To test the British, Franz decided to accelerate the French annexation of Italy. Naples, the Papal States, Tuscany, and the other states were now haggling with the French.
The absolute disparity in strength had made them abandon any thought of armed resistance. They had originally hoped Austria would intervene, but regrettably, the Vienna Government had chosen to stand by and watch the show.
The excuse was ready-made: old debts left over from 1848. Back then, compelled by public sentiment, the Italian states had all stood against Austria.
Though their nobles and kings were still Austria's good friends, they had decisively dragged their feet and caused Austria no substantive harm.
The magnanimous Emperor Franz had not held it against them, but the Italians still had to pay the price for their willfulness. Austria had now decided to look on coldly.
That was only the official explanation. Behind the scenes, the ties between the Habsburg Family and the Italian nobility had never been severed.
Even now, Austria was supporting them from behind the curtain in their fight for rights. Otherwise, these state governments would not have had the confidence to bargain with the French.
Vienna had tacitly agreed to let France annex these Italian states, but exactly how they were to be annexed would depend on the circumstances.
As a member of the noble class, protecting the interests of that class was only natural. Napoleon III was also a beneficiary of the existing order; he could not possibly break this unwritten European rule, or he would find himself unable to survive on the European Continent.
Austria's precedent of rebuilding the Holy Roman Empire had provided Napoleon III with an example. Now, he too wanted to hold the title of Italian Emperor concurrently.
As for the fact that Italy had no emperor, he