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!)

Comments

Re: 1730 Trending Topics: Ostend Company

[mildred_of_midgard]

Okay, I don't think I understand what being allies with Spain has to do with it? Like, why would France/GB/etc. want them to be allies with Spain?

Yes, I phrased this very misleadingly. France/GB most definitely do not want them to be allies with Spain, as you have correctly picked up! I should therefore not have used the phrase "you realize," because that implies the addressee will see this as a bad thing. What I was trying to convey was that weakening the Austro-Spanish alliance by removing one of the two remaining props currently supporting it wasn't the intent, it was a knock-on effect.

Also I don't quite see why they shut it down for good when in 1729 they were just shutting it down for seven years, or was it because GB was becoming friends with Austria again?

And I failed to explain stuff that was in my head, so thank you for asking. :)

GB wanted it shut down for good all along. The seven years thing was a face-saving device for Austria and a time-buying device for GB, with the intent being that by the time seven years had passed, GB would have managed to get it shut down for good. As indeed came to pass in the early 1731 Treaty of Vienna negotiated between GB and Austria in 1730. The seven years thing was just softening the blow to the pride of Austria, who's like, "How come everyone else gets to have an overseas trading company except me??" and perhaps even more importantly, "How come I'm nominally in charge of this province but everyone else can tell me what to do with it??"

VA over in Savoy: I feel your pain. Have you tried switching sides?