Joseph II and Bavaria : Two Eighteenth Century Attempts at German Unification

they represented a congeries of varied languages, cultures and traditions. Moreover the status of Germany, in theory ruled by the Hapsburgs in their capacity of Holy Roman Emperors, had since the conclusion of the Thirty Years War been in some doubt. In practice the Hapsburgs could count on obedience always in their family dominions, not particularly extensive and mostly concentrated in the West (Vorderosterreich); sometimes in the South German Catholic states; and virtually not at all in the Protestant North. Then, too, in the second half of the seventeenth century Prussia had emerged as a power, which although still technically a part of the Empire, was increasingly capable and willing to pursue a thoroughly independent course. The position of Charles VI was thus not an entirely happy one. The long run alternatives which would seem to have confronted him were either to acquiesce in the continuing erosion of Hapsburg influence in Germany, which ultimately might well have resulted in his ruling over a Danubian Empire with a German-speaking minority; or to try to buttress his position in Germany, which would have required eventually a viable modus vivendi between his German and non-German subjects. Front Matter....Pages I-IX Diplomatic Background....Pages 1-15 Joseph II, Bavaria and France....Pages 16-34 Death of the Elector Max Joseph and Austrian Occupation of Bavaria....Pages 35-50 Frederick II’s Counter Measures....Pages 51-74 European Reactions....Pages 75-92 Preparations for War....Pages 93-106 The Potato War....Pages 107-123 The Peace of Teschen....Pages 124-133 The Diplomacy of Joseph as Emperor....Pages 134-150 Plans for a Bavarian Exchange....Pages 151-168 Exchange Negotiations....Pages 169-185 Continuing Negotiations....Pages 186-202 Failure of the Exchange....Pages 203-216 Epilogue....Pages 217-218 Back Matter....Pages 219-227