As the title says, suppose that somehow the Habsburg established Ostend Company were to survive (and begin to thrive). Originally it might be little more than a vanity project (I've never seen records for its returns in its brief existence, and since the British/Dutch made its closure conditional for their agreement to Karl VI's Pragmatic Sanction, I'm guessing they saw the prospective threat), but let's assume its closure is either NOT necessary for Anglo-Dutch acceptance of the Sanction, or it gets re-opened after the WotAS under a different name. George II voted for Karl VII IIRC, so Maria Theresia could argue that since the English didn't keep their side of the bargain - voting for a Habsburg (candidate) - she's under no obligation to keep the company closed. Not likely, but her husband, although viewed as a cowardly French spy and a skirt-chaser by the Austrians DID have a brain for finance (it was one of the few (if not the only) government portfolio Maria Theresia allowed him to touch AFAIK). So, if he can see it as a good investment, and persuades her to maintain it (or perhaps he re-establishes it as a private venture a la EIC or VOC).

How would an Austrian Habsburg colonial empire fare? Where would they colonize (the Americas/Caribbean? India and Asia? Africa? Australia)? Or would it simply be a trading company? How would Habsburg colonies abroad affect the European situation - if at all?
 
I've also discovered that today the British-Dutch offered to purchase it before it closed. Could they do so, while the Company remains under nominal Imperial control? And would they be able to spin the straw into gold? Or would the company still go belly-up?
 
No takers?

Like I said, I'm thinking the company gets re-opened at Emperor François' initiative. At first, its predominantly a trading company. Maybe picking up little places (the Austrians held Delagoa Bay in this period if I'm not mistaken) en route to India or China or the Caribbean They maybe get trade concessions in India/China, which, while nowhere near to a rival to the Franco-British spheres in the subcontinent/China (I'm thinking more along the lines of Danish held Tranquebar or Portuguese Goa that AFAIK remained in their respective parent country's hands IN SPITE of the British being the big dog.
Perhaps they snatch up Borneo/Madagascar eventually as well.
The money these colonies bring in isn't massive, but it's enough to secure imperial interest.
 
Just been thinking, and I know I mentioned stopping off places (like Delagoa Bay) and Borneo or Madagascar, but where would the most likely places be for Austria to look for colonies/stopping off places/establishing trading posts in the mid-late 18th century?
 
Just been thinking, and I know I mentioned stopping off places (like Delagoa Bay) and Borneo or Madagascar, but where would the most likely places be for Austria to look for colonies/stopping off places/establishing trading posts in the mid-late 18th century?

East Africa: Zanzibar Swahili Coast. Maybe an island or two in the Caribbean. And at last a trade post in China/India.

Might be controversial but such a company might get a lot of income from slave trade to the Middle East. Other than income from ivory and other East Indian trade goods.
 
East Africa: Zanzibar Swahili Coast. Maybe an island or two in the Caribbean. And at last a trade post in China/India.

Might be controversial but such a company might get a lot of income from slave trade to the Middle East. Other than income from ivory and other East Indian trade goods.

It would be interesting if Austria were to trade Turkish soldiers captured in wars with the Ottomans with whomever abroad? Ottoman soldiers sold into slavery and winding up in Zanzibar?
 
How do you transport those Ottomans to Zanzibar? Straight to America much cheaper,let Austria get Texas from Spain and send them there.escaped Ottomans might pick up there ancestors skills and become Prairie Raiders
 
It would be interesting if Austria were to trade Turkish soldiers captured in wars with the Ottomans with whomever abroad? Ottoman soldiers sold into slavery and winding up in Zanzibar?

I was more talking about African Slaves from East Africa as they were already by the Omani's. A major concurrence against Oman and the Slave traders from the Sahara routes. Taking Ottoman Soldiers captive to bring them to Zanzibar would not make any sense nor would it be wise as they could return back to the Ottoman Empire easily to Egypt. Like Prince said, in such case, the America's would be better destination but considering the amount of West African Slaves going there it is pretty worthless.
 
No Ottoman slaves then, was just a random thought squirrel I had.

Austria getting Texas - or indeed, trying to get ANY American colonies from Spain sounds a bit far-fetched (and in need of a POD which would predate the Company's founding). However, I COULD see them trying to set up posts in areas on Spain's empire's periphery - Patagonia, for instance.
 
Maybe Magagascar too?

That was Benyovsky's idea. Which the imperial court didn't go for. Which makes for an interesting case - I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about Madagascar's history, but seeing the Habsburg pennant fluttering there would be fun. The Austrian East India Company landed at Maputo in 1778 (chased out by the Portuguese in 1781) and again in 1799, and built two forts. The factory they established in 1778 was trading (according to wiki) in 75000 pounds (not sure if this is weight or currency, assume it's weight) of ivory per annum. Not too shabby.

So, Austria keeps Lourenço Marques/Maputo and takes Madagascar, they'd in theory have a nice chokehold on the African east coast/control of the Mozambiquan Channel. The Austrians were also making use of ports in Tuscany during the lifetime of the Austrian East India Company, and set up shop on both the east African coast (in Mozambique) as well as on India's Malabar Coast. Plus, apparently the American War of Independence was a godsend (financially speaking), since while the rival Dutch and French India companies were laid up, and couldn't trade with Britain (as a result of being at war with them), the Austrians took over the British/Dutch roles.
 
That was Benyovsky's idea. Which the imperial court didn't go for. Which makes for an interesting case - I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about Madagascar's history, but seeing the Habsburg pennant fluttering there would be fun. The Austrian East India Company landed at Maputo in 1778 (chased out by the Portuguese in 1781) and again in 1799, and built two forts. The factory they established in 1778 was trading (according to wiki) in 75000 pounds (not sure if this is weight or currency, assume it's weight) of ivory per annum. Not too shabby.

So, Austria keeps Lourenço Marques/Maputo and takes Madagascar, they'd in theory have a nice chokehold on the African east coast/control of the Mozambiquan Channel. The Austrians were also making use of ports in Tuscany during the lifetime of the Austrian East India Company, and set up shop on both the east African coast (in Mozambique) as well as on India's Malabar Coast. Plus, apparently the American War of Independence was a godsend (financially speaking), since while the rival Dutch and French India companies were laid up, and couldn't trade with Britain (as a result of being at war with them), the Austrians took over the British/Dutch roles.

Could Madagasca have been taken over by Austria that early, it could be interesting with a Austrian presense on the island before 1800 and Austria taking over the entire island shortly after the Napoleonic Wars. What would the effect have been on Austria and Madagasca. Would we see a greater White and mixed presence on the island? Would such a success result in Auystria setting up a stronger presence elsewhere?
 
Could Madagasca have been taken over by Austria that early, it could be interesting with a Austrian presense on the island before 1800 and Austria taking over the entire island shortly after the Napoleonic Wars. What would the effect have been on Austria and Madagasca. Would we see a greater White and mixed presence on the island? Would such a success result in Auystria setting up a stronger presence elsewhere?

From what I've read about Benyovsky, he seems to have thought that someone (not necessarily Austria) could take over Madagascar. He offered his services in colonizing it to the Americans, the Austrians, the British and the French, but no one seems to have been interested enough to actually get involved beyond broad strokes (although the French did step in when Benyovsky proved to be a dangerous threat to their trade/colonialism in Mauritius AFAIK)
 
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