After several centuries of everyone's efforts, the Ottoman Empire's popular image in Europe had become synonymous with demons. Its hatred score far outstripped all later contenders, and it had occupied the top spot for centuries without wavering.
After the Near East War broke out, the Vienna Government gave their ancestors' glorious achievements another round of publicity, directly improving the Ottoman Empire's public reputation even further. Every few days, people would even stage some sort of demonstration outside the Ottoman embassy.
There was no need to smear it—the Ottoman Empire's history was already black enough. Dig up any random bit of material, and it could draw an enormous wave of hatred.
With public opinion behind them, Ambassador Hummel was thoroughly justified at the London Conference. The governments of every country condemned the Russians for invading Poland, yet no one condemned Austria for invading the Ottoman Empire.
That was the importance of propaganda. On the European Continent in this era, denouncing the Ottoman Empire was political correctness in itself; a little guidance was all it took.
In the Russo-Turkish War of the original timeline, the Tsarist Government had likewise been cursed to high heaven. Aside from its failure to manage propaganda properly, its own image had not been much better than the Ottoman Empire's.
Of course, recovering Jerusalem was also a political bonus. Once the Near East War broke out, the Austrian army immediately launched a campaign to recover the Holy Land, shutting many people's mouths.
Franz already held the title of King of Jerusalem, a title recognized by European society. Taking back his own territory now was entirely legitimate; he did not need to bear any moral pressure, and it could not even be considered an invasion.
Yet it was still interests that determined the political direction. Austria had more than