Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

April 12, 1865

At a time when all countries were worried that the Tsarist Empire might launch an attack on the Bessarabia region, causing another war in the Black Sea.

Beust, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saxony, was successfully elected as the new Speaker of the German Confederation with the support of Hanover, the fourth largest country in the German Confederation, and many small countries in the Confederation.

At the victory conference, he announced the establishment of an alliance between the Kingdom of Saxony and the Kingdom of Hanover, forming a third force within the German Confederation to compete with the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia.

"I am dissatisfied with the fact that Austria and Prussia want to negotiate independently on the issues of Schleswig and Holstein without the family of the German Confederation to obtain these two results. I will hold a meeting in the coming week. We personally sent our questions to Prime Minister Bismarck and Austrian Prime Minister Archduke Rainer Ferdinand at the German Confederation Assembly in order to ask the two countries to change their disunity attitude towards the German Confederation."

With his tough speech, the principalities of Prussia and Austria suddenly changed their colors and expressed their dissatisfaction with him.

But what greatly annoyed the two countries was that his speech won the support of many small countries, making the two countries reluctantly accept the sudden emergence of a third party in the German Confederation.

The unexpected countries of the German Confederation were very surprised by this, so they began to investigate Beister's past.

In 1849, he served as the foreign minister of King John I of the Kingdom of Saxony under the German Confederation. In May of the same year, Beust represented the Kingdom of Saxony to Prussia to suppress the popular uprising in Dresden, thereby opening up close diplomatic relations between Saxony and Prussia. . In 1853, he became the Minister of the Interior of Saxony. He strived to develop the Saxony economy through moderate and moderate internal reforms. As his relationship with Prussia developed rapidly as he had laid the groundwork earlier, he got on Prussia's coattails. Saxony's economy developed rapidly. Supported by the people of Saxony.

Although due to economic interests, when faced with the competition between Prussia and Austria, he sometimes naturally turned to the economic power Prussia. However, after becoming Prime Minister of Saxony in 1858, his foreign policy made him increasingly inclined to Austria. , and therefore had a sharp confrontation with Prussian Prime Minister Bismarck.

Just like this time in the election for the German Confederation, there were originally only Bismarck and Archduke Rainer Ferdinand, but he stepped in and used the small countries' concerns about their own interests being swallowed up by the two big powers as a weapon to take advantage of them in one fell swoop. The numerous small states of the German Confederation served as a third force between Austria and Prussia.

It can be said that it was in the limelight for a while.

The German Confederation is located in the heart of Europe. It inherits the land transportation routes between Eastern Europe and Western Europe, Southern Europe and Northern Europe. At the same time, its strategic location cannot be ignored by all countries.

Originally, when Austria and Prussia were almost in agreement about the German Confederation, the countries had not said anything, but this time a third party appeared, which can be said to have broken the inability of countries to interfere in the internal affairs of the German Confederation. The unexpected rise of Saxony Beust made Countries finally discovered the gap.

So all countries expressed their opinions one after another.

Among them, Britain, which had close relations with the Kingdom of Hanover, was the first to take a stand.

"Small countries are also countries. I hope that the German Confederation can be more democratic. I also hope that when differences arise in the governance of Schleswig and Holstein, countries can resolve them peacefully in parliament."

British Foreign Secretary Russell's statement showed that Britain supported Beust's expansion, but his support caused many small German Confederation countries to begin to support Beust.

The UK is ahead, so how can other countries fall behind?

France also expressed its support for the democratic tendencies within the German Confederation and hoped that Prussia and Austria could tolerate the rise of dissent. Prime Minister Olivier said that this would provide substantial help in promoting the governance of the German Confederation.

Then Dutch Foreign Minister Hesbert von expressed his stance.

The Netherlands stated that Luxembourg is a principality under the direct administration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Principality of Luxembourg has always been independent and stated that Luxembourg chose neutrality when faced with the three forces of the German Confederation.

At the same time, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Principality of Luxembourg, owned by William IV, will continue to be a neutral presence in the European situation and will not participate in any external actions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Principality of Luxembourg declares its neutrality!

This was recognized by the surrounding French Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, Principality of Lorraine, and Principality of Belgium.

At the same time, other countries in the German Confederation that did not border the country also expressed their recognition of the neutral status of the Principality of Luxembourg. Even the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Tsarist Russia, and Ottoman countries all recognized this position.

As a result, Luxembourg became the fourth neutral country on the European continent to gain European recognition after Switzerland and Sweden, which were recognized in 1815, and Belgium, which became independent in 1830.

The fragmentation of the German Confederation allowed German power to form a united front against other countries in Nanyi, making countries such as Britain, France, Russia, and the Ottomans heave a sigh of relief. After all, the German Confederation, which had two large countries, Austria and Prussia, plus many small countries, was too strong.

Especially with the rise of Prussia, the economy promoted the economic and industrial development of the countries in the northern German Confederation. Countries in the south also rushed to establish the Southern German Customs Union under the promotion of Austria to counter the Prussian-led North German Customs Union.

Even though the development between the north and the south was uneven, the effect was similar to other countries, especially Tsarist Russia, which was under great pressure. Therefore, it had always either suppressed Prussia and supported Austria. After the Crimean War, Tsarist Russia and Austria fell out. So for more than ten years, it supported Prussia in suppressing Austria.

Therefore, the German Confederation was even more fragmented at this time, which was completely in line with the core interests of the Russian Empire.

Alexander II even became more confident in the plan that was about to be launched in the south because of this.

William IV, who is at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is currently having a chat with the heads of his intelligence agency, McKay Sean and Bill Charlie.

"According to His Majesty's instructions, it has been arranged that Van Gogh is currently on an artistic education tour in France, Italy, the United Kingdom and other countries. As for Thomas Edison"

Bill Charlie looked strange for a while, and then said in amazement: "He actually came to the Netherlands in 1863 and within a year, he obtained two patents. At the end of 1863, he invented an automatic recording machine. In 1865 In January of that year, another ordinary printing press was invented, which immediately caused a sensation among the top management of William Group. William Group even bought the patent for 40,000 pounds. At the same time, it began to set up two factories in Rotterdam and Sydney, Australia, to produce this Block printing press.”