Austrian Partition

An alternate timeline by Althistorian 2005.

A revised version of my pilot episode CAAH, but with the fateful Milan Conference in 1873 instead, as the Triple Alliance would've existed in 1900. The Franco-Prussian War also takes a special twist.

1870's
1870-1871: Prussia and his alliance of German states defeat France in the Franco-Prussian War and proceed to take all French colonies and unite to form Germany in the Treaty of Kiel. They also take Alsace-Lorraine, like in OTL. France begins seeking improved relations with Britain as a result.

1873: After German unification is acheived by Prussia, Austria fears that Prussia might try to drag him into a union of all German-speaking peoples as well, and so increases his military development and seeks improved relations with Britain and France. Meanwhile, Italy invites German and Russian leadership to Milan to discuss ways to divide Austro-Hungarian land, although Bismarck is a little reluctant.

1875: The Great Eastern Crisis begins with the Herzegovina Rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans.

1876: The April Uprising occurs but is swiftly crushed. However, Serbia and Montenegro soon declare independence from and war on the Ottoman Empire while the Herzegovina Rebellion continues, supported by both of them. Serbia is later pushed back and requests international mediation, leading to a one-month truce to discuss peace terms. Negotiations later break down and the Serbians are pushed back even further. However, Russia calls for an end to the fighting by threatening to intervene on Serbia's side. This disrupts the talks with Italy and Germany regarding Austria, but negotiations resume. A peace settlement is proposed, but is then rejected by the Turks.

1877: On April 24, Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire and invades through Romania and the Caucasus. Romania declares independence and joins the war on Russia's side as well. However, despite the Russian intervention, the Herzegovina Rebellion is finally crushed.

1878: The Ottoman Empire desperately requests peace, but the request is ignored. Other powerful countries pressure Russia and his allies to accept the request, but the Russian army keeps fighting nonetheless. Finally, fighting ends when the British send a battleship to Constantinople to keep the Russians from entering the city. The Treaty of San Stefano confirms the independence of Serbia and of Montenegro. Romania's independence is briefly disputed by Russia, but they come to an agreement over land and the treaty is signed, granting Russia some land in the Caucasus and finally giving Bulgaria independence after over 400 years under Ottoman rule. A few vassal states are also created for the Ottomans. The treaty is ready to be signed, but the Great Powers refuse to grant Bulgaria independence, fearing it could overincrease Russian influence in the Balkans. They make a new Treaty in Berlin, further disrupting the Milan Conference as Bismarck has to return to Berlin to supervise the signing of the new treaty. Bulgaria once again loses its independence and is replaced by two Ottoman vassal states. The vassal states created in the previous treaty are removed, but the rest of the terms remain. Also, Russian gains in the Caucasus are reduced, while Austria is allowed to occupy Bosnia and Britain allowed to occupy the island of Cyprus.

1879: With the Great Eastern Crisis finally over, the Milan Conference resumes with renewed strength, and with the participation of newly independent Serbia, Romania, and Montenegro.

1880's
1880: A plan to divide Austria-Hungary along ethnic borders is agreed upon, although Serbia requests the reconsideration of a separate Croatian state.

1881: The terms of the Milan Agreement are finalized, and the attack on Austria-Hungary is scheduled for 1888.

1884: The Berlin Conference lays out the foundations for the Scramble for Africa. Meanwhile, the Treaty of Versailles, signed at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, officially creates the Versailles Pact, a formal military alliance between Britain, France, and Austria-Hungary. This alliance is obviously targeted at Germany and Russia, although Italy is also considered a threat.

1886: Italy, Germany, and Russia sign the Treaty of Florence, creating the Florence Pact and beginning a period of European political and military polarization. They also postpone the attack on Austria-Hungary to 1895.

1887: Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania join the Florence Pact.

1890's
1890: The Ottoman Empire agrees to join the Versailles Pact in return for British and Austrian troops leaving Bosnia and Cyprus.

1893: Portugal joins the Versailles Pact due to the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. The attack on Austria-Hungary is postponed again to 1910.

1895-6: Italy wins the Italo-Ethiopian War with German support. As a result, Germany receives trading rights in what is now Italian East Africa.

1897: Sensing impending war with the US, Spain joins the Versailles Pact for defensive purposes. Thus, the Spanish-American War doesn't happen, although internal conflict continues in Spain.

1899: Sweden-Norway and Denmark agree to join the Florence Pact in return for Finland and Schleswig. This comes as a surprise to the Versailles Pact, who expected said countries to join them to gain said territories through war. Most of Europe is now fully polarized, as is most of Africa, polarized through most of the European colonies while Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands watch on with worry, and sign a collective security treaty in Amsterdam.