Námořník - Maxmilián 1. – Drnek Jan (2020)

On February 18, 1853, the young Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I is assassinated by a Hungarian assassin. His younger brother Maximilian, who serves as a captain in the navy in Trieste, is called to the throne according to the line of succession. Maximilian is sharp, clever, and already an experienced cosmopolitan who has traveled a good part of Europe, experienced much, and is used to acting for himself. In Vienna, he has no limiting ties to his brother's entourage of incompetent sycophants and quickly builds his secret cabinet, seeking capable men for his crew. He is a sailor in body and soul and governs the empire like a ship with a destination. He takes office just as the Crimean War begins and must navigate between the grinding stones of Russia and France, and later Prussia. Austria is in a poor financial situation, its army is outdated, its nations are divided and agitated by the recent revolution, the Holy Alliance is disintegrating, and the empire is considered an easy prey. However, maintaining neutrality is not enough. Emperor Ferdinand Maximilian I must offer something other than predatory capitalism, liberalism, socialism, or nationalism. He must present a vision of stability that has perspective and is open to the future. However, the history of Europe in the second half of the 19th century will be somewhat different. And so will our present.