Válka na zkoušku - Maxmilián 2. – Drnek Jan (2020)

On February 18, 1853, the young Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I was assassinated by a Hungarian assassin. His younger brother Maximilian, who had grown up outside the court as a captain in the navy in Trieste, was called to the throne according to the line of succession. Maximilian is sharp, clever, and an experienced cosmopolitan, used to acting on his own. After his coronation, he quickly built his secret cabinet from capable men. He took office at the beginning of the Crimean War and had to navigate between the grinding stones of Russia and France. Through skillful maneuvering, he managed to maintain the empire's neutrality and use the war to implement fundamental reforms and improve Austria's financial situation. He succeeded in reconciling the warring nations and gaining protectorate over Romania without a fight. Now, his rule awaits a true test by fire. The aggressive French Emperor Napoleon III will want to exploit Italian nationalism and conquer Austria in Lombardy. Maximilian cannot retreat; he believes that the state and the empire are more than the nation. Moreover, he knows who his true enemy is, who finances such wars. Austria must prevail, and all of Europe will just watch. However, the history of Europe in the second half of the 19th century is already developing somewhat differently. And so is our present.