Osterreich

In this timeline, we explore an Austrian Victory in the Austro-Prussian War after Bismarck is assassinated by a Jewish Radical named Ferdinand Cohen-Blind. After Bismarck's assassination, a state of Martial Law is declared and several Polish revolutionaries sieze the opportunity and start an uprising in Posen. Napoleon III, seeing Prussia and Italy as a rising threat, decides to intervene in the war and a peace favorable to the Austrians is brokered, with the war ending in 4 weeks. This diplomatic victory would strengthen Napoleon's popularity and allow him to continue his various ambitious projects, namely colonial expansion and the establishment of the Mexican Empire. The war, known as the Fraternal War in this timeline, forever sours relations between German Nationalists and the aristocratic classes of the various German kingdoms. This would lead to the nationalists seeking more radical means.

1860s

 * 1866. The Fraternal War. Bismarck is assassinated and Prussia falls into a state of chaos.
 * 1867: The Revolutions of 1867 occur:
 * In Germany, the 2nd Frankfurt Parliament is established in Prussian Rhine and German Nationalists overthrow the local Prussian Government, establishing a Democratic German Republic that quickly takes over the neighboring states in Swabia and Hesse.
 * The Netherlands attempted to invade the government to restore the Hanoverian King with British support. Their armies are soundly routed and the King is captured. This would result in the formation of the 2nd Dutch Republic who favored reconquering Dutch speaking Belgium.
 * In Prussia, Polish revolutionaries launch an uprising against the Germans. In retaliation, several Prussian nationalists commit pogroms not only of Poles, but of Jews as Bismarck's assassin was Jewish. These Nationalists later form the Pan German League, colloquioally known as the Volkisch Movement, an occult and fascist movement which would gain a foothold in Prussia. General Moltke, disgusted by the Volkisch, would defect from Prussia and join the army of the Frankfurt Government.
 * France buys Luxembourg from the Netherlands and meets with the 2nd Frankfurt Government and they agree to cede all land west of the rhine in exchange for protection from the western powers. This hugely strengthens the French position on the continent. The British worry of growing French power and begin aiding the newly formed Italy in a similar to way to the way they aided Imperial Japan.  The French dominated Belgian State draws closer towards the French and becomes less neutral and more pro-French. Napoleon's successes on continental Europe lead to him keeping troops in Mexico and the liberal forces are defeated. The Empire of Mexico joins Brazil as one of the only monarchies in the Americas. Mexico becomes a haven for confederate expats, who form Confederate Emigre population that still espouse their views of "States Rights" and "Southern Nationalism", although becoming considerably less pro-slavery in order to fit in with the Francophile intelligentsia in Mexico.
 * Italy, never joining the Fraternal War because they were never sent the secret alliance due to Bismarck's death, still doesn't own Venetia and attempts to conquer it in a short war with Austria that proves to be a stalemate. Italy seeks to expand its resources to compete with its larger neighbors and begins mass industrializing as well as expansion of its colonial empire.
 * The Great Eastern Crisis occurs and Austria, Italy, and Russia, compete for land in the waning Ottoman Empire. The Italians negotiate a purchase of Cyprus after putting down a revolt in Albania while the Russians take the Provinces of Batumi and Kars. The Austrians take Bosnia and Herzegovina. The independent states of Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia are established. Serbia is put under the Austrian sphere of influence while Russia supports Bulgaria as it sees it as a way to create a unified strong slavic ally in the Balkans. Romania remains a buffer zone.