I toyed around with the idea of a PoD in 1825 or thereabouts, leading to a surviving Austria-Hungary (though, technically, it would be a surviving Austrian Empire without the Ausgleich) and one that is legitimately a Great Power. In brief, Franz II doesn't bring in Kolowrat-Leibsteinsky into the government, leaving Metternich as, basically, the man in charge. Secondly, Franz II caves and bypasses Ferdinand (Metternich did bring up the matter a few times, but never truly confronted the Emperor) ... do it, say, by 1831 or so. The crown passes to Franz Joseph (then a year old), with a formal regency (rather than the informal, secret one of OTL), which is presided by Metternich, which leaves him some time for reforms before things reach a boiling point in Europe.
Interestingly, conservatives at the time toyed around with the idea of devolution. Metternich was a major advocate of instituting limited parliaments in crownlands (so, Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia and, IIRC, Venice and Galizia). They were envisioned as having very little real power, but as a foundation for further development, they'd serve brilliantly.
Finally, while Austrian finances would certainly be worse off without Kolowrat (the man was brilliant), at least the army would be functional (as opposed to being stripped of funds to the extent that the standing army couldn't afford to pay wages to the troops). So, come 1848 or equivalent, you'd have an Austrian army that isn't a shadow of its former self ... and a solid foundation for a gradual liberalisation that culminates in a federation.
Figuring out things beyond Austria-Hungary was something of a problem, so the project had just been sitting on my hard drive for years now.
Interestingly, conservatives at the time toyed around with the idea of devolution. Metternich was a major advocate of instituting limited parliaments in crownlands (so, Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia and, IIRC, Venice and Galizia). They were envisioned as having very little real power, but as a foundation for further development, they'd serve brilliantly.
Finally, while Austrian finances would certainly be worse off without Kolowrat (the man was brilliant), at least the army would be functional (as opposed to being stripped of funds to the extent that the standing army couldn't afford to pay wages to the troops). So, come 1848 or equivalent, you'd have an Austrian army that isn't a shadow of its former self ... and a solid foundation for a gradual liberalisation that culminates in a federation.
Figuring out things beyond Austria-Hungary was something of a problem, so the project had just been sitting on my hard drive for years now.