Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 274 Traveling with the Emperor

Cafés on the streets of Vienna became places for intellectuals to discuss politics. After the revolution of 1848, their political activities declined sharply, but cafés continued to play a role as places for political discussions.

"We should persuade the emperor to establish a national parliament. This would be in the best interest of the empire."

"No, we should learn from France and launch another revolution to send the emperor to the guillotine!"

Clang! A sound rang out; it turned out a coffee cup had fallen. No one paid it any mind and continued their discussion.

"This...this is too much freedom. Why couldn't we have suppressed more people back then?"

When Franz heard he was to be beheaded, his hands trembled with fear. His people were truly audacious.

"Alright Franz, stay calm. You're just an ordinary citizen enjoying coffee right now, add some sugar."

Naserdin handed Franz the sugar; although the coffee wasn't so bitter anymore, his heart was filled with bitterness.

"To be honest, now only Naserdin can talk to me. You know, since I took the throne, I have never dared to slack off. I work 12 hours a day, and I even take cold showers to keep my spirits up."

But is this how they repay me, repay the Empire? Rebellions are erupting everywhere; if it weren't for Russian aid, I'd probably be dead long ago.”

As Franz spoke, tears welled up in his eyes. Who could know the hardships he had endured over the past ten years?

"Indeed, but you must know that there are more than a dozen ethnic groups in your country. If they all started a disturbance together, things would not be as peaceful as they are now."

Those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things clearly. Nasserdin saw the Austrian problem perfectly clearly. In an era where nationalism was rampant, Austria needed to use a different ideology to suppress national independence.

During the reign of Empress Theresa, the empire established a system of equality among all ethnic groups under the ruler. However, this proved insufficient in the face of nationalism. Coupled with the refusal of conservatives and nobles to compromise with the people, the situation of 1848 ensued.

"Although we are aware of this situation, what can we do now? The church will not compromise easily, not to mention there are many nobles and ministers."

"But you can't let them lead you by the nose. Are they the emperor or are you the emperor?"

Naserdin refuted Franz's point of view and then made a proposal that seemed quite bold.

"If you ask me, at least meet Bohemia's requirements. Your family has ruled the area for over 400 years, so your foundation should be quite solid."

Since nationalism is quite active, let's talk to them, releasing the most moderate part, such as Bohemia, i.e., the Czech Republic. Because Russian troops operated within Czech territory during the Napoleonic Wars, Czech nationalists developed the idea of ​​establishing friendly relations among Slavic peoples. Given that Russia is the most powerful Slavic nation and the only independent Slavic state, Russia naturally becomes their focus.

However, after the Polish uprising of November 1830 was suppressed by Tsarist Russia, Czech Slavism fell into crisis. The younger generation of nationalists realized that there was a profound contradiction between the oppressive nature of the Russian Tsarist system and the Slavic people's pursuit of freedom and liberation, which led to the emergence of a new Slavic political ideology—Austrian Slavism, which advocated cooperation among the Slavic peoples under Habsburg rule in opposition to aggressive German nationalism.

Influenced by the French Revolution of February 1848, intellectuals convened a rally of Prague citizens and drafted a petition to the Austrian Emperor. Under pressure from the revolutionary tide, the Austrian Emperor granted most of the Czechs' demands.

Two months later, a Slavic Congress was held in Prague. The delegates failed to reach an agreement on a common political stance, only demanding that Austria become a federal state of national equality. As the Czech national revival movement became increasingly political, the Austrian government launched an offensive against the Czech revolutionary movement. Subsequently, the Czech political movement was suppressed.

The somber political atmosphere failed to stifle Czech economic activity. After about half a century of industrialization, the Czech Republic developed into one of the most industrialized regions in Central Europe. The Vítkovice steelworks, the Škoda automobile factory, and the Pilsen brewery became household names. A dense railway network not only connected the Czech Republic to Europe but also linked various industrial centers.

With the Austrian army defeated by the French army and the domestic financial situation deteriorating, Franz decided to abandon the autocratic system and set about establishing a civil society. National movements gradually revived in the Czech Republic.

"Since you want to build a society where all ethnic groups can communicate and interact in a friendly manner, then concessions are necessary. And the Hungarians don't think this will end here; they will definitely come back."

Franz realized from his close friend's words that this was indeed a problem. His face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table, the sound drawing the attention of many people.

But after quickly having the bill settled, he and Naserdin boarded a carriage to Prague, deciding to take this opportunity to resolve some of the issues.

"Who is this person? Does he have a problem with us?"

The students who were discussing the matter thought he was just a madman, and after making a joke about it, they stopped thinking about it.

As the carriage stopped at Vienna's train station, the Austrian Emperor's journey began. At this time, his trust in Naserdin was at its peak.

“To be honest, Naserdin. This is the first time I’ve traveled abroad without consulting my mother. I don’t know what the consequences will be, but I hope it will be good for the Empire.”

Naserdin comforted him, "Relax Franz, you're too influenced by them. Not everyone in the country is against you. Sometimes sacrificing a little of your own interests can bring you more support from the imperial subjects. It's not a bad deal."

Furthermore, the Czech Republic historically benefited from Habsburg policies. The enlightened absolutism implemented by Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II played a significant role in the modernization of the Czech region: on the one hand, it further reduced the privileges of the Bohemian nobility, leading to their Germanization and the dominance of German suppressing Czech national culture; on the other hand, religious tolerance, social and educational reforms promoted economic development and increased social mobility. Many nobles subleased their land, investing the profits in industries such as textiles, coal, and glass manufacturing. As a result, the Czech Republic became the most industrialized region within the Habsburg Empire.

This was the first time Franz was prepared to compromise with the Czechs; compared to the fiercely resisting Hungarians, they were already quite accommodating. Moreover, Bohemia bordered Prussia, and any mishap there would have a significant impact on the entire Austrian economy.

(End of this chapter)