Chapter 3
In which the Habsburg Empire grows larger, and further imperialism abounds.
1885-87 – Another uprising by ethnic Serbs in the Ottoman Empire prompts Russia to intervene on their side, while the Austrians jump in later. Another conference in Berlin forces the Russians to hold off their more outlandish demands for a vast, independent Bulgaria, but it does result in considerable territorial concessions to be made by the Ottomans. The area around Kars and Batum is annexed by Russia, and Bulgaria becomes a semi-independent Ottoman vassal. Meanwhile Thessaly is ceded to (non-combatant) Greece, and Montenegro is awarded additional territory. Cyprus is placed under British administration, though the island is still technically under Ottoman control[1]. During the uprising, both Prince Milan II Obrenovic and the pretender Alexander Karadjordjevic die; as the two families’ feuding becomes toxic, risking wiping each other out, a council of leading Serbs (very) grudgingly accept Franz Josef as their king instead, in exchange for considerable autonomy and Archduke Rudolf marrying a daughter of the Obrenovic family (who is, by now, the heiress); in addition, Austria occupies Bosnia, Herzegovina and the Sanjak of Novi Pazar[2].
1890 – William IV becomes king of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg[3].
1891 – The so-called Palmer Line[4] is established as the border between British India and Afghanistan, splitting the Pashto area between them, which later becomes the source of endless headaches[5].
1892 – Following political instability, stoked by American merchants and adventurers, Hawaii becomes a protectorate of Britain; however, though the US government does issue a (grudging) apology, it doesn’t formally recognise Hawaii’s new status until three years later, when a new treaty guaranteeing the same trading rights as with Britain to both the Americans and French is signed.
1893 – The United States mediates a border dispute between Britain and Venezuela, finding (mostly) in the latter’s favour. New Zealand becomes the first country or colony in modern times to allow women to vote on an equal basis to men, though they aren’t allowed to stand for election for another two decades. The Central American Federation is formed between El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, with its capital at Amapala, Honduras; both Costa Rica and Guatemala were given open invitations to join, but they have never done so.
1894 – Austrian forces assist loyalist Serbs in quelling a peasant uprising. Bulgarian forces invade and occupy Eastern Roumelia, which comes under the effective control of its forces, though still under formal Ottoman rule.
1895 – The *Sino-Japanese War occurs, after which China is forced to concede the independence of Corea, to transfer rule over Taiwan, the Pescadores Islands and the Liaotung peninsula to Japan, as well as paying a huge indemnity; however, due to Russian protests, they, as well as Germany and France, force Japan to retrocede Liaotung in lieu of an additional payment from China.
The Second Sino-French War occurs, concurrent to the war between China and Japan, in which France annexes the island of Hainan, and finally settles the disputed border between China and French Indochina.
A Russo-British agreement settles the part of Afghanistan’s northern border along the Pamir Mountains.
1896 – A customs union is established between the British colonies in southern Africa and the two Boer States; though supposedly recognising their independence, both states are rendered into economic satellites of Britain – it does, however, help to lessen tension between them
1898 – Russia leases the Liaotung Peninsula (including the port city of Luta (later Darien)) from China for 25 years, in order to possess an ice-free port in the Pacific, and also as an important railhead for a spur of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The *Tripartite Convention is held between Germany and the UK to partition between them the highly disputed Samoa Islands, which almost led to a shooting match; the US secured its claim to the Line Islands, with the UK dropping its (rather tenuous) ones[6].
1899 – A popular, anti-Western uprising occurs in China – often referred to as the *Boxer Rebellion in the west, for their use of martial arts – which is put down by the 8 Power Pact – UK, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan, Spain and Russia. As a result of the treaty, France, Germany and Britain all gain new outposts – Britain a long-term lease on territory adjacent to Hong Kong and of the port city of Weihaiwei; Germany, the city of Tsingtao and the Kiaochow Bay; and France the city of Kwangchouwan[7]; meanwhile, each of the 8 powers, along with the US, gain concessions in Tientsin and Shanghai. Much of the old city of Tientsin is partitioned into concessions for each of these powers.
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[1] Rather later than IOTL, with the failure of the Serbian uprising during the previous decade ITTL.
[2] This idea is “inspired” (*cough*) by one of Bruce’s many, many maps of awesome. With apologies.
[3] Second son of William III, he died young of an illness IOTL, which was butterflied away ITTL. The eldest son committed suicide.
[4] Equivalent to the OTL Durand Line, though drawn slightly more in Britain’s favour ITTL – for example, Jalalabad is part of the Northwest Frontier Province rather than Afghanistan.
[5] Nothing new there, then…
[6] A culmination of butterflies here. OTL American Samoa is British ITTL, along with Tokelau, which it held IOTL. American merchants are still knocking about, though, just not with as many warships hanging around. Instead, they are concentrating on OTL eastern Kiribati ITTL.
[7] OTL Zhanjiang, Guandong province.