18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 33

[cahn]

And, I mean, it doesn't have to be just 18th century characters, either!

(also, waiting for Yuletide!)

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1730 International Relations

[mildred_of_midgard]

In this sub-thread, I'm going to summarize the state of relations between pairs of countries, both how they normally feel about each other, and how they feel about each other in the second half of 1730. Since 1714-1731 is a period of "unnatural" alliances, and things are in the process of going back to "normal" in mid-1730-1731, those can be very different.

1730 International Relations: Britain-France

[mildred_of_midgard]

Seen as "natural enemies." In 1716, they got into an alliance that was so surprising that it was called a diplomatic revolution. Now it's 1730 and this unpopular alliance is collapsing. By 1731, if runaway Fritz's presence in France doesn't change things, they'll be back to being enemies.

(Note: I'm ignoring Scotland, the "Auld Alliance" between Scotland and France, and the Jacobites here. While not irrelevant to history, probably mostly irrelevant to this fic.)

1730 International Relations: Britain-Austria

[mildred_of_midgard]

Historically, they've liked allying against their mutual enemy France. Because the last 15 years have been weird, they've been switching back and forth between being on the same side and on opposite sides. They haven't gone to war with each other in this period, though there have been some recent war scares.

From 1725-1730, they were in opposing alliances (Britain-France against Austria-Spain). During this period, the British have been trying to limit Austrian power, but Austria isn't seen as an existential threat in Britain. The plan for many British ministers has been to get back into an alliance with Austria as soon as that can be done without disturbing the balance of power or dragging Britain into an unwanted war.

In 1730, there's a war scare going on between Britain and Austria, but simultaneously, Britain is approaching Austria for peace talks, and looking to swap the French alliance for an Austrian one. There's no strong pro-Austrian feeling in Britain, just a sense that most people would like to go back to the way things were before this weird and unnatural alliance with France came along.

1730 International Relations: Britain-Spain

[mildred_of_midgard]

Historically enemies. Often see each other as an existential threat, due to the conflicts over colonies, trade, and naval dominance.

From 1727-1729, Britain and Spain were at war, but it was a very small war that was contained due to French diplomacy, aka Fleury and his love of peace.

In 1730, they're officially allied, but that won't last long; by 1733, Spain will be allied with France, and in 1739, Britain and Spain will go to war again.

1730 International Relations: Britain-Bavaria

[mildred_of_midgard]

Britain wants to build up a power base against Austria in Germany. Bavaria is a prime candidate for this, but actually getting into an alliance proves prohibitively difficult, due to differing priorities.

1730 International Relations: Britain-Prussia

[mildred_of_midgard]

Britain wants to build up a power base against Austria in Germany. Bavaria is a prime candidate for this, but actually getting into an alliance proves prohibitively difficult.

In mid 1730, attempts to form an alliance via a marriage project (single or double) have just collapsed. When the Prussian resident in London, Reichenbach, is replaced by Degenfeld in mid 1730, the British are willing to try again if Degenfeld is there to apologize on FW's behalf for how Hotham was treated.

Degenfeld is most definitely not there to apologize on FW's behalf, and once Fritz disappears, FW blames the British and there is zero chance of an alliance. (Historically and, I imagine, also in this AU.)

1730 International Relations: Austria-Spain

[mildred_of_midgard]

Seen as "natural enemies" since the War of the Spanish Succession, since they both claim territory in Italy. Neither wants the other to get the upper hand in Italy. Charles VI has finally stopped officially claiming the title King of Spain, but you know neither he nor Philip has forgotten that Charles thinks he's the rightful king of Spain.

BUT! Since 1725, they've been in an alliance which, for this very reason, is referred to as a diplomatic revolution. Everybody was shocked when it happened.

By 1730, though, the alliance is very wobbly, not least because the Austrian Ostend Company has been shut down, so financial incentives to continue the alliance are small. It's also clear that the proposed marriage project isn't going to happen. Plus, there's a war scare over the issue of Spanish garrisons in Parma and Tuscany. Britain and France are currently trying to resolve this.

1730 International Relations: Austria-France

[mildred_of_midgard]

Seen as "natural enemies," and will continue to be until the MT-Kaunitz-Pompadour Diplomatic Revolution of 1756. Fleury and Chauvelin are after Lorraine.

1730 International Relations: Austria-Prussia

[mildred_of_midgard]

With FW switching sides every few years, it's complicated. Part of him wants to be loyal to the Emperor like a good German against all those decadent foreigners, but he wants Jülich and Berg like he wants nothing else, and the Emperor kepes screwing him over.

1730 International Relations: France-Spain

[mildred_of_midgard]

They're considered "natural allies" in the minds of many because they both have a Bourbon on the throne, but domestic and foreign politics have meant that they've been on opposite sides since about 1718/1719. However, many of the obstacles to their alliance have been removed by 1730, and in 1733, they will re-ally (historically, not sure about the AU).

1730 International Relations: Netherlands

[mildred_of_midgard]

Aka the United Provinces, aka the Dutch Republic.

Their golden age is over, so I'll just mention that one of the main things they care about is their strong "anti" feelings against two of their neighbors: Prussia and Austria. 

Austria controls the Austrian Netherlands (future Belgium, more or less), and the Dutch don't want them getting too much economic or military benefit from that.

Prussia controls territory bordering on the Netherlands (such as Cleves, where Peter Keith escapes from), claims the Prince of Orange title for the Hohenzollerns, and claims more territory near the Netherlands--mostly Jülich and Berg--that the Dutch don't want them getting.

1730 International Relations: Russia

[mildred_of_midgard]

With Peter the Great dead, Russia mostly stays out of international politics. That said, while everyone in Europe keeps predicting it will collapse and "revert to barbarism" every time there's a new tsar (Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ivanovna), it doesn't happen. Russia still has interests in the Baltic, especially Courland, Sweden, Holstein-Gottorp, Mecklenburg, and no one else wants to see them dominate the Baltic completely. 

Russia has been allied to Austria since 1726, with a clause promising to send 30,000 troops if attacked.

FW is still very afraid of pissing Russia off, and that guides a lot of his foreign policy.