The War of Austrian Succession proved that the Austrian military was inadequate and the state itself was administratively a nightmare. Maria Theresa and Francis I tried to undergo some reforms after the war. I think they put the inevitable off three generations, and allowed the Hapsburg domains to be able to live on until WW1.
Maria Theresa inherited a mess on the throne, an disorganized army (their weaponry itself wasn't that much out of date vs French but the organization and leadership was a disaster)
Well, let's suppose Charles VI has a bit of foresight. He doesn't realize Frederick is going to go back on Pragmatic Sanction (no one really could have seen that one coming). He does however decide not to attack the Ottomans in 1737.
Instead, he allowed the Russians to "rent" 32,000 Austrian troops as mercenary infantry and cavalry for the war in 1737. He gives Flanders to Maria Theresa to give her some experience in administration. He shores up and renovates the forts in Austrian Netherlands.
Charles VI starts splitting off some lands in the East to relieve the boarder pressure in case of another war. He divests the Kingdom of Serbia to... I don't know maybe some Austrian noble. Northern Bonsia is split off to an independent county (the new count has some Croatian lands so his liege is still Charles VI). Pantschova, Werschtz, and Betschekerek form a third split off with another subordinate. In OTL, he lost these lands anyways, making them semi-independent with rulers who are loyal to the Hapsburgs and have a personal union with something inside the Hapsburg domains is no loss. Why wouldn't they remain loyal? They were already loyal to the Hapsburgs and now they're being given free land.
So there is no humiliating war against the Ottomans. 75% of the land lost to them are instead spun off as those semi-independent states (tied to the Hapsburg domains since their rulers have Personal Unions since these nw rulers started as vassals tot he hapsbrugs). The "mercs" are almost certainly going to get their butts kicked and Charles VI will see how bad the status of the Austrian infantry and cavalry are.
Now here is the rub. Charles VI anticipates living on to at least 1747 or longer. He knows the Austrian state is weak and vulnerable and wants to shore up his heir. He already renovated the forts, a low effort high reward endeavor. So... what's the next thing he should focus on?
Spoiler alert: He dies in 1740
Maria Theresa inherited a mess on the throne, an disorganized army (their weaponry itself wasn't that much out of date vs French but the organization and leadership was a disaster)
Well, let's suppose Charles VI has a bit of foresight. He doesn't realize Frederick is going to go back on Pragmatic Sanction (no one really could have seen that one coming). He does however decide not to attack the Ottomans in 1737.
Instead, he allowed the Russians to "rent" 32,000 Austrian troops as mercenary infantry and cavalry for the war in 1737. He gives Flanders to Maria Theresa to give her some experience in administration. He shores up and renovates the forts in Austrian Netherlands.
Charles VI starts splitting off some lands in the East to relieve the boarder pressure in case of another war. He divests the Kingdom of Serbia to... I don't know maybe some Austrian noble. Northern Bonsia is split off to an independent county (the new count has some Croatian lands so his liege is still Charles VI). Pantschova, Werschtz, and Betschekerek form a third split off with another subordinate. In OTL, he lost these lands anyways, making them semi-independent with rulers who are loyal to the Hapsburgs and have a personal union with something inside the Hapsburg domains is no loss. Why wouldn't they remain loyal? They were already loyal to the Hapsburgs and now they're being given free land.
So there is no humiliating war against the Ottomans. 75% of the land lost to them are instead spun off as those semi-independent states (tied to the Hapsburg domains since their rulers have Personal Unions since these nw rulers started as vassals tot he hapsbrugs). The "mercs" are almost certainly going to get their butts kicked and Charles VI will see how bad the status of the Austrian infantry and cavalry are.
Now here is the rub. Charles VI anticipates living on to at least 1747 or longer. He knows the Austrian state is weak and vulnerable and wants to shore up his heir. He already renovated the forts, a low effort high reward endeavor. So... what's the next thing he should focus on?
Spoiler alert: He dies in 1740