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The year is 1868. The United States is still recovering from a disastrous civil war, the Italian City States have recently merged to form Italy, and the German states have followed suit. Probably most important to this story though, it was also the year Austria and Hungary formed the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary.
Chapter 1: Ferdinand’s Diplomacy and the Italian War
When Ferdinand ascended the throne of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the military was under funded and in shambles, the economy was backwards, and the country was continuously threatened by their neighbors the Germans, Russians, and Ottomans. Ferdinand would soon change this supposedly impossible situation.
Ferdinand’s first act as king was to improve relations with other nations. Showing iron determination, Ferdinand himself traveled to Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Constantinople, Rome, London, Madrid, Lisbon and Washington. Relations around the world were improved and three nations, Germany, Russia, and France, joined an alliance that would be known as the “Continental Alliance”.
Next, Ferdinand turned to improving the military. He knew from his trade advisors that the monarchy was abundant in resources. He could wage a war and not be dependant on a foreign country for the saltpeter, horses, iron, and coal he would need.
Ferdinand began selling excess resources to other nations for a large sum of money. With the money, Ferdinand re-built the military. Over 15 regiments of cavalry, 7 regiments of riflemen and 25 batteries of artillery, were produced from the extra funds.
Now, with a sizeable army and navy, Ferdinand took a step to increase Austrian-Hungarian prominence.
On Thursday, November 8, 1875, a declaration of war was signed by Ferdinand against Italy. As he was signing, he made a speech akin to the American “Manifest Destiny” speech,” This is just one step that will be taken to ensure the Austrians Inevitable Fate”.
A few weeks into the war, it was clear who had the upper hand. Austrian troops had surprised the Italians and captured Venice. With the Venetian port captured, then Italian Fleet of the Adriatic was easily surrounded and quickly destroyed.
German and French forces had destroyed all the defenses of the Italians in the Alps and had made a destructive arch into Milan, then Turin, and began the siege Rome. They attempted three assaults, each failing. By the time the Austrians arrived, most of the French and German troops had retreated to Turin for reinforcements.
Luckily for Ferdinand and the Austrians, the defenders surrendered, to hungry and tired to fight.
With the capital captured, Austrian cavalry routed the demoralized Italians at the Battle of Naples, and again at Veii. Now the only Italian stronghold that remained was Sicily.
Since the Italian navy was virtually gone, the Austrians made a huge landing in the Sicilian Mountains. As the Austrians encroached upon Palermo, the Italian Monarch, Emmanuel, walked to the Commander of the 6th Cavalry Division of Budapest. Wanting a peaceful solution to the war, he requested an audience with Ferdinand.
In Vienna, after painstaking hours dissecting a plan, one was finally devised. Sicily and all of Italy were to officially be given to Austria-Hungary. In return, Italian Somaliland would become the new center of Italy and Italy would become a second Switzerland, neutral in all armed conflict. With the official signing of the document, the Italian War ended.
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This story is based on an experiance I had playing Austria-Hungary in KittenOFChaos's improved Impreza's 1850-1900 scenario.
Chapter 1: Ferdinand’s Diplomacy and the Italian War
When Ferdinand ascended the throne of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the military was under funded and in shambles, the economy was backwards, and the country was continuously threatened by their neighbors the Germans, Russians, and Ottomans. Ferdinand would soon change this supposedly impossible situation.
Ferdinand’s first act as king was to improve relations with other nations. Showing iron determination, Ferdinand himself traveled to Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Constantinople, Rome, London, Madrid, Lisbon and Washington. Relations around the world were improved and three nations, Germany, Russia, and France, joined an alliance that would be known as the “Continental Alliance”.
Next, Ferdinand turned to improving the military. He knew from his trade advisors that the monarchy was abundant in resources. He could wage a war and not be dependant on a foreign country for the saltpeter, horses, iron, and coal he would need.
Ferdinand began selling excess resources to other nations for a large sum of money. With the money, Ferdinand re-built the military. Over 15 regiments of cavalry, 7 regiments of riflemen and 25 batteries of artillery, were produced from the extra funds.
Now, with a sizeable army and navy, Ferdinand took a step to increase Austrian-Hungarian prominence.
On Thursday, November 8, 1875, a declaration of war was signed by Ferdinand against Italy. As he was signing, he made a speech akin to the American “Manifest Destiny” speech,” This is just one step that will be taken to ensure the Austrians Inevitable Fate”.
A few weeks into the war, it was clear who had the upper hand. Austrian troops had surprised the Italians and captured Venice. With the Venetian port captured, then Italian Fleet of the Adriatic was easily surrounded and quickly destroyed.
German and French forces had destroyed all the defenses of the Italians in the Alps and had made a destructive arch into Milan, then Turin, and began the siege Rome. They attempted three assaults, each failing. By the time the Austrians arrived, most of the French and German troops had retreated to Turin for reinforcements.
Luckily for Ferdinand and the Austrians, the defenders surrendered, to hungry and tired to fight.
With the capital captured, Austrian cavalry routed the demoralized Italians at the Battle of Naples, and again at Veii. Now the only Italian stronghold that remained was Sicily.
Since the Italian navy was virtually gone, the Austrians made a huge landing in the Sicilian Mountains. As the Austrians encroached upon Palermo, the Italian Monarch, Emmanuel, walked to the Commander of the 6th Cavalry Division of Budapest. Wanting a peaceful solution to the war, he requested an audience with Ferdinand.
In Vienna, after painstaking hours dissecting a plan, one was finally devised. Sicily and all of Italy were to officially be given to Austria-Hungary. In return, Italian Somaliland would become the new center of Italy and Italy would become a second Switzerland, neutral in all armed conflict. With the official signing of the document, the Italian War ended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This story is based on an experiance I had playing Austria-Hungary in KittenOFChaos's improved Impreza's 1850-1900 scenario.
Some of the paragraphs in the very beginning are a bit repetitive: Ferdinand this, Ferdinand that... But overall, it is a nice start.
its quite good, we havent seen this type of story here for a while, sort of a report on the events of an alternate history from the inspiration of a civ game. 
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