Franco-Austrian Alliance (The Holy Deliverance)

The Franco-Austrian Alliance, Franco-Austrian Rapprochement was an alliance formed by aggrements of 1876-1882-1895; it lasted until 1918. First conceived in 1876 as a diplomatic rapprochement in support of Pope Pius IX took part in the Kulturkampf conflict launched by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The raprochement is transformed in 1886 into a military alliance aimed at containing the reinforcement of the German Empire and influenced by the diplomatic evolution of the Franco-German and Autro-German relations of the end of the 19th century. The development of financial ties between the two countries created the economic reinforcement for the Franco-Austrian Alliance.

Formation and initial purpose
When the Kulturkampf begins, Pope Pius IX finds himself powerless at the international level. Austria-Hungary would then be the only ally on and weight for the papacy, since the Kingdom of Italy was officially outlawed since the end of the Risorgimento and Spain is rendered utterly helpless by the events of Sexenio Democrático and Restoration. With the restoration of the French monarchy in 1874, the Austrian ties of King Henry V (during his period of exile, Henry of Chambord lived in Austria), the sharing of the Catholic faith and the anti-German feeling of the French and Austrians to the memory of the Franco-Prussian War and Austro-Prussian War. In 1875, Pius IX called for the rapprochement of the three "Catholic brothers" that were the France of Henry V, and the twin monarchy of Austria-Hungary of the Emperor-King Francis Joseph, to form in 1876 the Franco-Austrian Catholic Entente. The signing of this agreement is seen as the first dissolution of the League of Three Emperors.

Uncertain alliance against Germany
The German internal conflict after the signing of this agreement seems to internationalize, and the presession around Pius IX and Bismarck increases, the German Catholic forces gathered in the Zentrum make a strong progress in the German federal elections of 1874 pushing Bismarck to certain concessions (after huge victories) being more preoccupied by the progress of the Social Democrats in these same elections. The death of Pius IX in 1878, accelerates the relaxation between the papacy and the German Empire, and the character more "reformer" of Leo XIII, but informally end to the conflict.

The Catholic Entente is weakened, Bismarck pushing France into colonial conquests and approaching Austria on the Balkan question. The progressive disengagement of power for the Entente makes the legitimists react and the nationalism of the Republicans (reacting to the failures of French colonialism) pushes Albert de Broglie to revive the Entente in the form of a Pacte d'Amitié in 1882. But the rapprochement stops at this exchange of good process. France did not want to quarrel with Russia, being focused on its colonial policy and the signing of the Treaty of the Three Emperors in 1881 did not allow a deepening of ties.

Affirmation and confirmation of the Alliance
The end of the 1880s is a period of change for European geopolitics. The departure of Bismarck from the Chancellery in 1890, and the beginning of the Pan-German ambition with the Kaiser Wilhelm II caused the collapse of the Bismarckian alliances. Austria-Hungary largely exceeded economically by Germany for fear of the establishment of an addiction that would paralyze the Empire already in difficulty because of issues of nationalities. The arrival of French funds in Austria-Hungary pushes France to reinvest the relationship with the Central European country, in addition to the Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 signed between Germany and Russia and reconfirmed by Wilhelm II in 1890 ratifies the Franco-Austrian raprochement.

On October 15, 1891, a squadron of the French Navy led by Admiral Henri Rieunier accompanied by Crown Prince Philippe of Orleans, went to Pola and made a trip through Austria and Hungary and was a popular success and international media.

In October, 1893 for the 2 years of the visit, Admiral Rudolf Montecuccoli makes the visit, arrives in Toulon and reiterates the success. The death of King Philippe VII in 1894 accelerated raprochement, the new King Philippe VIII unmarried woman needed a woman. At first, a Belgian princess was the first choice, but the opportunity to forge a definitive alliance with a marriage is seized. In September 1895, Archduchess Maria Dorothea of Austria married in Paris and became Queen of the French, she is accompanied by a diplomatic assistance represented by the Archduke Franz Ferdinand who lays the first stone of the Pont de l'Union. A military convention is ratified by the Emperor-King a few months later. The bridge will be inaugurated five years later by King Philippe VIII, for the 1900 World Fair in Paris. Admiral Henri Rieunier is guest of honor during the ceremonies and will be present at all these events.

The following year, in 1896, King Philip VIII paid an official visit to Vienna with the new Queen Maria Dorothea.

In August 1899, the French Minister Charles Chesnelong negotiated a strengthening of the Franco-Austrian Alliance: from now on France could support Austria-Hungary in its Balkan policy if Austria-Hungary supported France in the question of Alsace-Lorraine.

The official bilateral visits are continuing: in May 1902, Philip VIII is in Austria-Hungary.