Chapter 741

Palace of Vienna

Empress Dowager Sophie was relieved when she found out that Franz used the Lombardy throne to trade with the Wittelsbach Dynasty. This result could be explained to most of the family members.

The relationship between the European nobles was complicated, and a slight move could affect the whole family. If the Government of Austria was determined and forced the Serbian crown to the Wittelsbach Dynasty, Empress Dowager Sophie would be too ashamed to go home.

When the war broke out, Franz made a promise to the Bavarian royalty, and Empress Dowager Sophie was also pulled out as a guarantor.

Munich could be won through negotiations. One reason was that they really couldn't win, and the other was that everyone's interests were guaranteed. Naturally, no one would fight to the death with Austria.

If the royal family didn't choose to give up, with the Wittelsbach Family's hundred years of operation, they wouldn't have been unable to defend Munich.

The Duke of Pfalz could only be considered as a subsidiary. This was originally a place ruled by the Bavarian royalty. Even if Austria didn't support them, the title would most likely be theirs in the end.

The foundation of the great nobles was preserved. Although Lombardy couldn't be compared to Bavaria politically, the Bavarian royalty didn't lose out financially.

Even if the central government took away the most important power, they couldn't really turn the king into a rubber stamp. At least, it wasn't allowed under Austria's system.

Being a mere figurehead was only temporary. As long as the king had some ability, he could get back most of the power. As the emperor, Franz couldn't tolerate the bureaucrats being presumptuous.

Otherwise, if they could take over the king today, the bureaucrats would dare to take over the emperor tomorrow.

Suspicion was an emperor's instinct. Things that violated the taboo must be suppressed firmly. They couldn't leave any chance for the bureaucrats.

In the Palace of Munich, the Bavarian royalty had already started to move. They were no longer welcome here. Both the people and the bureaucrats didn't want them to stay.

From everyone's point of view, exchanging the throne with the Bavarian royalty was the best choice. This way, everyone could get along happily.

The people who declared neutrality in the war no longer had to worry about being punished later on. The royal family had a good place to go, and they could also pledge their loyalty to the House of Habsburg with peace of mind.

Looking at the palace gate slowly closing, Maximilian II Of Macedon sighed. The Wittelsbach Dynasty's rule over the Kingdom of Bavaria ended just like that. Soon, he would be Maximilian I of the Lombardy Kingdom.

As if cursed, the Wittelsbach Dynasty ruled many places, but they didn't stay for long. The Kingdom of Bavaria was only one.

The House of Wittelsbach still had some resources. Even after they left, there were still many people following them. Soon, they gathered an army of thousands and marched towards Milan, the capital of the Lombardy Kingdom, under the protection of the royal guards.

This was also the reason why the Austrian government did not want to use force. The deeply rooted royal family was not easy to deal with. Now, they had taken the initiative to leave.

If they shed all pretense of cordiality and these people started to wreak havoc, Bavaria would not be peaceful for the next three to five years.

…

Paris

Napoleon III smashed many vases in anger. The reason was very simple. There was a problem with his marriage. Most of the royal families in Europe didn't like him.

Not long ago, he was going to marry Princess Karel of the Swedish royal family, but he was rejected. Now, he proposed to Princess Adelheid of Hoenlohe Langenburg, but he was rejected again.

Not only him, but even the famous Napoleon worried about this problem. The big nobles didn't like the nouveau riche, but the European continent was a world that looked at bloodlines.

If the bloodline was not noble enough, the legitimacy of the rule would be questioned. If the bloodline was not noble enough, then they could make up for it by marriage.

Napoleon III was deeply touched. He was only Napoleon's nephew. The people in the country didn't recognize him very well, and he needed a political marriage to stabilize his position.

Since 1851, he had been troubled by this problem. Until now, there had been no results. The big nobles didn't like him, and he didn't like the small nobles.

No wonder he was angry. After all, he was the emperor of France. Even if he couldn't marry a princess, he could at least marry a princess, right? As a result, not to mention the real princess, even the princess of the retired royal family didn't like him.

He was rejected again and again. It would be strange if he could endure this kind of thing.

Perhaps after venting, Napoleon III asked coldly, "What other candidates are there?"

The minister said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the status of the candidates is a little low. They are not worthy of your status!"

Napoleon III glared at him fiercely. Wasn't this touching my sore spot? Even if he was worthy, he couldn't marry her!

Against this background, the Spanish noblewoman Eugène de Montijo of Scottish descent appeared in the French court.

Napoleon III didn't want to continue to struggle. If he couldn't marry someone of equal status, then he would marry someone he liked.

On December 1, 1853, Napoleon III announced to all the senior officials that he was about to get married. At the same time, he pointed out that he wanted this marriage to be neither bound by the French nor the foreign dynasty:

"I like a woman whom I love and respect more than a woman whom I don't know and whom marriage will bring both advantages and disadvantages."

The pioneer of free love appeared. It could be said that Napoleon III had made a good start, and many later followed his example.

This joke in the eyes of the nobles quickly spread to Vienna and attracted the attention of the court in Vienna. The direct result was that Franz's days of being single were coming to an end.

…

Metternich reminded, "Your Majesty, is there really no need to prepare for the grand ceremony? It will be a joke! "

The new Empire was about to be established, and Franz was about to add another crown to his head. Naturally, the grand ceremony was indispensable.

But now Franz actually ordered that there was no need to prepare in advance. A simple ceremony would be enough. In the eyes of many people, it was child's play.

Franz said with a bitter smile, "There is no other way. Although a few months have passed, the people are still worried about the division of the German Region.

If we make it too grand at this time, it will easily cause dissatisfaction. It is better to make it simple and show our protest against the results of the Paris Conference. "

His persona could not be destroyed. Now, in the eyes of the outside world, he was a hot-blooded and benevolent emperor, so dissatisfaction with the Paris Conference was what he should do.

Whether it was to criticize the conference or write articles to show off, it was all carried out around this persona.

There was nothing wrong with a young and hot-blooded emperor making such a decision in a fit of anger. It was just the right way to gain the approval of the people and avoid unnecessary disasters.

Cumberland I, who had just been promoted from King of Hanover to Emperor of the German Federal Empire, was such an unlucky person. From beginning to end, he did not do anything, but was cursed by the literati of the German Region.

Since the country was a comedy empire, the emperor was naturally a comedy emperor. This elegant title would probably accompany him for the rest of his life and continue to be passed down.

Of course, the origin of his throne was originally a comedy. Before 1837, Hanover and England were under common rule. In that year, William IV died and Queen Victoria succeeded the throne. Because of the misinterpretation of the Salic inheritance law, the throne fell to him.

The reason why it was called a comedy was because everyone had overlooked the fact that the Imperial Edict of Shinra's Emperor Carr VI could be used as the legal basis for a woman to inherit the throne. This was how the legal system of Queen Maria Theresa came about.

By the time he was found, the throne had already been decided. People who were dissatisfied with Cumberland I often used this issue as an excuse. Now, it had escalated to a comedy emperor.

However, as an emperor, his power was limited. He could not control the public opinion of the various states. When the people were in a bad mood, they would vent their anger on him.

In fact, Cumberland I was very law-abiding and did not cause much trouble. Even the fact that the crown fell on his head was the result of a game between various parties.

Naturally, Austria advocated for Franz to be the emperor of the German Federal Empire. The reason was that the people supported him the most.

Obviously, this was unacceptable to all parties. If Franz became emperor, the German Region would probably be unified in a few decades.

The House of Habsburg had a lot of experience in this area. The Austrian Empire was now unified in this way. What was the difference between letting Franz be emperor and the rebirth of Shinra?

The British introduced the Hanoverian royal family. The newly established Federal Empire was centered around Hanover. They were competitive, but the disadvantage was that the King of Hanover did not have enough prestige in the German Region.

If Franz introduced a younger brother to compete for the throne, with the reputation of the House of Habsburg and the fact that the state government did not want Hanover to grow too big, the possibility of him being elected was almost 100%.

Obviously, this was impossible. Austria still wanted to unify the German Region. If one of the younger brothers became the emperor of the German Federal Empire, wouldn't that be looking for trouble for themselves?

With the House of Habsburg out of the picture, all that was left was the competition between the royal families of the states. With the support of the British, the Hanoverian royal family naturally defeated many competitors and reaped the fruits of victory.

…

Under Franz's insistence, on December 22, 1853, he was crowned "Emperor of the New Holy Roman Empire" in the Palace of Vienna.

This coronation ceremony could be said to be child's play. No guests were invited. They were all from the "New Holy Roman Empire". After accepting the oaths of allegiance from a few states, it was considered over.

From beginning to end, everyone looked solemn. There was no joy on their faces.

After the ceremony, Franz made a self-deprecating speech in the National Assembly.

"Today, there's another crown on my head, and the pressure on my shoulders has increased by a few notches.

To be honest, I don't feel happy. Rather than calling it the New Holy Roman Empire, it would be more appropriate to call it the Southern Holy Roman Empire.

In any case, the Holy Roman Empire was finally re-established. Even if it was a joke and became the laughingstock of the world, it was better than nothing.

There is still a long road ahead of us, and we need to keep going. Today, we took a step forward from yesterday. So, will we be able to take another step forward tomorrow?

Since the mission of history has fallen on us, then we must complete it.

Someone once asked me when the German Region could be unified. My answer was: when we become the strongest country in the world, then we will consider this question!

We are very close to this goal, because there are only two countries in front of us that we need to surpass. We are also very far away from this goal, because the difference in national power is really too big.

The road is in front of us, are you afraid?

… "

Fortunately, Franz had self-control. He knew that some words should not be said. Otherwise, "neither holy, not Rome, not the Empire" would almost come out.

Now, the New Holy Roman Empire, although not holy or Rome, was at least an empire! As for the former two, it was regrettable that it would never be completed.

Franz was not God, so how could he be "holy"?

What was the use of "Rome" other than being famous?

It seemed that Franz's self-deprecation resonated with everyone, or the Government of Austria paid attention to guiding public opinion. The New Holy Roman Empire did not cause public ridicule.