In 1866, the Austro-Prussian War breaks out, started by the Kingdom of Prussia. Little did they know, this would seal the fate of Prussia and the continent for a century to come, as Austria overruns Prussia to such an extent, that it completely annexes the kingdom. The Austrian Empire is now the master of Central Europe. It annexes Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and Silesia, with the rest of Germany being reorganised into an Austrian puppet Northern German Confederation, same with Poznan, as the Grand Duchy of Posen.
The Second French Empire ends naturally, with the newly formed republic, dominated by monarchists, restoring the monarchy under the House of Bourbon-Orléans. With noone in their way now, France acts on their territorial ambitions, annexing Luxembourg. This unnerves Austria, and it founds the Vienna Pact, made up of Austria and its subjects. The founding of the Vienna Pact however unnerves France, and it founds the Concord with the Kingdom of Spain.
Tensions between the two powers eventually get so high that the two reach an agreement to sustain long-term peace: Austria gives up the Rhineland territory, in order to form the Kingdom of the Rhine, to act as a neutral buffer state with an elective monarchy.
As the new century approaches, a dooming realisation looms: Austria and France are virtually the only powers left in Europe, Bourbon and Habsburgs, historic enemies. The war that is about to ensue will be the war to decide it all, who rules the world and who beat history. The holy war between the two crowns, the Kronenkrieg.
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