Das Wien Zeiden - #1
Clouds of War gather in the North
Citizen Lebrun: “Warm beer is what makes the English so ill-tempered”
As threats and insults keep flying from Paris to London and back, war seems inevitable between France and an English-led alliance.
Most treaties are being kept secret by countries in the hopes of eluding their potential enemies, but common belief is that the English have secured support from The Netherlands, Prussia, Spain, Mecklenburg, Berg, Pomerania, Hannover, Hesse, Denmark and Sweden – a formidable alliance.
And as traditional noble states continue to gather against France, the Empire’s Dukes and Counts continue to press our Emperor for a more firm opposition to the French new regime.
A Bohemian Count confided that the Empire’s southern Lords – representatives from Tyrol, Tuscany and Dalmatia – convinced the Emperor that an hostile Italian Union may be a bigger threat at the moment, and this is what deters a stronger Austrian involvement in the English/French conflict (see article below).
Foreign Minister made Duke of Carinthia
The Duke’s private estate in Pörtschach, near Klagenfurt: (he can be seen in the second window from left to right with his wife, Theresa)
The Empire’s Foreign Minister, Von Aushohlen, was made Duke of Carinthia last month by His Holy Imperial Majesty, Karl Von Osterreich. The title is in recognition for his diplomatic accomplishments and services to the Empire over the last few years.
The ceremony was private, in Von Aushohlen’s country estate, as he is recovering from a seizure caused by extreme fatigue. At the end of the ceremony the Duke addressed the attendees with assurances of his recovery: "It was only a fit of pique, I am ok now"
The Emperor’s personal physician, Franz Aftazarden, attended the Duke and said “His health is in a very Fragmented State, and Von Aushohlen must rest and refrain from talking Italian or German for at least a week in order to recover”.
The Italian crisis
Austrian troops marching from Laibach at the command of General Willem von Einthoven (waving his hat)
The unexpected announcement from Naples and other Italian states to form a Union, no doubt modelled after the new French regime, forced the Empire to mobilise its forces in the Tyrol, Tuscany, Dalmatia and Croatia.
Upon the announcement the Grand Duke Ercole III Rinaldo d Este, Lord of Tuscany and subject of His Holy Imperial Majesty, immediately requested Austrian support in order to avoid an upcoming invasion of Tuscany by Venetian forces. Other Lords called the Emperor’s attention to the fact that such Union, formed in secret, without the knowledge of the Empire and with clandestine support from other European powers, could only be hostile and should be dealt with immediately.
The Foreign Office, led by Thron Schutz von Aushöhlen, commenced immediate negotiations - both internal and external - to prevent certain war. The crisis was somewhat controlled for the short-term, but tension is still high in both sides of the border. Further talks with Cardinal Cardonazzi - the Italian unofficial representative - will determine the future of Italy and, maybe, the future of the Osterreich Empire as well.
The Grand Duke Ercole III Rinaldo d'Este, also Grand Admiral of the Imperial Navy, inspected the new Austrian fleet in Trieste on his way to Vienna: He was quite pleased with the 10 Flagships, half a dozen Ships-of-the Line and the couple hundred Frigates which just left the docks.
Who's new
- koolguy66
- Sakkal
- David Adams
- rkimler
- AZTiger98
Look At So Many Pretty Little Boats!
The fourth Ship of the Line in the right foreground flies the Tricolor!
Perhaps your fleet had joined our Adriatic Squadron as it sailed?
Otto von Baden
Seiner Durchlaucht Markgraf von Baden-Durlach
Rat der Fürsten des Heiligen Römischen Reiches
Minister für auswärtige Angelegenheiten des Heiligen Römischen Reiches
Flottillenadmiral
Oh, that ship?
That was a French ship which sneaked into the photo, I mean picture. I guarantee that the rest is ours
The Arrogant Rudeness of Austria Continues!
O lo and behold dear readers, surprise, surprise! The Austrians have finally gotten off their high horse and deigned to comment to all us Plebeians.
I applaud the Austrians on their wonderfully ill thought and inflammatory report on Italian interests.
I find it amusing to see the Austrians mobilizing for fear of ‘Italian Invasion’ when it was their quite omniscience that played such a necessary part in the formation of the Union. Perhaps if they had come out of their clouds and payed more attention to their neighbours they might have found themselves with allies instead of a coalition intent on keeping all non-Italian nations out of Italy.
The ludicrous intent of an invasion of Tuscany is simply insulting and shows the lack of effort their Foreign Minister attends to his duties as a simple check of the Treaty of Naples will show you that we have a specific clause that will allow no danger or harm to come to Tuscany- unless we are at war, and I can tell you, to my own frustration, the Union is steadfastly neutral!
There have been reports in recent months that the Austrians do not like my tone, well poo-poo to them. Do something about it then instead of complaining. Say something to me instead of allowing rumours to circulate and for me to hear them 2nd or even 3rd hand. I would like to know what it was that I did or said that has annoyed the Austrians so because to my knowledge I was the one who approached them, the only Italian State to do so, I was the one who proposed an alliance and asked for terms , I was the one who resumed contact when the Austrian FM failed to respond to my messages.
To all my messages I received no response other then questions to my honour and the confidentiality of my cabinet. When I finally approached them with the words ‘ON BEHALF OF THE UNION’ they spat in my face for reporting the talks back to the Union Council with the words, “Let me be clear in one thing. If every time I send you a message it is going to be shared with other nations (the Union), then communication will cease.”
If anyone has been rude or needs a lesson in diplomacy it is the Emperor of Austria and his poster boy for ineptitude the Duke of Carinthia von Ausholen.
Never post drunk...unless that is your norm.
Drunk? I fear not.
Dear Doge,
Let me state unequivocally, that at no point during my diplomatic efforts have I been drunk nor have I been drinking. Alas, my physican has put me on a very strict diet which precludes strong drink and rich delicacies, which I might add is working very well (down 34 pounds since July).
During your first communication to me you mentioned that your aim was to unite all of Italy under one banner. I immediately hinted that such a stance would not find favor in the Austrian court. I believe, but my memory is not what it once was, that I mentioned that we desire to interact with the Italian nations on a nation by nation basis.
Later, and I will admit this, I was remiss in my communications and while I thought I was awaiting communication from you, it was myself that owed you a reply. So that was totally my fault and once again I apologize for this lapse.
Since it was Austria's stated policy to deal with the Italian nations individually and as I had stated to you that this was the case, I was distressed to learn that my communications to you were being distributed to others. Again, I was at fault as I did not attach the same significance to your mention of "The Union" as you did, and was thinking that I was speaking solely to Venice. So it would appear, from my viewpoint, that much of the confusion and consternation between the two of us is simply the result of poor communications.
I am now in contact with His Eminence the Cardinal and feel that our relations are on a firmer foundation with the nations of Italy. Austria looks forward to continued peaceful relations with the individual nations of Italy.
I will not comment further and going forward will not use this forum for these sorts of discussions. So if someone feels the need to get in the last word, feel free as they will hear nothing more from my offices.
I bid everyone a good day.
I respectfully remain,
Thron Schutz von Aushöhlen
Foreign Minister, Austria
Jerry Gouge
I commend you sir
From Sir Douglas Oak
Minister of War, Great Britain, Ireland and Hanover
I must say my lord emperor of Austria, that I am duly impressed with the candour and courage you have shown in such a public arena in admitting to you own errors.
I salute you sir. You have my respect.
To his Grace, Doge of Venitia
Sir all I can say to you is manners...
beyond that I must shake my head in disgust
To the drunken Spanish Doge
You do seem to post drunk as a norm.
If your extreme reaction to what the papers are commenting in Austria is not hostile, arrogant and rude then I am not sure what is.
Anyway, we have heard that the Duke of Carinthia continues to exercise (unskilled as we are) diplomacy with the Cardinal, and the readers of "Das Wien Zeiden" hope that good things come out of these discussions with the Pope because we all know what follows when diplomacy fails.
A reader
First, Gentlemen, I never
First, Gentlemen, I never claimed the Austrian FM was drunk. In fact I believe he was in full command of his faculties at all discussions which distresses me even more re-reading his messages to me.
As for your stance against a Union, I took that into account and asked what Austria would be able to offer Venice in return for a future alliance. Instead I received multiple hedging questions of “what do you want” “what will you offer Austria” no firm goals, no firm support, no firm action. So I looked to other friends and allies.
If Austria is scared of a Venetian invasion of Tuscany then it has no-one but itself to blame for the current situation. Yes there may have been communication mishaps between the Duke and myself, however I thought we sorted those out weeks ago when we bought them to light privately. To claim that all our issues were a cause of miscommunication is incorrect and another deflection technique that holds no water in the evidence of our communications.
I find it laudable that the British are present here, because I’m sure the world knows how important a dispute on the Venetian/Austrian border is to England! Or is this another case of the English nose sniffing where it isn’t wanted or needed! Albion should learn that some areas of the world are none of their business and they should remain silent instead of antagonizing and making the situation worse!
How anyone can expect that I wouldn’t be angry at the slander caused to Venice by Austria is beyond me. A look at the Swedish paper shows your true intent, to “teach Venice a lesson” well I say bring it on!
I have excused myself from Union diplomacy in the sake of unity and I sincerely hope the Cardinal can make an agreement with Austria however do not believe that Venice will sit quietly in the shadows swallowing insults.
Doge
As an aside – keep in mind I’m in RPG mode not personal, if it’s personal I’ll respond Ben not Doge
Never post drunk...unless that is your norm.
Apologies
I would like to apologize to the entire diplomatic community for ever having made a comment in this venue. You will see no more from me. Diplomacy is best practiced behind closed doors.
May God bless you each and every one in your pursuits toward peace.
Thron Schutz von Aushöhlen
Foreign Minister, Austria
Jerry Gouge