I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 440 The War of Spanish Succession - Joy Before the War (Part 1)

  If a person of our age is lucky enough to travel back in time to 1679, he will discover a wonderful thing.

Involving more than a dozen countries, that is, the entire Europa plus Britain, Ottoman Turkey, Russia and other countries, the war of Spanish succession, which had been fought intermittently for nearly ten years, was everywhere before the start of the war in 1680. It's full of mellow, happy smells.

First of all, we have to look at Leopold I, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Archduke of Austria. Undoubtedly, although this emperor has always been a spokesman for depression and anxiety, he has been very happy this year—a weak body , almost at the same time by the wizard and the doctor, the queen who was difficult to give birth to a child gave him a boy.

  This boy was an uncompromising gift to Leopold I, who had been driven to the edge of a cliff, even if his ranking was a little awkward. Although he was the eldest son, he had to become the ruler of Spain rather than Austria.

In history, this kind of thing is not without precedent, especially when Europa is still divided and ruled by many princes, in the future this child - Philip will inherit two countries at the same time, Spain and Austria, and then perhaps his descendants Take over these two splendid crowns, or, like the former Frankish king and Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, distribute the power in his hands to his brothers and children.

Not to mention that this was not the wishful thinking of Leopold I, if it hadn't been for Louis XIV, a strong France would be enough for other countries to be sad, and Louis XIV continued to marry Sweden, Portugal, Prussia, etc. It is to make reliable allies in disguise. Once this alliance is formed and consolidated, it is considered lucky that other countries can defend their original territories. As for other enclaves and colonies, they will inevitably be swallowed up by this behemoth.

With this knowledge, they are of course willing to stand with the enemies of France - and when Leopold I proposed his right to the Spanish throne, there was not much resistance, and some people even pushed it secretly - you can see by looking at the map, France can be linked with Spain, Austria cannot, the former is more threatening than the latter.

   In such an atmosphere, even if Leopold I was still worried about domestic and foreign debts, he still managed to borrow a large sum of money. Don't get me wrong, the money was not used to pay for the military, but to hold a grand naming ceremony for his first son Philip, "future King of Spain and Archduke of Austria".

The naming ceremony refers to the baptism and formal naming ceremony after the baby is born. Only after these two steps can the child truly become a legally and morally recognized existence, with rights and obligations" People”—the illegitimate son of Carlos II was unable to carry out this step, and finally ended at the turning point of his fate.

If the child's parents are just ordinary people, only a few closest friends and relatives will attend this ceremony and the following banquet, but since his father is the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Archduke Leopold I of Austria , his mother was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, and his naming and baptismal ceremonies must be the most solemn.

Austria, although after the Thirty Years War, did not directly participate in any major battle except for the Great War against Ottoman Turkey, and of course there will be no failures and losses, but like Leopold I, Austria People also felt the pressure from France. From the deep palace to the streets, more and more old people began to cherish the memory of the former emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V. Relatively, more young people began to pursue the pursuit from Paris or Versailles. The latest fashion that has come out - human beings are all strong. When a country or a civilization has the power to overwhelm the same kind, you will find that it will also become the object of people's admiration and pursuit. This is true for young people and the same for old people. , but the latter has seen the glory of the past, and can't help but mix a bit of jealousy and bitterness in the look-up meeting.

When   Leopold I imitated Louis XIV to erect street lights at night and rebuild roads and neighborhoods, he faced a lot of opposition.

He is not so reluctant. What can be more annoying than carrying the debt of the enemy, probably you have to follow in his footsteps and imitate his practice to make changes, but the benefits of such changes are immediate, ridiculous. What's more, because Austria's reform came after France, it also avoided many twists and turns and obstacles encountered by France in the reform.

Today's Vienna also has the shadow of the political, economic and cultural center of later generations. The streets and alleys extend in all directions, the houses are lined up, the glass windows are shining in the sun, the green trees are standing on both sides of the sidewalks like guards, and the square is everywhere. Sculptures and drinking pools can be seen, if not spotless on the ground, at least no feces and garbage can be seen.

For example, the Louvre in Paris and the Hofburg Palace in the center of Vienna were originally only a military castle. Later, the emperors of the Habsburgs continued to repair and expand them, but by the time of Leopold I A generation, since the treasury and the inner treasury were not so rich, he only built a "Leopold wing" - a large gallery similar to the Louvre, connecting the former old castle with a small palace at the rear - look at it this way The Hofburg Palace is not too shabby.

   Of course, it is by no means comparable to Louis XIV's Versailles, which, by the way, is one of the reasons why Leopold I has been brooding.

   However, the downfall of the palace can be made up for by the illustrious guests. Although in front of Louis XIV, Leopold I was always at a disadvantage, to others, he was still a worthy king, not to mention that this naming ceremony was also a horn sounded by the emperor before the war, Whether it is an enemy or a friend standing here, the decision is made today.

For example, King Louis XIV of France, King Carl XI of Sweden, King Pedro I of Portugal, and the former King of Poland, Kongdai, will definitely not stand here with Leopold I. Only the envoys gave the congratulations, and members of the anti-French faction in Spain, King Christian V of Denmark, and the principalities or minor princes of Switzerland, Milan, Turin and Genoa, all came to Leopold I in person. congratulations.

Among the latter, only King Christian V of Denmark seems to have the most weight, even if he is only a mediocre monarch, but with Denmark and Norway, it is difficult for King Carl XI of Sweden to devote himself to the subsequent war of succession to the throne - but This situation was soon broken, as Charles II of England, though not coming, sent his brother, the Duke of York.

The Duke of York has the nickname of "Lord of the Tower of London", which of course is to mock him and Charles II, because he has such a narrow-minded brother and he is ambitious himself, so the Duke has six in a year. He "lived" in the Tower of London for months, and was only released when something happened that had to be done by someone of sufficient weight.

Everyone can see that there are many pairs of surveillance eyes and dangerous arms around him - mainly to prevent him from taking the opportunity to escape, but there are not many people who really dare to laugh at this duke, after all, the son of Charles II has not yet After being able to grow up, and after the incident of Carlos II, the kings began to be cautious about how to use wizards in their children.

The last one who was imprisoned in the Tower of London for a long time was also precarious—the virgin queen Elizabeth. She also spent her entire girlhood in insults and intimidation, but this did not prevent her from taking over the throne of her sister. Who knows the Duke of York Could it be the next "Mr. Elizabeth"?

  The appearance of the Duke of York is appropriate, without making people feel that the British are too servile, and it can show that Charles II attaches great importance to the upcoming covenant - the Duke of York is still the second heir to the Stuart dynasty. Those who just saw the Duke of York couldn't help but frown under the brim - it seems that Britain and France have indeed become enemies.

The enmity between England and France is far deeper than that between France and Spain and Austria. The friendship between Charles II and Louis XIV can only be said to be a coincidence. The Duke of Charles became Charles II, and the family of the British Protectors was hung on the wall, and their emotions were at an end. Even if Britain and France did not go to war, there was constant friction, especially after Louis XIV had an ironclad ship, The British fleet took a huge hit after the Battle of Dunkirk - in addition to the sinking ships, it was the confidence they had built on the Spanish and the Dutch.

According to some unverifiable accounts, the British are also planning to build an ironclad fleet, but compared with the French, they can be said to be stretched in terms of technology and funds, and it is not surprising that they immediately decided to stand with Leopold I. together.

   In addition to these people, there are six most important guests to Leopold I.

   Six Electors.

In the "Edict of the Golden Seal", Charles IV for the first time confirmed the legitimacy of the great feudal princes to become emperors through election, and determined the seven electors of the empire. They were three church electors and four secular electors. Dihou, among them, the Archbishop of Mainz and Cologne, for their own benefit, sided with France in the war against Flanders and the Netherlands, and they did get the benefits. On the Austrian side, because if France were to unite with Spain, they would bear the brunt of the threat.

Among the secular electors, the Elector of Rhine-Palatinate, the Elector of Saxony, and the Elector of Bavaria have been determined to stand on the side of Leopold I, but only William I of the Kingdom of Prussia has been promoted from the Elector of Brandenburg to the Kingdom of Prussia. , his son has entered into a marriage contract with the daughter of the French Duke of Orleans, the daughter of the Grand Princess Marie, and what is more subtle is that the rich dowry of the Grand Princess also belongs to Leopold I. Part.

William I did not embarrass Leopold I too much. Although he had chosen Louis XIV, he stood with the electors at the banquet, but when the banquet was in the middle, he met the emperor in private and euphemistically stated own intention.

   "That is to say," Leopold I said with a gloomy expression: "You have decided to hold a wedding for those two children on Pentecost."

   "It was a good day," said William I, humbly, "you think so too."

This time is of course chosen. Pentecost is often referred to as Pentecost, after Easter, at the end of May - the war is inseparable from food reserves, and during busy farming and harvesting, except for Louis X. For a large standing army (full-time soldier) like Si, the soldiers who were converted from farmers will definitely want to escape from the battlefield to the farmland, so the wars are usually arranged in the months from late autumn to severe winter.

   Once the big county lord and the prince of Prussia have reached a marriage contract, they will usher in war.

"What can Louis XIV give you?" asked Leopold I, sitting on his favorite throne—topped with two-headed eagles looking to either side, it's hard to imagine that one is missing. What an ugly ward looks like: "What can he give that I can't give? Sir, you are still my minister after all (the electors have official positions in the empire), and you are also one of the electors. , you should be on an equal footing with Louis XIV, not willing to be his vassal."

"I'm not his vassal, Your Majesty," William I, who was past the age of irritability, only smiled slightly at Leopold I's provocation and provocation: "But our covenant is that before you decide to go to war, I should first We all know that the contract will be fulfilled—and if I void this engagement, it will be difficult for your army to hold out until it sees the dawn of victory.”—If the goddess of victory is really on your side.

   "It seems that you are not willing to obey my good intentions, so I will say it directly," Leopold I said coldly: "Sir, Prussia is far from France, but it is very close to Austria."

   "Your Majesty, I thought this was your threat and not mine."

   "You are facing an Austria. Seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire, as long as you turn to the enemy."

   "Have they all been persuaded by you?"

   "They are far more visionary and insightful than you," said Leopold I bitterly.

   "Then, if you insist..." William I said calmly: "I can go out now and tell the Prince of Conti of France that I am going to void the engagement between my son and their grand county master..."

   "Are you really willing to do that?"

"As you described the situation to me, Your Majesty, you asked me to do this, and I will do it." William I stared at Leopold I and said, seeing this man who was two years younger than Louis XIV. The emperor who went up but was about the same age as William I suddenly clapped his hands, "Well, sir," he said: "I will say now, how precious I have seen your loyalty! I must say that you have withstood my test. —It's a bit harsh, but I, sir, believe me, don't want to put you in that predicament."

He stood up, stretched out his hand, and took William I's arm—if it wasn't for his lack of height, he might have hugged the other's shoulder, and William I suppressed his disgust and asked patiently, "I can know what you think. What?"

   "The marriage goes on," whispered Leopold I, "but not the covenant."

   (end of this chapter)