Empire Rising: Spain

Chapter 16: Chapter 15: Assessment

It must be admitted that, looking at the history of the unification of Italy, aside from the unexpected factor of Garibaldi, the rest can be attributed solely to luck, without any actual strength.

The Austro-Prussian War allowed Italy to easily acquire the Venice Region and the southern part of South Tyrol. This Franco-Prussian War triggered by the Spanish throne also presented Italians with the opportunity to reclaim Rome.

Currently occupying Rome is the Catholic Church, also known as the Pope State. Supporting the Pope State is the European hegemon France, which is also the reason why Italy, despite being unified, cannot reclaim the most central region of Rome.

But after the war broke out, the French Army stationed in Rome has gradually started withdrawing.

Italy is waiting for the moment when all the French Army has completely withdrawn, and the Roman Curia’s forces will be unable to stop the unified march of Italy; Rome is about to become the official capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Just as Vittorio Emanuele II anxiously awaited the complete withdrawal of the French Army from Rome, the Spanish Government also sent a request to the Italian Government for a diplomatic visit.

This time, Spain’s envoy was quite luxurious, led by Prime Minister Prim, accompanied by several ministers from the government, including some high-ranking generals from the Spanish Military.

With the recent selection event for the King of Spain, Vittorio Emanuele II seemed to understand the purpose of this diplomatic visit from Spain.

However, there is one thing Vittorio Emanuele II did not quite understand: why, when the Spanish Government secretly investigated candidates from other countries, it turned into sending a diplomatic envoy to visit Italy?

Moreover, leading the envoy is Prim, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Spain, a figure who handles both military and political affairs, definitely the most powerful person in Spain today.

Although he did not quite understand Prim’s intentions, as Spain was also a major Mediterranean country, Italy naturally would not refuse the Spanish Government’s proactive visit.

Constantly paying attention to Spanish news, Carlo naturally learned of the Spanish Government’s request for a diplomatic visit to Italy.

For something that has never happened in history, Carlo could not help but have a few guesses in his heart.

If the list of candidates for the Spanish throne only included Amadeo’s name, they most likely would not come to Italy.

After all, three of the four historical competitors have withdrawn, and if there were no other contenders, Amadeo should have already won.

Combining the request from the Spanish Government for a diplomatic visit, Carlo can basically conclude that he must also be on the list of candidates for the Spanish throne and has already entered the final circle to compete with his brother Amadeo.

This also means that the selection of the Spanish throne will be revealed with Prim’s diplomatic visit. If Carlo wants to become the King of Spain, he must seize every opportunity in this diplomatic visit and demonstrate his strengths to Prim.

The good news is, historically, Amadeo became the King of Spain not because he was particularly outstanding.

In fact, compared to the other three candidates, Amadeo could only be considered barely qualified. It was due to the proactive withdrawal of Portugal’s Regent Fernando and the strong opposition from the French against Prince Leopold becoming the King of Spain that allowed Amadeo to benefit from the situation and ultimately win.

However, compared to Carlo, Amadeo also has his advantages. Firstly, he is six years older, and at the age of 25, he appears more mature and stable, which is relatively important to Spain.

But Carlo is not without his advantages. Compared to Amadeo, Carlo is definitely more familiar with Spain’s current two main power holders.

In comparison to Prim’s ambitions for Spain, Amadeo’s mere six-year age advantage is actually not that significant.

Moreover, for Prim, who holds military and political power, he may not willingly see a more mature and stable King competing for power.

While being young signifies immaturity and instability, it also indicates being easier to control than someone older.

At least for Prim, who is focused on promoting reform in Spain, Amadeo may not necessarily hold an advantage.

After silently calculating the advantages he and his brother Amadeo each possess, Carlo began planning how to demonstrate his advantages in this diplomatic visit and make Prim choose him.

The first thing to do is to recognize his own identity.

Regardless of whether Amadeo or Carlo becomes the King of Spain, in the early stages, they cannot hold too much real power.

It would be beneficial to have support from Prim and Serrano, both of whom hold military and political power, which would be a considerable assistance to the King.

If there is no support from these two, the King of Spain could be seen as a complete lone figure, without any reliable subordinates.

Given this situation, Carlo’s initial plan after becoming the King of Spain has never been to seize power, but rather to help Prim and Serrano reform Spain while stabilizing his throne.

Currently, Spain is still a second-tier country in Europe, but has opened up a considerable gap with major powers like England, France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria.

Even Italy, which has only recently unified, has surpassed Spain in comprehensive strength. If Spain does not reform and continues to deteriorate, it might even become a third-tier country in Europe.

Prim and Serrano both hold great prestige, making it much smoother for them to actively initiate reforms in Spain compared to Carlo doing so himself; Spaniards would be more likely to accept it.

More importantly, Prim and Serrano are both willing to see a monarch supportive of reforms appear in Spain.

Especially Prim, as the most powerful person in Spain, he is thoroughly a representative of the Reform Faction.

Although historically, Prim was assassinated before Amadeo arrived in Spain, in the short time he was Prime Minister of Spain, he promoted the issuance of many decrees and was also a representative of the Spanish Reform Faction.

If Carlo can exhibit his support for reforms during Prim’s visit to Italy, he believes he will garner Prim’s favor.

As long as either Prim or Serrano supports him, Carlo does not believe he will lose to his brother Amadeo in this competition for the throne.

After all, in the three years of Amadeo’s reign as King of Spain, he did not display any particularly noteworthy talents, nor did he have much ambition or a grand vision.