Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 434

Chapter 434: Chapter 7: The Struggle for the Spanish Throne

The economic crisis erupted, and the relationship deteriorated was not only between the Prussian and Polish. As the source of this economic crisis, the British were the ones who drew the most hatred.

It didn’t matter that they engaged in dumping; the problem was that they dumped their goods on the European Continent. In the international relations of this age, looking at the European Continent was enough, and the other countries could be ignored.

Everyone was already facing overproduction, and the British dumping directly detonated the crisis. Without a doubt, all government authorities pushed the blame onto the British.

In Paris, patriots had taken to the streets again. This time it was not against the government; they were calling for people to boycott British goods and support domestic products.

The same scene occurred in many cities across Europe, where naturally, capitalists were behind pushing things. The British had snatched the market, threatening their very survival.

Indeed, governments increased tariffs, but what about the goods that had already flooded in? They couldn’t be sent back, right? There was no shortage of compradors in any country, and people’s integrity tends to be quite low in the face of interests.

Against the backdrop of massive dumping, relations worsened between England and France, England and Austria, England and Prussia, and England and Belgium…

If the British were a continental country, then they would have needed to worry about getting collectively attacked. But as a maritime empire with the Royal Navy, they had nothing to fear.

For the countries of the European Continent to unite was a pipe dream, as the relationship wasn’t just sour between those nations. Due to trade conflicts, the relations worsened between Prussia and Austria, Prussia and France, France and Austria, and Russia and Austria…

Simply put: to save themselves, everyone’s relationships had soured.

You dump on me, I can dump on you, and we all harm each other. Many conflicts were instigated by capitalists for the sake of profit, totally uncontrollable.

In the face of crisis, only the fastest-reacting businesses could escape disaster by liquidating inventory in the shortest time and reducing production capacity promptly. Slower businesses could only rely on sheer strength to endure.

The most common strategy to overcome an economic crisis was war. War could consume excess materials and also plunder wealth and markets.

Thus, many countries suffered undeserved disasters.

The French launched wars in Egypt, Mali, and Algeria; while the British, in the midst of instigating a war in Ethiopia, also waged war against Tunisia.

This direct confrontation was related to the rapidly deteriorating relationship between England and France. They were no longer giving each other face, just going at it head-to-head.

According to the prevailing international practice of this era, the spoils belonged to the conqueror. Before actual occupation, all countries had a chance.

Austria was not idle either; it ignited the flames of war on the African Continent, with areas such as Botswana, Tanzania, and Kenya becoming battlefields.

The atmosphere in the Middle East Region became tense, and Franz was still hesitating whether to launch an attack on the Arabian Peninsula. If the economic situation continued to deteriorate, it was certain that the Ottoman Empire was in for trouble again.

With tense relationships between the countries of the European Continent, the African Continent ablaze with war, and Asia far from peaceful. The relationships among the Four Central Asian countries suddenly became strained, leading to the collapse of this fragile alliance due to uneven spoils.

Undoubtedly, the British had a hand in this. The four Central Asian countries restrained each other, and with the British mediating in the middle, this was conducive to their gaining the greatest benefits.

In order to escape the economic crisis, the countries of Europe also stepped up their invasions of countries such as Japan and the Indochina Peninsula, with the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Federation being particularly prominent.

The Phnom Penh Dynasty was annihilated by the Prussians, the German Federation occupied most of the Malay Peninsula, and even fought a battle with Thai troops.

The American region, relatively speaking, has remained peaceful, maintaining overall stability. However, the civil war in Mexico continues, and it has become an indisputable fact that the Rebel army has grown. Maximilian I has written to Franz multiple times complaining about this issue.

…

Spain did not escape the impact of the economic crisis. Affected by the constant deterioration of the domestic economy, the Spanish Government delayed and defaulted on military pay, causing severe dissatisfaction within the military.

In September 1868, a special and mysterious group of guests arrived at the military barracks in Cadiz, Spain. Disguised as muleteers transporting logistics supplies, they entered the camp.

“General Prim, that witch Isabel spends all day indulging in debauchery with her lovers, turning the royal court into a mess and running the country into the ground with her cronyism.

For the future of Spain, we can no longer let her act recklessly. Otherwise, great Spain will be ruined by her.”

The speaker was Bourcios, a representative of the Radical faction in Spain, known as “Iriga.” The purpose of this secret entry into the military camp was to persuade the younger faction of the military, led by General Prim, to launch an armed uprising to overthrow the rule of Isabella II.

Although the adjectives might be a stretch, Queen Isabella II was indeed no good monarch, and her scandalous private life was infamously widespread.

In an era that conducted a “world ranking of the worst monarchs,” Queen Isabella II would certainly top the charts, renowned as the most unpopular queen in Europe.

Her reputation was not only bad among the people but also infamous among the Nobility. Even in the circle of monarchs, she was excluded, especially by the other queens of Europe who were very displeased with her.

In short, she not only lowered the average IQ of monarchs but also brought down the overall image of the group of queens.

The military’s discontent with Isabella II was long-standing; General Prim was a representative of the military and responsible for this secret negotiation.

The fact that the negotiation took place in a military compound spoke volumes.

Prim did not beat around the bush and directly asked, “After overthrowing Isabella II, who will take up the throne of Spain?”

As a member of the Nobility, Prim was a natural monarchist. Like in most countries, the Spanish Army was the bastion of the aristocracy’s power and served as the military arm of the monarchists.

The Radical faction Bourcios represented was actually part of the Constitutionalists, otherwise they would have no basis for coalition.

If it had been the Republicans, General Prim would not have been so amenable and would have normally ordered their arrest without hesitation.

“Your Excellency, we agree with your previous proposal, to have the Hohenzollern Dynasty provide a prince to assume the Spanish throne,” Bourcios stated.

The issue of succession had always been a contentious point for both parties. Having settled this issue, the remaining matters would be easier to handle.

The military’s support for the Hohenzollern Dynasty was primarily to expand their own rights. The treatment of the Junker nobles was enticing to anyone, and with the opportunity now at hand, they naturally would not miss it.

Spain was to implement a constitutional monarchy, and the king’s powers were to be curtailed. Who the king was wasn’t that important; it was the Radicals who had made the compromise.

Of course, having a prince from the Hohenzollern Dynasty assume the throne carried political implications; it meant that the military’s influence would expand.

This was one of the foundations for cooperation; after the overthrow of Queen Isabella II’s rule, the Radicals could control the new government, and the military would naturally benefit.

Without sufficient interest, no one would engage in the business of beheading. Expanding the military’s rights was their compensation for participating in this rebellion.

Everyone knew the side effects of an expanded military power, the Radicals included, who initially opposed it.

However, plans cannot keep up with changes. As the domestic economy deteriorated, their backers could no longer tolerate Queen Isabella II’s rule.

No group can exist without its supporters; not even the “Irregulars” were an exception. Under the pressure of their supporters, they decided to compromise with the military.

Having no other choice, after many failed rebellions, the Revolutionary Party had learned its lesson; they knew a successful uprising was impossible without the military’s support.

Getting the answer he wanted, General Prim showed a satisfied smile. The subsequent negotiations went smoothly, and both sides quickly reached an agreement.

This was the famous “September Alliance” in the history of the Spanish revolution, where the military’s junior officers and the domestic political Radicals formed an alliance, deciding to join forces to overthrow Queen Isabella II’s rule.

The Spanish people had long suffered under Queen Isabella II; the uprising was naturally sought to be swift and decisive.

On September 17, 1868, Francisco – Serrano led the troops of Cadiz in an armed revolt.

The flames of rebellion had been ignited, and many parts of Spain became engulfed in turmoil, with ordinary people, nobility, capitalists, and the military all demanding that Queen Isabella II abdicate.

Seeing the situation get out of control, a panicked Queen Isabella II appointed Marquis Jose to lead the army in quelling the unrest. Unsurprisingly, the favoritism-prone queen paid the price for her decision.

The government’s army was defeated by the rebels, and the rebel army led by Francisco – Serrano headed straight for Madrid. On September 28, with her situation untenable, Queen Isabella II fled to France.

The sudden Spanish revolution disrupted the plans of European nations. “Revolution” was a topic all governments dreaded. To prevent the spread of revolution, everyone closely monitored the situation in Spain.

Franz was no exception. After the outbreak of the Spanish revolution, he convened a high-level meeting immediately.

In recent years, Spain may have declined, but as the saying goes, a centipede dies but never falls down; they remained one of the great powers.

For Austria, a stable and reasonably strong Spain could divert some of the French’s focus, relieving the pressures on its western defense.

The Vienna Government had tried on multiple occasions to court Spain, attempting to establish an alliance to counter their common enemy—France.

However, seeing that Spain was beyond help, the Vienna Government subsequently formed an alliance with the French instead.

Having learned from past failures, Franz harbored little confidence in the nascent Spanish revolutionary government.

No choice, this Spanish revolution was less a revolution and more appropriately described as a coup d’état.

The traditional beneficiary class had not been dismantled; those who initiated the uprising were the vested interests discontent with how Queen Isabella II’s policies had harmed their benefits.

Simply put, Queen Isabella II had implemented reforms.

Reform is just that—under normal circumstances, nobles would not easily rebel. Yet Queen Isabella II’s reform policies managed to offend all sides.

Compounded by an economic crisis and heightened domestic conflicts, the time had come for an explosive release, creating the conditions for a rebellion.

Now, only a queen and her corrupt government had been overthrown, replaced with a new government; fundamentally, Spain had not changed.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg analyzed, “Queen Isabella II’s reputation in Spain is already ruined; restoration is impossible.

If the French are willing to support it, there might be a chance for her son, Prince Alfonso, to succeed to the throne.

However, as Prince Alfonso is too young and likely unable to handle the current situation, it’s improbable that anyone would allow Queen Isabella II to act as regent again; we can rule that out.

There are many potential candidates following the exclusion of the Bourbon Dynasty, with those garnering higher support including Prince Leopoldo of the Hohenzollern Dynasty, who has the support of the Spanish military but is likely to be opposed by Napoleon III.

Another is Duke Montpensier, Isabella II’s brother-in-law, but since he killed Prince Enrique in a duel, succeeding to the throne would be very difficult for him.

Then there’s Prince Fernando, the former regent of Portugal, who, from the intelligence we’ve received, has no interest in the Spanish throne.

The remaining candidates, including those from the former Sardinian Royal House, the Orleans Dynasty, and a few princes from our own country, don’t have high support. It’s still hard to determine who will ultimately prevail.”

Having finished, Weisenberg looked nervously at Franz, seemingly worried that the Emperor might push for a Habsburg prince to succeed the throne.

If it weren’t for the ancestral decision to split the Habsburg Dynasty in two, with the Austrian and Spanish branches each establishing their systems and agreeing not to interfere with each other, there wouldn’t be so many problematic issues.

Regrettably, Charles V couldn’t have foreseen the Habsburg Dynasty’s steep decline, with the Spanish branch dying out.

In the last Spanish succession dispute, the divided Habsburg Dynasty couldn’t act in full force and lost to the French in the war, with the Spanish crown going to the Bourbon Dynasty.

It’s easy to cede legal rights; reclaiming them is difficult. Now, the Habsburg Dynasty has insufficient legal grounds to claim the Spanish throne, and with the inevitable opposition from European countries, Franz naturally would not act against the current.

Several Habsburg princes appearing on the candidate list is already a courtesy to us.

“There’s no need to consider princes from our own country; with the current international situation, it’s virtually impossible for other nations to allow them to ascend,” Franz said before sighing, dismayed at the missed opportunity.