Prussian-Austrian War after Erfurt Union attempt, 1850

According to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctation_of_Olmütz Bavaria and Prussia almost came to blows after the Erfurt Union collapsed, as Prussia was trying to worm its way into leadership of the German states. One reason Prussia didn't go to war was the Russia would not support it, butsuppose Russia does, or suppose the armies just start fighting and can't stop, which happens sometimes. Even if you need both to happen, what then?

My hunch is France jumps in the side of Austria? What does Britain do (bsides try to force the sides to a bargaining table)? If Russia gets involved, can they afford not to declare war on Russia, though?Or do they wait to see if Austria and presumably France along with the other German states can ahndle themselves without British help?
 
I think Russia is at this time actually closer to Austria. It saved Austria in the year before from the Hungarians and they put massive pressure on Prussia to step back. I think a war can just start when the first fightings (a prussian horse was killed and an austrian soldier wounded) turns into a real battle. The honour would then demand war and at this Austria actually searched for a chance to crush Prussia. France will come to help for the losing side. which will prpably be Prussia. It will demand parts of the rhineland for this. Russia will support Austria. In the most realistic scenario France and Russia will enforce a peace settlement on the german Powers which should prvent one side gettig to weak and the other side to strong. If all goes wrong we will hav a war Prussia-France against Austria-Russia. If Britain get involved they would propably support Austria-Russia, because Prussia-Austria is a bigger threat for the balance of Power.
 
thanks. Kind of amazing how quickly rivalries changed, thinking of the Franco-Prussian War just 20 years later, but when it comes to balancing powers, it seems like it was more juggling than balancing for a time, witht he ebbs and flows.

How long do you think Prussia would last in such a war in "Created Equal without parts of Saxony and with Bavaria having some of the Rhin/Ruhr, given the 1809 death of Napoleon? I'm thinking of having a brokered peace where a coalition of amsller states without Prussia or Austria is negotiated. If that that coalition has the Rhine/Ruhr it's still goign to balance the powers well.
 
How long do you think Prussia would last in such a war in "Created Equal without parts of Saxony and with Bavaria having some of the Rhin/Ruhr, given the 1809 death of Napoleon? I'm thinking of having a brokered peace where a coalition of amsller states without Prussia or Austria is negotiated. If that that coalition has the Rhine/Ruhr it's still goign to balance the powers well.

Do you mean Austria or Bavaria?
 
I would say a Bavaria which gains territory after Napoleons death 1809 seems very unliekly. Such a death would lead to an Austrian victory and in this case I even see the pssibility that Austria would annex Bavaria. Austria would definitiv the prime power ind Germany and we eve may see the restauretion of the Holy Roman Empire. Prussia will just restored as a second rated power and will be no match for Austria.
 
I would say a Bavaria which gains territory after Napoleons death 1809 seems very unliekly. Such a death would lead to an Austrian victory and in this case I even see the pssibility that Austria would annex Bavaria. Austria would definitiv the prime power ind Germany and we eve may see the restauretion of the Holy Roman Empire. Prussia will just restored as a second rated power and will be no match for Austria.

It's after Napoleon has just destroyed Austria, though. Sorry, I didn't make it clear that it was after he marches through Vienna.

There is quite a bit of difference there. Although perhaps it would help to retcon a bit and note that Davout dfights and beats them as they try to come back.

Who gets the Rhine then? I guess it doesn't have to someone continguous like I'm used to thinking of. Maybe Austria?

With Davout still holding power and trying to make peace in 1810 it just seems strange to punish the losers; he's not overthrown in the French Civil War following Napoleon's death till 1811. And all the states Napoleon had cowed are now trying to help restore the monarchy after certain point so Austria really has no better claim than anyone else.

Hmmm, maybe Hanover. Or, like you say, Austria. I'm so used to thinking nations have to contiguous on land I hadn't thought of that possibility.But it would be arreward for a nation that at least *fought* Napoleon, even though they got crushed, verus one that sat ont he sidelines (Prussia) after being stomped on a few years back.

Then again, I have another problem here - I'm tring to make thigns make sense from my perspective in 2012, not from a balance of pwoers one. And I really should read up on the old Holy Roman Empire. Because it *would* balance the powers very nicely in 1810. Especially because France and Russia were still allies.
 
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