Unlucky Fellow

With the end of the Prusso-Russian War, Friedrich's marriage was also placed on the agenda. For Austria, this too was a major matter.

Hanover had been unable to bring the German Federal Empire under its control, and the Duchy of Baden had rendered tremendous service in that regard. Without them leading a pack of minor states in opposing the central government within the Imperial Parliament, the German Federal Empire would not have become so deeply fragmented.

Naturally, Austria had also contributed greatly to this. Without the Vienna Government's backing, the Duchy of Baden would not have had the ability to gather so many allies.

Arranging a marriage alliance at this time was, in fact, Franz giving the Duchy of Baden encouragement—telling them not to cower, to keep standing against Hanover, and that Austria would support them if anything happened.

With the United Kingdom now busy cobbling together the North German Empire, such support was especially important. Otherwise, once Hanover and Prussia formed a dual monarchy, that pack of minor states truly would not be able to hold out.

In truth, Franz was also deeply conflicted.

On one hand, he did not want to see the North German Empire consolidated, as that would make unification more difficult; on the other, he wanted to use George I's hand to clear out this heap of minor states, lest they leave trouble behind for the future.

Supporting the Duchy of Baden was also an act born of necessity. Although the German region had many states, they were basically all tiny beans, each weaker than the last. Most were only at the level of town mayors; some were not even above village chiefs.

The Duchy of Baden was merely the tallest among a group of short men. Its overall strength was roughly half that of