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Chapter 15: A Shift in Focus
Spring, 1739
Southern Poland
"King" Augustus III of Poland learned of his wife's catastrophic defeat to the Austrians over the winter. For the past several years, he had led the Saxon army to and fro throughout southern Poland. Lacking the numbers for a killing blow against Stanislaus of Poland (largely ignored by his Prussian and French "allies) and Emmanuel of Portugal (Austria and Russia's puppet), the war had reached a stalemate. Battlefield deaths, disease and desertion had hobbled his fine Saxon army, once the best of the three contenders and now most of his forces were of Polish descent.
The "King" had a choice: return to Saxony with what was left of his Saxon army and abandon his hopes for Poland (without any guarantee that he could dislodge the Austrians from Saxony...or abandon his patrimony in favor of winning a greater throne in Poland.
The realist in Augustus knew that the 15,000 or so Saxons would not accomplish much against the Austrian Army billeted in Dresden under command of the exiled Prussian prince. He also knew that the longer he stayed in Poland, the more likely the resources of his enemies would eventually crush him.
As it turned out, Augustus would not have to make a choice.
Under the nominal "command" of Emmanuel of Portugal, 20,000 Habsburg troops, 10,000 Russians (the most the Czarina and her ministers were willing to offer given her aspirations elsewhere) and 10,000 Poles marched upon Augustus' stronghold and scattered his forces. The "King" would flee for his life, abandoning his Polish troops. The remnants of his fine Saxon Army followed as he "invaded" Silesia, the Habsburg province which divided Poland and Saxony. Years before, he crossed when the Habsburgs were unready for war. Now they were. Fortresses were manned. Mountain passes were blocked.
Augustus was forced to avoid any local resistance rather than fighting it. Within days of crossing the border, he took to abandoning his heavy baggage (what artillery and supplies he had left) and simply bypassing the enemy. The local garrisons were unused to this strategy and often found that, when they attempted to engage, the Saxons had already bypassed them.
By June, Augustus was back in Saxony where he was ambushed by Prince Frederick. The exhausted Saxons were scattered and Augustus captured. At once, Frederick marched west where Electress (and Queen of Poland and Hungary and Bohemia, etc, etc, etc as she styled herself) fled ever further west, abandoning her armies.
By the end of summer, most of Saxony was under Austrian control.
Seeing the writing on the wall, the Elector of Bavaria sought out any form of ally (Prussia, France) but found no one interested in his problems. The Elector and would-be Holy Roman Emperor sought terms that would save his patrimony as it was likely his Electorate would be next.
Vienna
Again elated that her favorite, Prince Fritz, had crushed yet another enemy, Maria Theresa negotiated with the Russian diplomat a limited alliance. Russia was already crushing the Turks far to the east but the war in the Balkans was more a matter of an inept Ottoman army fighting local rebels. There had been few direct battles between Habsburg and Ottoman forces. Mainly the Habsburg soldiers had been sitting in various fortifications waiting for an assault that never came.
Now the Archduchess wanted to attack. The Ottoman Army was looking even more inept than ever. Still at war on several fronts, Maria Theresa realized that retaking Milan, Naples and Sicily would be near impossible except on the negotiating table. Indeed, France now had the advantage of throwing the full brunt of her armies against the Austrian Netherlands where local Habsburg, Dutch, British and Hanoverian (and their small local allies) nervously awaited the inevitable.
Maria Theresa did not want to lose territory in this war. She wanted to conquer SOMETHING.
A joint Austrian and Russian offensive against the hapless Ottomans may be just the trick. The destruction of the opposing factions in Poland allowed her to concentrate forces southwards for the moment.
Fifty thousand Habsburg forces would march south into the lands of the Bosnians and 30,000 Russians would attack the Ottoman lands of the Romanians (those still under Ottoman control). Inviting Russian in the Balkans may turn out to be an error but Maria Theresa wanted to permanently cripple at least ONE enemy.
London
King George II looked on in disgust at his government. He should have known better than to trust them.
For years, the Hanover-born King had desperately sought to protect his homeland but his British government only grudgingly offered modest financial support to outfit the Hanoverian army and those of their Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic allies. It was the latter that received the bulk of money, not Hanover.
Now it was obvious that Frederick William of Prussia intended to attack Hanover. Without France now free to attack the Austrian Netherlands...
The allies may be squeezed.
Stupidly, in the King's opinion, Britain had dithered for years over whether or not to enter the fray. Britain feared the Mediterranean turning into a Bourbon lake...but opted not to act until the Spanish already conquered Sicily and Naples.
NOW they wanted to declare war?
NOW, when Spain was unlikely to be dislodged from Italy and France may expend their huge armies upon the Austrian Netherlands...NOW they decided that a few border skirmishes in North America (ongoing for 100 years and the King didn't see why anyone would care now about country rustics.
Having already lost, NOW Britain wanted to ENTER the war.
Fantastic.
And naturally, Britain cared less about Hanover than the Austrian Netherlands. George II wished his family had never ascended to the British throne.
Receiving little more than empty promises and some minor subsidies to offer to Austria, the King opted to return to Hanover. If Prussia attacked, he would prefer to fight and die alongside Germans rather than these dishonorable Englishmen.
Boston
The people of the "New England" region had been fighting border wars with the French colonists for a century. Mutual hatred among the provincials would have shocked the denizens of the mother country.
Learning that the two nations MIGHT be at war or would be soon, the provincials of New England decided to strike a blow. For decades, the enemy had used the island fortress of Louisburg as a staging point for piracy and raids. No longer. The city fathers of Boston led a drive to assemble money, ships and volunteers for a spring assault on Louisburg, hopefully before the French reinforcement.
That bastion was the most powerful and strategic piece of territory in the New World (at least north of Havana). Whoever commanded it would determine the fate of both nation's colonies. Under British control, Louisburg could cut off the St. Lawrence trade and smother New France.
The colonists were determined to cripple New France by putting a British sword at their necks.
French West Indies
The commander of the French West Indies received a dispatch from Paris.
Be ready to attack any British possession at hand at a moment's notice.
Simple enough. A declaration of war was imminent.
Spring, 1739
Southern Poland
"King" Augustus III of Poland learned of his wife's catastrophic defeat to the Austrians over the winter. For the past several years, he had led the Saxon army to and fro throughout southern Poland. Lacking the numbers for a killing blow against Stanislaus of Poland (largely ignored by his Prussian and French "allies) and Emmanuel of Portugal (Austria and Russia's puppet), the war had reached a stalemate. Battlefield deaths, disease and desertion had hobbled his fine Saxon army, once the best of the three contenders and now most of his forces were of Polish descent.
The "King" had a choice: return to Saxony with what was left of his Saxon army and abandon his hopes for Poland (without any guarantee that he could dislodge the Austrians from Saxony...or abandon his patrimony in favor of winning a greater throne in Poland.
The realist in Augustus knew that the 15,000 or so Saxons would not accomplish much against the Austrian Army billeted in Dresden under command of the exiled Prussian prince. He also knew that the longer he stayed in Poland, the more likely the resources of his enemies would eventually crush him.
As it turned out, Augustus would not have to make a choice.
Under the nominal "command" of Emmanuel of Portugal, 20,000 Habsburg troops, 10,000 Russians (the most the Czarina and her ministers were willing to offer given her aspirations elsewhere) and 10,000 Poles marched upon Augustus' stronghold and scattered his forces. The "King" would flee for his life, abandoning his Polish troops. The remnants of his fine Saxon Army followed as he "invaded" Silesia, the Habsburg province which divided Poland and Saxony. Years before, he crossed when the Habsburgs were unready for war. Now they were. Fortresses were manned. Mountain passes were blocked.
Augustus was forced to avoid any local resistance rather than fighting it. Within days of crossing the border, he took to abandoning his heavy baggage (what artillery and supplies he had left) and simply bypassing the enemy. The local garrisons were unused to this strategy and often found that, when they attempted to engage, the Saxons had already bypassed them.
By June, Augustus was back in Saxony where he was ambushed by Prince Frederick. The exhausted Saxons were scattered and Augustus captured. At once, Frederick marched west where Electress (and Queen of Poland and Hungary and Bohemia, etc, etc, etc as she styled herself) fled ever further west, abandoning her armies.
By the end of summer, most of Saxony was under Austrian control.
Seeing the writing on the wall, the Elector of Bavaria sought out any form of ally (Prussia, France) but found no one interested in his problems. The Elector and would-be Holy Roman Emperor sought terms that would save his patrimony as it was likely his Electorate would be next.
Vienna
Again elated that her favorite, Prince Fritz, had crushed yet another enemy, Maria Theresa negotiated with the Russian diplomat a limited alliance. Russia was already crushing the Turks far to the east but the war in the Balkans was more a matter of an inept Ottoman army fighting local rebels. There had been few direct battles between Habsburg and Ottoman forces. Mainly the Habsburg soldiers had been sitting in various fortifications waiting for an assault that never came.
Now the Archduchess wanted to attack. The Ottoman Army was looking even more inept than ever. Still at war on several fronts, Maria Theresa realized that retaking Milan, Naples and Sicily would be near impossible except on the negotiating table. Indeed, France now had the advantage of throwing the full brunt of her armies against the Austrian Netherlands where local Habsburg, Dutch, British and Hanoverian (and their small local allies) nervously awaited the inevitable.
Maria Theresa did not want to lose territory in this war. She wanted to conquer SOMETHING.
A joint Austrian and Russian offensive against the hapless Ottomans may be just the trick. The destruction of the opposing factions in Poland allowed her to concentrate forces southwards for the moment.
Fifty thousand Habsburg forces would march south into the lands of the Bosnians and 30,000 Russians would attack the Ottoman lands of the Romanians (those still under Ottoman control). Inviting Russian in the Balkans may turn out to be an error but Maria Theresa wanted to permanently cripple at least ONE enemy.
London
King George II looked on in disgust at his government. He should have known better than to trust them.
For years, the Hanover-born King had desperately sought to protect his homeland but his British government only grudgingly offered modest financial support to outfit the Hanoverian army and those of their Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic allies. It was the latter that received the bulk of money, not Hanover.
Now it was obvious that Frederick William of Prussia intended to attack Hanover. Without France now free to attack the Austrian Netherlands...
The allies may be squeezed.
Stupidly, in the King's opinion, Britain had dithered for years over whether or not to enter the fray. Britain feared the Mediterranean turning into a Bourbon lake...but opted not to act until the Spanish already conquered Sicily and Naples.
NOW they wanted to declare war?
NOW, when Spain was unlikely to be dislodged from Italy and France may expend their huge armies upon the Austrian Netherlands...NOW they decided that a few border skirmishes in North America (ongoing for 100 years and the King didn't see why anyone would care now about country rustics.
Having already lost, NOW Britain wanted to ENTER the war.
Fantastic.
And naturally, Britain cared less about Hanover than the Austrian Netherlands. George II wished his family had never ascended to the British throne.
Receiving little more than empty promises and some minor subsidies to offer to Austria, the King opted to return to Hanover. If Prussia attacked, he would prefer to fight and die alongside Germans rather than these dishonorable Englishmen.
Boston
The people of the "New England" region had been fighting border wars with the French colonists for a century. Mutual hatred among the provincials would have shocked the denizens of the mother country.
Learning that the two nations MIGHT be at war or would be soon, the provincials of New England decided to strike a blow. For decades, the enemy had used the island fortress of Louisburg as a staging point for piracy and raids. No longer. The city fathers of Boston led a drive to assemble money, ships and volunteers for a spring assault on Louisburg, hopefully before the French reinforcement.
That bastion was the most powerful and strategic piece of territory in the New World (at least north of Havana). Whoever commanded it would determine the fate of both nation's colonies. Under British control, Louisburg could cut off the St. Lawrence trade and smother New France.
The colonists were determined to cripple New France by putting a British sword at their necks.
French West Indies
The commander of the French West Indies received a dispatch from Paris.
Be ready to attack any British possession at hand at a moment's notice.
Simple enough. A declaration of war was imminent.
Chapter 16: Machiavellian Rules
Chapter 16: Machiavellian Rules
Fall, 1739
Poland
By the fall of 1739, the supporters of the House of Wettin vanished at the abandonment of the war by Augustus III. This allowed most of his supporters to shift their loyalty to Emmanuel I, whose forces were now casting aside those of Stanislaus. Of greater import was the fact that King Frederick William of Prussia remained comfortably ensconced in northwest Poland with his powerful and fresh army ready to resist any challengers.
The Austrian and Russian armies supporting Emmanuel were spread out and unsure if they desired to pick a fight with Prussia, so the summer and fall were spent consolidating.
Eventually, Stanislaus gave up and decided to flee for France, leaving his supporters in the lurch. He was forced to flee through Prussian territory and the King of Prussia didn't even bother pretending to be an ally by this point. Frederick William could have imprisoned the Pole but didn't bother.
What would be the point? Stanislaus no longer mattered.
Hanover
In summer of 1739, the Archduchess dispatched her most trusted friend, Prince Fritz to Hanover to meet with the Elector (and King of Britain though he was loathe to style himself as such given the lack of support from his British subjects). George II had spent months shoring up his Electorate's defenses against an expected assault.
Indeed, most assumed Frederick William would attack Hanover during the 1739 campaign season but the sudden collapse of the House of Wettin and that of Stanislaus left his southern flank far too insecure to leave unprotected. His gains in "Royal Prussia" would be defenseless.
Thus George II had additional time to rally his local allies (renting their regiments, really) and preparing for a fight to the death. France had yet to seriously attack the Austrian Netherlands but most believed that was inevitable.
With perhaps a unique point of view due to his exile from Prussia, Prince Fritz was able to see the situation from the eyes of all sides.
He knew what his father wanted: a bridge between his domains in the Kingdom of Prussia and Brandenburg, more access to the sea (both these goals were represented by Royal Prussia, which he now held) as well as some wealthy Protestant domains (Saxony, Hanover and parts of Silesia were always coveted by the Prussian Kings).
He knew what his patron wanted (besides Fritz to marry her): to fully assume control over her domains without challenge (only partially), control over the election of Holy Roman Emperor, to punish Saxony and Bavaria, to return the other states of the Holy Roman Empire to subservience, to crush the Ottomans.
The loss of the Italian domains of Milan, Sicily and Naples hurt, as would potentially losing the Austrian Netherlands. But those territories were only recently added to the Habsburg crown and Maria Theresa only cared so much.
There was also the little problem that Maria Theresa was broke and unlikely to be able to carry on a war much longer. As Prussia had barely been blooded and a campaign against the French and Spanish in Italy virtually doomed to fail...well, something had to be done.
With all of Europe at war, it seemed impossible to think of a way to make peace, even in a portion of it.
But Fritz, like all Hohenzollerns, was flexible. He wasn't sure how a war in the Low Countries could be avoided but perhaps the war may be ended in the west. It helped that Prussia had already gotten what his father wanted and Russia did not seem overly interested in the west. Emmanuel was now assuming control over most of Poland while Austria occupied Saxony and Bavaria shivered at a potential Austrian invasion.
There was something to work with here.
Fritz developed a complex plan and started with the weakest link: George II.
Beyond all, the Elector desired safety for his homeland and was thunderstruck at the proposal of the Prince that promised a chance of getting out of this situation.
The "War" in Europe was, in fact, a series of completely separate wars occurring concurrently. Fritz would deal with the issues one by one, making the next peace even easier. First, Fritz would work on the peace between Prussia and Hanover.
1. Austria and Russia would "allow" King Frederick William title to "Royal" Prussia in the name of their puppet, Emmanuel I of Poland. It wasn't as if the Portuguese Infante was under any illusions that he had a choice in such matters. If a tenth of the Commonwealth's territory was sheared off for the convenience of Russia and Austria...so be it. Emmanuel was still left with more a kingdom that he had before.
2. Further, a slice of Saxony (roughly 1/3rd) would be offered to Frederick William in exchange for his western territories in the Rhineland, namely Kleves, Mark, Minden, Ravensburg, etc. While these scattered little possessions were densely populated and prosperous, they were impossible to defend. This reason, as much as a desire to possess Hanover itself, fed Frederick Williams desire to conquer George II's domain. With those territories handed over to George II, he would be more able to defend his realms and Frederick William less interested in war (at least having one less reason for it).
3. Duke Peter of Holstein-Gottorp, the child heir to Russia, would give up his ancestral home. The larger Holstein (self-governing fief of Denmark) portion would go to the King of Denmark, hereto uninterested in the war while the smaller, non-contiguous portion of Schleswig (in the Holy Roman Empire) would go to George II. George II would also "buy" Oldenburg, a non-contiguous Duchy ruled by Denmark, from the King of Denmark. This was a more than reasonable trade that any Denmark King would make. As the prince of East Frisia was without an heir, all parties would agree that it would be inherited by George II.
4. In exchange for giving up Holstein-Gottorp, the boy Duke Peter would be named Duke of Courland. The little Duchy was nominally a fief of Poland but the future Czar would add it permanently to his dominions. As the Czarina couldn't care less about Holstein-Gottorp, she would prefer a contiguous land she could control. Besides, the remove Germany Duchy would likely encouraged aggression from the King of Denmark eventually and it was a theater in which Russia had little to no interest. Peter did not remember his German homeland anyway and was hardly going to care in the future. From the Russian standpoint, they also received the bonus that a stronger and less German-focused Denmark-Norway would likely act as a bulwark against Swedish aggression. With the rise of the "Hat" Party (anti-Russian) in the Riksdag, war between Russia and Sweden was becoming more likely. Already invested in the war against the Ottoman, this was not a distraction Russia needed.
5. While the Elector of Saxony would find his Electorate truncated as punishment for his and his wife's ambitions, the Elector of Bavaria would be bought off. As there was no other contender for the office of Holy Roman Emperor among the Habsburgs, the Elector of Bavaria, with the Archduchess' support would be granted the ceremonial position. An older man in poor health, he would not last long anyway. By the time the future Charles VII of the Holy Roman Empire (and Elector of Bavaria) died, Maria Theresa would have a husband or even a son to put on the throne. Naturally, the Electors of Saxony (Augustus), Hanover (George II) and Brandenburg (Frederick William) would cast their votes alongside the Queen of Bohemia and Archduchess of Austria (both Maria Theresa). If one could not select a Habsburg Emperor, then a weak puppet was fine.
This overall peace would not end all the wars in Europe but would at least settle the matter in Germany and Poland.
Naturally, George II was ecstatic over the proposal. He would prevent an attack on Hanover from Prussia and even augment his territories by over a third. He agreed in a heartbeat.
Next, the pair rode to Vienna to meet with Maria Theresa and the Russian Ambassador to make their proposal. Maria Theresa was taken aback. Mostly, she was surprised that Hanover and Denmark, two nations barely invested in the war if at all, somehow made gains along with her enemy, Frederick William, while Austria and Russia, at best, got nothing or traded territories.
The proposed peace also did not resolve the war with France and Spain or with the Ottoman or guarantee the return of her Italian domains. But Fritz convinced her that she must make peace eventually (as did her beleaguered financial advisors) somewhere. She lacked the money to fight on four or five fronts anymore. George II promised to find a way to subsidize the war in the Austrian Netherlands to a greater extent even if he had to arrest all of Parliament. Peace with Prussia also meant he may turn his German resources west to aid in the war in that theater as well.
Many jealous advisors sought to discredit Fritz by pointing out he was helping his father to easy gains, insinuating he was still loyal to Prussia. This was the wrong tact to take as no one knew better than Maria Theresa of Fritz's relationship with his father.
In the end, Maria Theresa agreed to the proposal and lent her support in convincing the King of Denmark, King of Prussia and Czarina of Russia. Not surprisingly, the former two did not need much convincing. Frederick William was happy to assume title to Royal Prussia and deemed a straight up swap of a large chunk of Saxony for his non-contiguous western duchies to be more than adequate. Five years of "War" resulted in very little fighting for the Prussians and gaining valuable prizes.
The King of Denmark, disinterested in the general war, was happy to trade Oldenburg for the Holstein portions of Holstein-Gottorp.
The Czarina, it turned out, was happy enough for the trade of Holstein-Gottorp for Courland (if the people of the German Duchy were unhappy with now being subjects to the King of Denmark and Elector of Hanover, that was their problem, not hers), especially as a peace in Germany and Poland ensured her ally Austria would have more resources to attack the Ottoman Turk.
By spring of 1740, the war in Central Europe was over. There was now only war in the west and the east.
And America.
Fall, 1739
Poland
By the fall of 1739, the supporters of the House of Wettin vanished at the abandonment of the war by Augustus III. This allowed most of his supporters to shift their loyalty to Emmanuel I, whose forces were now casting aside those of Stanislaus. Of greater import was the fact that King Frederick William of Prussia remained comfortably ensconced in northwest Poland with his powerful and fresh army ready to resist any challengers.
The Austrian and Russian armies supporting Emmanuel were spread out and unsure if they desired to pick a fight with Prussia, so the summer and fall were spent consolidating.
Eventually, Stanislaus gave up and decided to flee for France, leaving his supporters in the lurch. He was forced to flee through Prussian territory and the King of Prussia didn't even bother pretending to be an ally by this point. Frederick William could have imprisoned the Pole but didn't bother.
What would be the point? Stanislaus no longer mattered.
Hanover
In summer of 1739, the Archduchess dispatched her most trusted friend, Prince Fritz to Hanover to meet with the Elector (and King of Britain though he was loathe to style himself as such given the lack of support from his British subjects). George II had spent months shoring up his Electorate's defenses against an expected assault.
Indeed, most assumed Frederick William would attack Hanover during the 1739 campaign season but the sudden collapse of the House of Wettin and that of Stanislaus left his southern flank far too insecure to leave unprotected. His gains in "Royal Prussia" would be defenseless.
Thus George II had additional time to rally his local allies (renting their regiments, really) and preparing for a fight to the death. France had yet to seriously attack the Austrian Netherlands but most believed that was inevitable.
With perhaps a unique point of view due to his exile from Prussia, Prince Fritz was able to see the situation from the eyes of all sides.
He knew what his father wanted: a bridge between his domains in the Kingdom of Prussia and Brandenburg, more access to the sea (both these goals were represented by Royal Prussia, which he now held) as well as some wealthy Protestant domains (Saxony, Hanover and parts of Silesia were always coveted by the Prussian Kings).
He knew what his patron wanted (besides Fritz to marry her): to fully assume control over her domains without challenge (only partially), control over the election of Holy Roman Emperor, to punish Saxony and Bavaria, to return the other states of the Holy Roman Empire to subservience, to crush the Ottomans.
The loss of the Italian domains of Milan, Sicily and Naples hurt, as would potentially losing the Austrian Netherlands. But those territories were only recently added to the Habsburg crown and Maria Theresa only cared so much.
There was also the little problem that Maria Theresa was broke and unlikely to be able to carry on a war much longer. As Prussia had barely been blooded and a campaign against the French and Spanish in Italy virtually doomed to fail...well, something had to be done.
With all of Europe at war, it seemed impossible to think of a way to make peace, even in a portion of it.
But Fritz, like all Hohenzollerns, was flexible. He wasn't sure how a war in the Low Countries could be avoided but perhaps the war may be ended in the west. It helped that Prussia had already gotten what his father wanted and Russia did not seem overly interested in the west. Emmanuel was now assuming control over most of Poland while Austria occupied Saxony and Bavaria shivered at a potential Austrian invasion.
There was something to work with here.
Fritz developed a complex plan and started with the weakest link: George II.
Beyond all, the Elector desired safety for his homeland and was thunderstruck at the proposal of the Prince that promised a chance of getting out of this situation.
The "War" in Europe was, in fact, a series of completely separate wars occurring concurrently. Fritz would deal with the issues one by one, making the next peace even easier. First, Fritz would work on the peace between Prussia and Hanover.
1. Austria and Russia would "allow" King Frederick William title to "Royal" Prussia in the name of their puppet, Emmanuel I of Poland. It wasn't as if the Portuguese Infante was under any illusions that he had a choice in such matters. If a tenth of the Commonwealth's territory was sheared off for the convenience of Russia and Austria...so be it. Emmanuel was still left with more a kingdom that he had before.
2. Further, a slice of Saxony (roughly 1/3rd) would be offered to Frederick William in exchange for his western territories in the Rhineland, namely Kleves, Mark, Minden, Ravensburg, etc. While these scattered little possessions were densely populated and prosperous, they were impossible to defend. This reason, as much as a desire to possess Hanover itself, fed Frederick Williams desire to conquer George II's domain. With those territories handed over to George II, he would be more able to defend his realms and Frederick William less interested in war (at least having one less reason for it).
3. Duke Peter of Holstein-Gottorp, the child heir to Russia, would give up his ancestral home. The larger Holstein (self-governing fief of Denmark) portion would go to the King of Denmark, hereto uninterested in the war while the smaller, non-contiguous portion of Schleswig (in the Holy Roman Empire) would go to George II. George II would also "buy" Oldenburg, a non-contiguous Duchy ruled by Denmark, from the King of Denmark. This was a more than reasonable trade that any Denmark King would make. As the prince of East Frisia was without an heir, all parties would agree that it would be inherited by George II.
4. In exchange for giving up Holstein-Gottorp, the boy Duke Peter would be named Duke of Courland. The little Duchy was nominally a fief of Poland but the future Czar would add it permanently to his dominions. As the Czarina couldn't care less about Holstein-Gottorp, she would prefer a contiguous land she could control. Besides, the remove Germany Duchy would likely encouraged aggression from the King of Denmark eventually and it was a theater in which Russia had little to no interest. Peter did not remember his German homeland anyway and was hardly going to care in the future. From the Russian standpoint, they also received the bonus that a stronger and less German-focused Denmark-Norway would likely act as a bulwark against Swedish aggression. With the rise of the "Hat" Party (anti-Russian) in the Riksdag, war between Russia and Sweden was becoming more likely. Already invested in the war against the Ottoman, this was not a distraction Russia needed.
5. While the Elector of Saxony would find his Electorate truncated as punishment for his and his wife's ambitions, the Elector of Bavaria would be bought off. As there was no other contender for the office of Holy Roman Emperor among the Habsburgs, the Elector of Bavaria, with the Archduchess' support would be granted the ceremonial position. An older man in poor health, he would not last long anyway. By the time the future Charles VII of the Holy Roman Empire (and Elector of Bavaria) died, Maria Theresa would have a husband or even a son to put on the throne. Naturally, the Electors of Saxony (Augustus), Hanover (George II) and Brandenburg (Frederick William) would cast their votes alongside the Queen of Bohemia and Archduchess of Austria (both Maria Theresa). If one could not select a Habsburg Emperor, then a weak puppet was fine.
This overall peace would not end all the wars in Europe but would at least settle the matter in Germany and Poland.
Naturally, George II was ecstatic over the proposal. He would prevent an attack on Hanover from Prussia and even augment his territories by over a third. He agreed in a heartbeat.
Next, the pair rode to Vienna to meet with Maria Theresa and the Russian Ambassador to make their proposal. Maria Theresa was taken aback. Mostly, she was surprised that Hanover and Denmark, two nations barely invested in the war if at all, somehow made gains along with her enemy, Frederick William, while Austria and Russia, at best, got nothing or traded territories.
The proposed peace also did not resolve the war with France and Spain or with the Ottoman or guarantee the return of her Italian domains. But Fritz convinced her that she must make peace eventually (as did her beleaguered financial advisors) somewhere. She lacked the money to fight on four or five fronts anymore. George II promised to find a way to subsidize the war in the Austrian Netherlands to a greater extent even if he had to arrest all of Parliament. Peace with Prussia also meant he may turn his German resources west to aid in the war in that theater as well.
Many jealous advisors sought to discredit Fritz by pointing out he was helping his father to easy gains, insinuating he was still loyal to Prussia. This was the wrong tact to take as no one knew better than Maria Theresa of Fritz's relationship with his father.
In the end, Maria Theresa agreed to the proposal and lent her support in convincing the King of Denmark, King of Prussia and Czarina of Russia. Not surprisingly, the former two did not need much convincing. Frederick William was happy to assume title to Royal Prussia and deemed a straight up swap of a large chunk of Saxony for his non-contiguous western duchies to be more than adequate. Five years of "War" resulted in very little fighting for the Prussians and gaining valuable prizes.
The King of Denmark, disinterested in the general war, was happy to trade Oldenburg for the Holstein portions of Holstein-Gottorp.
The Czarina, it turned out, was happy enough for the trade of Holstein-Gottorp for Courland (if the people of the German Duchy were unhappy with now being subjects to the King of Denmark and Elector of Hanover, that was their problem, not hers), especially as a peace in Germany and Poland ensured her ally Austria would have more resources to attack the Ottoman Turk.
By spring of 1740, the war in Central Europe was over. There was now only war in the west and the east.
And America.
Here is a map of the territorial changes of Hanover from 1719 to 1744 (the year George II inherited East Frisia)
Dark Blue include Prussian territories, Pink is Hanover. Holstein-Gottorp in light Green.
The "Swedish territory was bought by George II by 1735, he then added a piece of Schleswig, the scattered Prussian territories along the Rhine and Oldenburg (from Denmark) in the Treaty of Hanover in 1740 while East Frisia (Ostfriesland) would be inherited by George II in 1744.
Denmark gained most of Holstein-Gottorp.
Dark Blue include Prussian territories, Pink is Hanover. Holstein-Gottorp in light Green.
The "Swedish territory was bought by George II by 1735, he then added a piece of Schleswig, the scattered Prussian territories along the Rhine and Oldenburg (from Denmark) in the Treaty of Hanover in 1740 while East Frisia (Ostfriesland) would be inherited by George II in 1744.
Denmark gained most of Holstein-Gottorp.
Md139115
Banned
I had almost blocked from my memory what an abomination the HRE was... that map brought it all flooding back.
Seems like a pretty good deal, although I wonder if, given the opportunity, Austria wouldn't have swapped (despite their impending invasion) the Austrian Netherlands for Bavaria, as they tried to do several times IOTL. Seems like Prussia would be in no position to complain and the Wittelsbachs would have a hard time saying no since they're under the gun of Fritz and also are getting the Imperial throne, even if only honorary for a few years
The King-Elector of Hanover comes up smelling like roses - if he can keep his domains, that is. Not only against French invasion, but it seems as if he has a pretty large and powerful continental realm. The British are already concerned with his focus and insistence on Hanoverian affairs, I have to wonder if this pushes them over the edge. George could theoretically end up compelled to abdicate here in favor of his second son, the Duke of Cumberland (Prince William). The latter hasn't put down the Jacobite Rising yet (since it hasn't happened ITTL) so he isn't as popular, but as the nineteen year old King of Great Britain he'd be the most eligible bachelor in Europe.
The King-Elector of Hanover comes up smelling like roses - if he can keep his domains, that is. Not only against French invasion, but it seems as if he has a pretty large and powerful continental realm. The British are already concerned with his focus and insistence on Hanoverian affairs, I have to wonder if this pushes them over the edge. George could theoretically end up compelled to abdicate here in favor of his second son, the Duke of Cumberland (Prince William). The latter hasn't put down the Jacobite Rising yet (since it hasn't happened ITTL) so he isn't as popular, but as the nineteen year old King of Great Britain he'd be the most eligible bachelor in Europe.
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Chapter 17: Old Order and The New
Chapter 17: Old Order and the New
Spring, 1740
Louisbourg, Ile Royale, New France
The New Englanders had prepared all winter for the formal declaration of war. It was considered almost inevitable thus they gathered supplies and ships for the spring. By April, the colonials were ready and received the news of a declaration of war with enthusiasm. For too many years, French raiders had sailed form Louisbourg upon their coastlines and used the naval base to protect the St. Lawrence.
Enough was enough. Not even bothering to ask for help from the Mother Country, the expedition sailed in May with 4000 volunteers carried by merchants and escorted by a few small British warships.
The French, surprisingly, hadn't bothered reinforcing the naval base with a garrison larger than 900 ill-paid and ill-fed conscripts on punishment duty. Few French ships were at anchor when the Americans arrived and the inept French commander didn't even think to impress the French sailors available. Instead, they gathered up a few hundred militia and hunkered down hoping to wait out the British.
By the end of June, the ill-prepared French garrison surrendered to siege and were deported to the mainland along with all French civilians.
Louisbourg had fallen with little to no assistance from the Mother Country. In the future, this campaign would be considered a primary building point of "colonial nationalism".
Antigua - British West Indies
The British colonials were not the only denizens of the New World to act.
The governor of Martinique and commander of the French West Indies (Lesser Antilles) gathered resources to invade one of the British possessions in the West Indies.
For the most part, there were only three British possessions of note:
1. Jamaica
2. Barbados
3. Antigua
Ideally, he would attempt to conquer one of the former two. Jamaica and Barbados were the primary sugar producers for Great Britain. Antigua was respectable but not in their league. In reality, Antigua's true value was in her fine naval harbor.
The French governor opted against Barbados. Often the prevailing winds in the summer blew from east to west at that latitude and entire fleets may find themselves becalmed without reaching the southeastern-most island in the Caribbean (some even wondered if Barbados should be considered part of the West Indies at all).
Jamaica was rejected also due to distance and the fact that French resources were scarce. It was uncertain if the few thousand troops he could summon would be enough to take the populated island.
Thus for proximity and probability of success, the governor attacked Antigua.
Having received word before his English counterpart, the governor rolled the dice in hopes of a quick victory.
He received it. With only a few hundred sickly defenders and no major warships at port, the British retreated to a citadel above the city to wait out the siege. Lacking any particular supplies, they were outlasted by the French.
British deaths were 200 souls and French 500. Virtually all were to disease.
Berlin
King Frederick William, only weeks after yielding control over the western provinces to Hanover and assuming command (rightful) over Royal Prussia and parts of Saxony, died suddenly. Though only 51, he was a worn-out man. Still, the King's death nevertheless came as a shock to the Prussian Establishment.
At only 17 years old, Prince Augustus William ascended to the throne. While some pointed out that Prince Frederick's removal from the line of succession was not in any way legal by Holy Roman Empire Law, this only mattered if a nation of note (Austria, Russia, etc) determined to make an issue of it or if the resident political class of Prussia were to object.
There proved to be little support for Prince Frederick among the Prussians. Having served the enemy for so many years, even though not on the Polish front, Prince Fritz' service to the Austrians bled away most support.
If that didn't do it, then the fact that he so publicly converted to Catholicism was more than enough to kill his chances of regaining his own throne in Prussia.
Fritz had mixed feelings. He was never against the idea of being King. He merely wanted to tweak his father's nose in a way surely to irritate him. But Fritz's actions utterly destroyed any sympathy among the Prussian establishment. Even his beloved mother and sister condemned him and actively supported Augustus William. If nothing else, that eliminated any hope Fritz had of being called home in triumph.
As it turned out, the Prussian prince was a little busy anyway when he learned of his father's death.
He was busy leading an army through Bosnia.
Austrian Netherlands
Though no one would have believed it, the general war along the Austrian Netherlands front had yet to really break out. For years, the French had threatened to invade as Austrian Netherland, Dutch and assorted supporters (Hanover, mercenaries hired by the British) waited anxiously.
With the other fronts of the war in central Germany and Italy now quiet, it was assumed that a full French offensive was imminent. Oddly, by summer of 1740, the French had yet to do much more than probe with their 60,000 man army along the border.
At this point, everyone involved wondered when the hell the real war in the west would begin.
Indeed, the French public had been paying taxes for years with the intent that the real prize would be part or all of the Austrian Netherlands. A piece of Milan didn't justify this waste of money, especially after splitting the Duchy with Parma and Piedmont-Sardinia. Only Spain appeared to be gaining anything with the reconquest of Sicily and Naples.
Many a Frenchman wondered what the hell Louis XV was doing.
In truth, the French King and his Ministers had something special planned to knock the British out of the war, though the French forces would not be ready until 1741. Without British money, it was believed that both the Austrian Netherlands and the Dutch Republic would fall.
Also, the unexpected withdrawal of Prussia from the war surprised all involved. Granted, it had been years since the Prussians had even pretended to be an ally (or the French for that matter). But Louis XV assumed that Prussia would be there to stop much in the way of Austrian or Hanoverian reinforcements to the low countries.
Spring, 1740
Louisbourg, Ile Royale, New France
The New Englanders had prepared all winter for the formal declaration of war. It was considered almost inevitable thus they gathered supplies and ships for the spring. By April, the colonials were ready and received the news of a declaration of war with enthusiasm. For too many years, French raiders had sailed form Louisbourg upon their coastlines and used the naval base to protect the St. Lawrence.
Enough was enough. Not even bothering to ask for help from the Mother Country, the expedition sailed in May with 4000 volunteers carried by merchants and escorted by a few small British warships.
The French, surprisingly, hadn't bothered reinforcing the naval base with a garrison larger than 900 ill-paid and ill-fed conscripts on punishment duty. Few French ships were at anchor when the Americans arrived and the inept French commander didn't even think to impress the French sailors available. Instead, they gathered up a few hundred militia and hunkered down hoping to wait out the British.
By the end of June, the ill-prepared French garrison surrendered to siege and were deported to the mainland along with all French civilians.
Louisbourg had fallen with little to no assistance from the Mother Country. In the future, this campaign would be considered a primary building point of "colonial nationalism".
Antigua - British West Indies
The British colonials were not the only denizens of the New World to act.
The governor of Martinique and commander of the French West Indies (Lesser Antilles) gathered resources to invade one of the British possessions in the West Indies.
For the most part, there were only three British possessions of note:
1. Jamaica
2. Barbados
3. Antigua
Ideally, he would attempt to conquer one of the former two. Jamaica and Barbados were the primary sugar producers for Great Britain. Antigua was respectable but not in their league. In reality, Antigua's true value was in her fine naval harbor.
The French governor opted against Barbados. Often the prevailing winds in the summer blew from east to west at that latitude and entire fleets may find themselves becalmed without reaching the southeastern-most island in the Caribbean (some even wondered if Barbados should be considered part of the West Indies at all).
Jamaica was rejected also due to distance and the fact that French resources were scarce. It was uncertain if the few thousand troops he could summon would be enough to take the populated island.
Thus for proximity and probability of success, the governor attacked Antigua.
Having received word before his English counterpart, the governor rolled the dice in hopes of a quick victory.
He received it. With only a few hundred sickly defenders and no major warships at port, the British retreated to a citadel above the city to wait out the siege. Lacking any particular supplies, they were outlasted by the French.
British deaths were 200 souls and French 500. Virtually all were to disease.
Berlin
King Frederick William, only weeks after yielding control over the western provinces to Hanover and assuming command (rightful) over Royal Prussia and parts of Saxony, died suddenly. Though only 51, he was a worn-out man. Still, the King's death nevertheless came as a shock to the Prussian Establishment.
At only 17 years old, Prince Augustus William ascended to the throne. While some pointed out that Prince Frederick's removal from the line of succession was not in any way legal by Holy Roman Empire Law, this only mattered if a nation of note (Austria, Russia, etc) determined to make an issue of it or if the resident political class of Prussia were to object.
There proved to be little support for Prince Frederick among the Prussians. Having served the enemy for so many years, even though not on the Polish front, Prince Fritz' service to the Austrians bled away most support.
If that didn't do it, then the fact that he so publicly converted to Catholicism was more than enough to kill his chances of regaining his own throne in Prussia.
Fritz had mixed feelings. He was never against the idea of being King. He merely wanted to tweak his father's nose in a way surely to irritate him. But Fritz's actions utterly destroyed any sympathy among the Prussian establishment. Even his beloved mother and sister condemned him and actively supported Augustus William. If nothing else, that eliminated any hope Fritz had of being called home in triumph.
As it turned out, the Prussian prince was a little busy anyway when he learned of his father's death.
He was busy leading an army through Bosnia.
Austrian Netherlands
Though no one would have believed it, the general war along the Austrian Netherlands front had yet to really break out. For years, the French had threatened to invade as Austrian Netherland, Dutch and assorted supporters (Hanover, mercenaries hired by the British) waited anxiously.
With the other fronts of the war in central Germany and Italy now quiet, it was assumed that a full French offensive was imminent. Oddly, by summer of 1740, the French had yet to do much more than probe with their 60,000 man army along the border.
At this point, everyone involved wondered when the hell the real war in the west would begin.
Indeed, the French public had been paying taxes for years with the intent that the real prize would be part or all of the Austrian Netherlands. A piece of Milan didn't justify this waste of money, especially after splitting the Duchy with Parma and Piedmont-Sardinia. Only Spain appeared to be gaining anything with the reconquest of Sicily and Naples.
Many a Frenchman wondered what the hell Louis XV was doing.
In truth, the French King and his Ministers had something special planned to knock the British out of the war, though the French forces would not be ready until 1741. Without British money, it was believed that both the Austrian Netherlands and the Dutch Republic would fall.
Also, the unexpected withdrawal of Prussia from the war surprised all involved. Granted, it had been years since the Prussians had even pretended to be an ally (or the French for that matter). But Louis XV assumed that Prussia would be there to stop much in the way of Austrian or Hanoverian reinforcements to the low countries.
Yes, the proposed swap of the Austrian Netherlands for Bavaria was a subplot of a couple of my TL's in the past. But I had it in the 1770's during the "War of Bavarian Succession" in a TL where Prussia lost the 7 Years War and didn't have the ability to do much about it.
Chapter 18: Reversing History
Chapter 18: Reversing History
Cadiz
The Spanish Fleet welcomed several dozen French ships of the Mediterranean squadron to Cadiz. The nervous garrison of the local British bastion of Gibraltar assumed they Catholic powers were massing to blockade the little peninsula. With only 2000 troops, no one was certain if the impregnable fortress would last a minute longer than when the food ran out. Many attempts since the English captured Gibraltar had been made to strengthen the fortifications. Hopefully, it would be enough.
Bosnia
Unencumbered by a campaign in Poland, Saxony or Italy, the Habsburg forces marched inexorably southwards through the Balkans.
For centuries, the Balkans were a quagmire, a mountain hell from which whole armies were swallowed. Hundreds of years ago, the constant infighting among the Christian natives had allowed the Ottoman Empire a foothold in Europe, eventually reaching nearly to the gates of Vienna before being pushed back by an alliance of Christian nations.
Still, most of the Balkans remained under Ottoman rule for centuries, long enough for the majority of the Bosnian and Albanian peoples to convert to Islam along with substantial minorities of Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians, etc. This population allowed the Sultan to impress huge armies to sustain the once-inexorable onslaught.
But all things come to an end. The Ottoman had fallen behind the Europeans in organization, tactics and technologies and was in a spiraling decline. Most of the North African colonies maintained only nominal tributary status, rebellions among the Levant and European peoples common. Russia had seized the northern shore of the Black Sea and the Trans-Caucasus. Persia encroached upon Mesopotamia.
As Russian armies marched south through the Romanian populated regions (to the elation of the partially self-governing Romanians whom loathed their Ottoman oppressors or their appointed governors), the Austrians marched south through Bosnia. Even the Muslim peoples of the Balkans agitated for more self-government and many were happy to see the Austrians (though this would prove short-lived as time would tell).
The Ottomans, bankrupt and beset by rebellions and invasions in the East, proved almost comical in their attempts to form a resistance. Both the 50,000 strong Russian army in the eastern Balkans and the 45,000 Austrians in the west would meet little resistance. Attempts at mass impressment of the local "Rumelian" peoples (the term the Ottoman used for the Balkans minus Greece) led only to riots and rebellions that caused more problems than they solved. Even the Bosnians and Albanians proved less than loyal.
Eventually, the only soldiers the Sultan could trust were the Turkish Anatolians and most of the best units were already arrayed to the east in Georgia and Mesopotamia. Perhaps worst was the fact that the once mighty Turkish army (even the elite units) was reputed to be the least capable in all of the civilized world. The Turkish infantry had the reputation as cowards who would flee at the first occasion. The artillery was a generation behind Europe's both in tactics and technology. Only the cavalry was respected and even then it was axiomatic that, should a European Army survived the initial Ottoman Cavalry attack, then the battle was won as the infantry would collapse at the first volley.
Throughout the six month campaign (which ended in November), the Russians and Austrian conquered territory that it took the Ottoman nearly 150 years to conquer from Christianity. Only about three or so set piece battles with the Ottoman occurred and all ended with complete routes. Thousands of Ottoman soldiers were killed, captured or deserted (the latter most often by local levies). By the end of 1740, more Balkan Christians were enlisted in the swelling Austrian/Russian Armies than in the Ottoman. Worse were the irregulars whom swiftly began seeking retribution for centuries of humiliation upon the resident Turks and local converts to Islam.
By November, Sarajevo was in Austrian hands while the Russians had reached Adrianople. The lands of the Romanians, Serbs and Bosnians were all in allied hands while the Greeks, Bulgars and, to a lesser extent, Albanians, were under rebellion.
Worse for the Sultan, the Morea had been captured by Venice and the Italians were encouraging and arming the rest of Greece against the Ottoman.
The Turkish Navy, arguably in even worse shape than the Army, was defeated in a set battle by a motley collection of Austrian, Russian, Venecian and Greek ships and forced back into the Bosporus.
The Sultan begged France and Spain, nominal allies though the relationship was entirely financial, for help. Both utterly ignored him. They had their own goals.
Below is a map of the Ottoman Empire prior to the War.
Note that Wallachia, Moldavia, the Crimean Khanate and Georgia were all nominal vassals but effectively self-governing. By 1740, the Russians had conquered the Crimean Khanate, Georgia and the coastal regions of the Black Sea all the way to the lands of the Bulgars. Rebellions among the nominal tribute states of Moldavia and Wallachia expelled the Greek Puppet Rulers whom were hated by the general populace.
The Austrians had reached the borders of the Albanian/Macedonia regions.
By the fall of 1740, the Ottoman had lost half of their European territories and the Russian eastern forces were reaching the borders of Armenia.
Cadiz
The Spanish Fleet welcomed several dozen French ships of the Mediterranean squadron to Cadiz. The nervous garrison of the local British bastion of Gibraltar assumed they Catholic powers were massing to blockade the little peninsula. With only 2000 troops, no one was certain if the impregnable fortress would last a minute longer than when the food ran out. Many attempts since the English captured Gibraltar had been made to strengthen the fortifications. Hopefully, it would be enough.
Bosnia
Unencumbered by a campaign in Poland, Saxony or Italy, the Habsburg forces marched inexorably southwards through the Balkans.
For centuries, the Balkans were a quagmire, a mountain hell from which whole armies were swallowed. Hundreds of years ago, the constant infighting among the Christian natives had allowed the Ottoman Empire a foothold in Europe, eventually reaching nearly to the gates of Vienna before being pushed back by an alliance of Christian nations.
Still, most of the Balkans remained under Ottoman rule for centuries, long enough for the majority of the Bosnian and Albanian peoples to convert to Islam along with substantial minorities of Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians, etc. This population allowed the Sultan to impress huge armies to sustain the once-inexorable onslaught.
But all things come to an end. The Ottoman had fallen behind the Europeans in organization, tactics and technologies and was in a spiraling decline. Most of the North African colonies maintained only nominal tributary status, rebellions among the Levant and European peoples common. Russia had seized the northern shore of the Black Sea and the Trans-Caucasus. Persia encroached upon Mesopotamia.
As Russian armies marched south through the Romanian populated regions (to the elation of the partially self-governing Romanians whom loathed their Ottoman oppressors or their appointed governors), the Austrians marched south through Bosnia. Even the Muslim peoples of the Balkans agitated for more self-government and many were happy to see the Austrians (though this would prove short-lived as time would tell).
The Ottomans, bankrupt and beset by rebellions and invasions in the East, proved almost comical in their attempts to form a resistance. Both the 50,000 strong Russian army in the eastern Balkans and the 45,000 Austrians in the west would meet little resistance. Attempts at mass impressment of the local "Rumelian" peoples (the term the Ottoman used for the Balkans minus Greece) led only to riots and rebellions that caused more problems than they solved. Even the Bosnians and Albanians proved less than loyal.
Eventually, the only soldiers the Sultan could trust were the Turkish Anatolians and most of the best units were already arrayed to the east in Georgia and Mesopotamia. Perhaps worst was the fact that the once mighty Turkish army (even the elite units) was reputed to be the least capable in all of the civilized world. The Turkish infantry had the reputation as cowards who would flee at the first occasion. The artillery was a generation behind Europe's both in tactics and technology. Only the cavalry was respected and even then it was axiomatic that, should a European Army survived the initial Ottoman Cavalry attack, then the battle was won as the infantry would collapse at the first volley.
Throughout the six month campaign (which ended in November), the Russians and Austrian conquered territory that it took the Ottoman nearly 150 years to conquer from Christianity. Only about three or so set piece battles with the Ottoman occurred and all ended with complete routes. Thousands of Ottoman soldiers were killed, captured or deserted (the latter most often by local levies). By the end of 1740, more Balkan Christians were enlisted in the swelling Austrian/Russian Armies than in the Ottoman. Worse were the irregulars whom swiftly began seeking retribution for centuries of humiliation upon the resident Turks and local converts to Islam.
By November, Sarajevo was in Austrian hands while the Russians had reached Adrianople. The lands of the Romanians, Serbs and Bosnians were all in allied hands while the Greeks, Bulgars and, to a lesser extent, Albanians, were under rebellion.
Worse for the Sultan, the Morea had been captured by Venice and the Italians were encouraging and arming the rest of Greece against the Ottoman.
The Turkish Navy, arguably in even worse shape than the Army, was defeated in a set battle by a motley collection of Austrian, Russian, Venecian and Greek ships and forced back into the Bosporus.
The Sultan begged France and Spain, nominal allies though the relationship was entirely financial, for help. Both utterly ignored him. They had their own goals.
Below is a map of the Ottoman Empire prior to the War.
Note that Wallachia, Moldavia, the Crimean Khanate and Georgia were all nominal vassals but effectively self-governing. By 1740, the Russians had conquered the Crimean Khanate, Georgia and the coastal regions of the Black Sea all the way to the lands of the Bulgars. Rebellions among the nominal tribute states of Moldavia and Wallachia expelled the Greek Puppet Rulers whom were hated by the general populace.
The Austrians had reached the borders of the Albanian/Macedonia regions.
By the fall of 1740, the Ottoman had lost half of their European territories and the Russian eastern forces were reaching the borders of Armenia.
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It's always amazed me how much of a close run thing the Ottomans brushed up against in the period, say, 1690-1750. They were arguably in better position in their sick man days - the only thing keeping the Austrians and Russians from breaking the damn door down and collapsing the Turkish house of cards was the constantly opportunistic French or disinterest in prosecuting a war in the Balkans. The French arguably saved them from absolute disaster at the hands of Emperor Joseph. Some may call you on this being a little too much but it really seems to be close to reality
Thanks, I think that Frederick the Great also did a great deal from 1740 to 1780 to prevent both Russia and Austria from taking too much away from the Ottoman. On several occasions during this period, only the threat of war with Prussia kept the eastern Europeans from annexing more Ottoman territory gained in battle. In fact, in the Austria and Russian wars, I'm not sure if the Ottoman won a single battle.
I've often said only Europe kept the Ottoman afloat during the 18th century.
There's good chances Maria will marry him, which would bring a lot in.
That being said.... Probably. Finding some land should be a cinch.
Not while Fritz will be, and has been, doing everything in his power to get away from such a marriage.
He can't keep dancing around it forever, and she is His Empress.
