Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 266 Austria's Collaboration in the Balkans

Refreshed after his vacation, Shah returned to Tehran after the holidays. Sure enough, his enthusiasm for work had increased after the break.

Austria seems to be facing some difficulties. First, the Austrian Emperor wrote to them, and then the Austrian Chancellor visited Iran. Both actions, overt and covert, indicate a desire for help.

What are your thoughts on Austria?

Iran now needs countries like Austria to maintain its diplomatic network in Europe, which is why the government attaches great importance to this.

"Shah, it seems that Austria's defeat in last year's war has cost it some territory and prestige. Prussia in the north is also preparing to vie for leadership of this German region, and the Austrian emperor seems unable to resolve any issues and is attempting to resolve the current situation through relations with other countries."

Based on the situation in Austria over the past few years, Peszczkian believes that the Habsburg dynasty has entered a precarious situation. The aftermath of the 1848 revolution, coupled with the economic crisis, has led to renewed unrest among nationalist forces within the country.

"This is also a crucial juncture for us to maintain our influence in Europe, where the two countries can reach a better agreement. We might even be able to restore our past alliance."

Trade between Iran and Austria is also steadily increasing, reaching 680 million rials last year, making it the fastest-growing sector. Furthermore, the two countries facilitate each other's travel, with the Habsburgs displaying a level of friendliness unmatched by other European nations.

There is another important fact that Naserdin did not mention, which is that he has a significant investment in Austria.

He only recently learned that they were supposed to be investing in Europe, but instead they went straight to acquire Austrian railways. This was a consequence of the Imperial government selling railways to merchants during the 1848 Revolution and the Crimean War to alleviate its economic difficulties.

The investment company established the European Railways Company, acquired a portion of the railway network within the Kingdom of Hungary, and, with the permission of the Viennese government, prepared to build more railways. Simultaneously, due to its relationship with the Prince of Wallachia, the company secured a railway contract from Gyürkü to Bucharest.

Such an investment plan naturally requires the guarantee of good relations, so the development of relations between Iran and Austria must be accelerated.

"In that case, I'll have to go to Vienna again. I'll postpone my trip to St. Petersburg and see if I can go directly from Austria."

Since we're going to go, let's go as far as we can. Let's start from Sukhumi, cross the Black Sea, enter the Danube River, and finally arrive in Vienna.

Pezeshkian naturally agreed, noting that Shah's visits were an important way to improve relations with other countries, especially in strengthening national friendships.

"You all go first, I want to talk to the Grand Vizier."

Knowing this was a conversation between the Shah and his teacher, the ministers immediately left the office. Amir began to report something different to Nasser al-Din. "Shah, I have learned something different. Austria sending their prime minister is not just a simple gesture of friendship; they also want our support on the upcoming Balkan issues."

The Balkan uprisings instigated by Iran caused the Ottomans great distress. At the most dangerous moment, enemy forces had reached the old Ottoman capital, Edirne. The situation only gradually improved after troops were transferred from the east.

However, this was no longer a matter that the Ottoman Empire alone could decide. Austria, Russia, Britain, and France indicated their intention to resolve the issue through negotiations and began private discussions.

Russia's ambitions remain the greatest, because the Balkans are mostly inhabited by Orthodox Christians and Slavs, making it a natural place for Russia to rule.

Austria, however, also argued that it could control the Balkans, for the simple reason that resistance there was relatively weak. Furthermore, for a considerable period, the main stakeholders in the Balkans were limited to Austria and Turkey. In addition, the Austrian Empire was home to a large Slavic population, and therefore feared the spread of Pan-Slavism within its borders. Against this backdrop, the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire vied for control of the Balkans.

The first confrontation between the two sides occurred during the Greek War of Independence, with the Russian Empire providing weapons support to the Greek rebels and helping them ultimately win independence. Although the Russian Empire failed to gain complete control over Greece, it at least contributed to the fall of the first domino in the Balkans.

Austria was deeply concerned about this and, in the ensuing Crimean War, chose to stand with France and Britain to impose sanctions on the Russian Empire and sent troops to Moldova, forcing Russia to withdraw. After the Crimean War, Russo-Austrian relations completely broke down, and the two sides engaged in direct competition in the Balkans.

Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece became key players in the competition, and Austria was completely outmatched in this regard. Therefore, Franz wanted Iran's support for Austria's annexation of Bosnia, hoping to at least gain something in return.

Nasserdin twirled the ring in his hand. He had little interest in the Balkans because they were too far away. And Austria's annexation of Bosnia was something he had agreed to during his initial visit.

"We can support Austria's annexation of Bosnia, but they should also improve their relations with Serbia. They have no friends and are very unpopular locally."

This cannot be blamed on Austria, as there are Orthodox Christians within Austria, particularly in Transylvania. If Russia were to incite Balkan independence, wouldn't Transylvania also want to become independent? Wouldn't that be tantamount to handing over its own land?

Therefore, Franz and his cabinet wanted to expand in the Balkans, and Bosnia, which was already deeply surrounded by Austria, was the best choice.

At this time, European countries were demanding a meeting to resolve the issue, and they decided to hold it in Vienna, which was also a way of giving Austria face.

However, not all countries in the Balkans are on bad terms with Austria. The newly established Republic of Bulgaria immediately sought to improve relations with Austria, hoping to use this to gain recognition of Macedonia as its territory.

Each power had its own agenda, and starting with the Crimean War, the Balkans and Near East descended into extreme instability. This forced Britain to devote more energy to maintaining its security. However, this reduced its attention to other areas, allowing France to accelerate its colonization in Africa, and other countries to take whatever they could get their hands on. All of this left Britain feeling overwhelmed.

(End of this chapter)