Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Forced Reform

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Prime Minister Felix was also a representative of the Austrian Hawk Faction, and he agreed with Franz’s views.

The Hungary issue would have to be resolved sooner or later, and compromise was not going to solve the problem. Better to suffer short-term pain than long-term agony, might as well let the Hungarians rebel and directly use military force to resolve the issue.

Historically, Austria did just that, but the Vienna Government’s efforts weren’t thorough, ultimately sparing the nobility.

Although this gained the support of the nobility class, it also lost the opportunity to thoroughly resolve the Hungarian issue. Franz naturally intended to learn from this lesson.

During this period, the Hungarian nationality had not yet formed. The so-called Hungarian nationality at that time only consisted of those five hundred thousand people with vested interests, while the remaining thirteen million plus had no sense of nationality.

The Hungarian nationality would not truly form until the establishment of the dual monarchy, during which the Hungarian nobility and capitalists didn’t even consider the lower class as part of them.

Not to mention the lower class, a bunch of illiterates struggling to survive every day—who would have the energy to care about what nationality was?

Even during the Hungarian Rebellion of 1848, when they raised the banner of nationalism, they themselves didn’t understand what nationalism was. The majority of people identified with the Hungarian nationality didn’t speak Hungarian, let alone understand Hungarian culture.

Nationalism was essentially an export from the French, with the main aim to stir trouble within Austria so that France could dominate Italy strategically.

This could be seen in many aspects; Southern Europe hadn’t completed national integration, and the Vienna Government bore direct responsibility. If not for their negligence, there would not be so many problems in later generations.

“Your Highness, the situation in Austria is unstable now. If the Hungarians rebel at this time, our military pressure will be too great!” Foreign Minister Metternich objected.

Franz smiled faintly; he knew that Metternich had always preferred to resolve issues through political means, which was both good and bad.

Using political means, Metternich had created Austria’s glorious three decades and preserved the great power status on the European Continent. At the same time, he had allowed many conflicts that could have been settled once and for all to accumulate.

For instance, during the Galicia revolution in 1846, the Vienna Government could have resolved the issue in one fell swoop, but the government chose to compromise with the nobility and left the conflict unresolved.

“I know, but if we miss this opportunity, the Hungarians will likely drag on the conflict with us indefinitely. Now the Vienna Government has become their scapegoat, taking on the anger from the lower classes.

Austria is old; we have too many internal conflicts. If these are not thoroughly resolved, the Empire will be brought down sooner or later.

While military pressure is currently high, there are still ways to resolve it. The Foreign Ministry should communicate with the Russians as soon as possible; we need the support of the Tsarist Government.

If the situation continues to deteriorate, I would rather compromise with the

French, with the Prussians, than compromise with domestic rebels!”

Franz expressed his dissatisfaction with Metternich’s previous governance and told everyone his determination to suppress the rebellion.

This answer was close to Prime Minister Felix’s political stance. Historically, because Vienna had been lost, the domestic situation had become even more critical, leading the Vienna Government to decide to abandon Northern Italy.

However, Marshal Radetzky refused to carry out the orders of the Vienna Government and did not withdraw from the Italian Area, insisting on suppressing the revolution.

The current situation had not yet reached that point, and the price that Austria needed to pay would be much smaller. In the worst case, we could simply recognize the Kingdom of Sardinia as within the French sphere of influence.

At that time, the domestic situation in France was also in significant turmoil. As the cradle of revolution, the revolutionary flag fluttered in many French cities; they simply had no capacity to wage war abroad.

Not to mention the Kingdom of Prussia, whose domestic situation was hardly better than Austria’s. The great revolution of 1848 hadn’t spared them.

If it weren’t for both competitors being unfortunate together, 1848 would have been the end for the Austrian Empire; Austria was extremely fragile at that time.

“Your Highness, considering the current situation in Austria, we must undergo internal reform, and the serfdom issue is one we cannot avoid,” Finance Minister Carl bluntly stated, breaking the ice.

All those present were from the nobility. As members of the vested interest group, such reforms would cut into their own benefits, and many faces didn’t look pleased.

However, everyone understood that Austria couldn’t do without reforms, and no one spoke out against them.

Franz knew he had to propose this reform himself, otherwise it would be yet another incomplete reform if left to the others to oversee.

“Abolishing serfdom is the tide of history. Now the biggest problem is, what to do about the serfs’ livelihood after abolishing serfdom?

For this situation, everyone knows the solution, which is to give the serfs land to guarantee their basic needs.

But all land currently has an owner; Austria has no spare land to distribute, and we are only left with routes that the United Kingdom and France have already taken.

Either we redeem the land from the nobility, or we forcefully deprive the nobility of their land through revolution. I think no one wants to be deprived of their land forcefully, so in reality, we only have one choice.”

Without a doubt, Franz knew where he should stand on this issue. By bringing up the problem and then stopping there, he waited for the reactions of the Cabinet members.

Not to mention, merely the Schwarzenberg family of Prime Minister Felix alone possessed 470,000 hectares of land. Not only were serfs to be liberated now, but their lands were also targeted, making anyone uncomfortable.

“Your Highness, abolishing serfdom is easy, but depriving nobility of their lands is…”

Before Grand Duke Louis could finish, Franz interrupted, “I have no intention of forcibly depriving all nobility of their lands. Such a course of action would invoke too strong a backlash.

Given the current circumstances, I believe we can make distinctions. Those nobility who join the rebellion or provide support to the rebels should have their land stripped away and nationalized.

This land would be leased to the farmers and allow them to redeem it. They could use an installment plan to buy the ownership of these lands.

And the nobility who remain loyal to the Emperor should not be so crudely dealt with. I suggest redeeming land from them voluntarily, without coercion.

However, as compensation, after serfdom is abolished, the nobility who refuse redemption must provide the former serfs with employment, turning them into hired farmers or workers, to avoid causing social unrest.

To ensure national stability, the rent for all land nationally should not exceed one-fifth of the annual income, and similarly, after the reform, the nobility must also pay taxes!”