Chapter 47 Marriage Matters
October 14, 1866, Hechingen.
Ernst finally formed his first fleet, which was a big step for the Hechingen Consortium. In the future, with the continuous expansion of this fleet, the route will become increasingly stable.
It will bring huge benefits to Ernst. The purpose of establishing a fleet is not only a question of profitability, but also a question of whether it can be independent.
As the saying goes, it depends on everyone to fall. Relying on the Dutch will one day suffer a big loss, either today or tomorrow.
And having a fleet in your own hands means that you can personally participate in world trade. Overseas colonization relies on strong ships and sharp guns.
Ships are the hub that connects the world. They are the most important means of transportation in the world after the advent of the Age of Discovery. Several world hegemons have achieved their hegemony by controlling the sea.
Today the Hechingen Consortium established its first fleet of its own. This was not only the first step in Ernst’s own career, but also a big step for the entire East African colony.
The population and materials needed by the East African colonies can be better transported through their own fleet, especially some items that were once more troublesome. The Dutch would not transport them, and some items require high confidentiality. Ernst himself would not be worried if the Dutch took over the supplies.
Ernst, who had returned from Venice, was reading the newspaper at home when the old prince Constantine walked in from the door.
"Ernst, you are already 16 years old in the blink of an eye!" Prince Constantine said with emotion.
"What's wrong? Father." Ernst asked doubtfully.
"It's nothing, it's just a moment of emotion seeing that you have grown up and have your own career." Prince Constantine replied.
“Ernst, you are no longer a child, it’s time to think about your life-long events!”
Hearing this, Ernst still knows whether the master What are you thinking? As a human again, Ernst had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Ernst, who had lived two lives, was not a person who spoke with emotion. The edges and corners had long been smoothed by the polishing of his previous life.
As a nobleman in this life, Ernst himself feels that free love is nonsense. Now Ernst also puts interests first.
And marriage, especially the marriage of contemporary European aristocrats, is all about the export of interests. Usually, he is fine. He is busy with work, and Ernst himself has no time to think about these things.
Now that Prince Constantine has said it himself, he probably has a plan. He might as well go with the flow and see what his father thinks.
"Father, do you already have a candidate?" Ernst asked deliberately.
"Haha, he is indeed my son. You all know this." Constantine took out a piece of information from behind with a smile.
"As I get older, I still want to personally take care of your marriage. Your mother left early and I raised you up, so naturally I have to arrange your marriage."
said As Constantine spread out the information in his hand, he said: "This time, there are three candidates. One is Princess Heidi of Sweden introduced by your aunt, one is Princess Martha of the Russian Empire, and the other is from Austria. Princess Karina."
Ernst looked at the information and asked in surprise: "Why are you so young? The oldest is only twelve years old and the youngest is only ten years old!"
Prince Constantine knocked Ernst on the head with his hand: "Are you very old yourself?"
"Ernst, you are only sixteen years old, you don't think you are an adult already, do you? I didn't get married until I was twenty-six years old, so naturally you have to wait a few years."
"These The princess is very young, but she will become a grown-up girl in a few years. Now, of course, I have to take advantage of her and find you a good match while I am still a bit thin." Constantine said.
“Don’t be so anxious!” Ernst asked in confusion.
“What do you know? In recent years, there have been more and more misunderstandings among European nobles, especially the royal families of various countries. I don’t know what’s going on. Things always happen, that is, others dare not say it. I You can be clear in your heart, we didn’t have so many things to do at that time, so I will tell you this, You must not mention it to others.”
“So, I am looking for a healthy daughter-in-law. I even checked their parents’ medical history, and finally found these three who are absolutely healthy. His status is worthy of our Hohenzollern family.”
Ernst heard what his father said and understood in his heart what his father was talking about. His poor nephew Wilhelm II was a victim. Although he escaped from hemophilia, he was still suffering from a type of paralysis when he was born, resulting in The left arm is atrophic.
Thinking of this, Ernst shuddered instantly. If he remembered correctly, because of the marriage of the British royal family, hemophilia, a hereditary disease, was brought to many European royal families with the descendants of Queen Victoria. Including Germany, Romania (the Hohenzollern family is suspected to be the biggest victim.) Greece, Croatia, Russia and Denmark...
Ernst did not know how many children Queen Victoria had, after all, he did not search carefully. , this is not something that a nobody like me can get involved in.
However, I am still worried about the royal families of the above-mentioned countries. Looking at the two candidates in the information, Sweden and Russia, well, it should be fine! The information above is very clear about their parents' situation and relationship. After all, in this era, it is normal for close relatives to marry.
None of the three candidates this time had anything to do with Britain. Ernst continued to look down.
Suddenly, Ernst discovered something incredible? To be honest, Ernst had never heard of any of these three princesses.
The Swedish princess and the Russian princess are related to their mothers, so they are connected. For example, the former Queen of Sweden, Josephine, was Ernst's aunt, and she was the first choice. The second Russian princess is also her mother's sister and has such a relationship with the marriage of a Russian noble.
But the third one is not within Ernst’s knowledge. Princess Karina, the daughter of Mexican Emperor Maximiliano I, is 10 years old. She has lived in the Habsburg family since she was a child. Raised under the care of her grandmother, Princess Sophie...
? ? ? ? ……
Ernst was filled with questions. This Princess Karina was too outrageous!
If I remember correctly? This Maximilian I was the younger brother of Franz, the current emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Habsburg family.
I have heard the name of this Mexican emperor, but I don’t remember that he had descendants in history?
If I remember correctly, Maximiliano I specifically adopted the descendants of the former Mexican emperor as his adopted son because he had no descendants of his own.
"Father, what's going on with Princess Karina?" Ernst asked doubtfully.
"This Princess Karina is the daughter of Maximilian I, the child born when Maximilian I and Queen Charlotte were still in Europe."
Isn't that right? Ernst doubted himself that even if history changed due to the butterfly effect of his birth, it would be impossible for his family to be connected with the Habsburgs, right?
“Father, I don’t understand. Princess Karina’s status in the Habsburg family is not low. She is Franz’s niece and Queen Sophie’s favorite. Moreover, her father is still How could the Emperor of Mexico, whose status and identity are more prominent than ours, intentionally contact us?”
Constantine said with a smile: “This is not a good thing done by Maximiliano I himself, the entire Habsburgs back then! Fort was opposed to his going to Mexico. When Mexico took office, he took the blame for Napoleon III. As a result, this fool ignored the opposition of his family and would rather give up his inheritance rights in Habsburg than go to the mud ditch in Mexico."
"It's better now. , France withdrew its troops from Mexico, and I heard that the situation of Maximiliano I was getting worse and worse. Some time ago, he and Queen Carlotta were lobbying European countries to interfere in Mexican politics. "
Ernst pointed: "But what does this have to do with marriage?"
"Isn't that the case? Queen Mother Sophie took the attention herself? When Maximiliano I went to Mexico, Queen Mother Sophie was very angry. Half-dead, she loved Maximiliano I the most since she was a child."
"Before Maximiliano I and Queen Carlotta went to Mexico, the situation in Mexico was turbulent, and Princess Carolina was still young. Therefore, Queen Mother Sophie With."
"After encountering the two terrible sons of Franz and Maximilian I, Queen Mother Sophie is now a helpless person. She is afraid that her descendants will be as unhappy as her two sons, so she is not happy with her education. Even more severe. "
"For example, Maximiliano I was too expensive to raise and was originally a fool. However, he was instigated by Queen Carlotta to dream of becoming emperor, and he fell into a big mess. .”
"Princess Sophie feels that it is her daughter-in-law's fault that her two sons have become like this, so she is now more focused on status and ability when choosing her grandson-in-law."
Ernst nodded quickly when he heard this. Ability is indeed very important. .
“It is not easy to find such a person in Europe. Habsburg has no shortage of marriage partners, but Queen Mother Sophie is more interested in ability and character this time, and finally she chose you. .”
! ! !
Ernst was a little embarrassed to be told that he was not as good as he said.
"My son, of course I know it myself. Needless to say, his ability is in the first place in Europe." The lives of nobles are not very good. Ernst, there are no scandals among people of your age. It is rare outside."
"In terms of status, our family is not bad, and the Hohenzollern family is exactly that. In their heyday, Prussia and Romania now belong to our Hohenzollern family, which is considered the first in Europe. You will inherit my position as prince in the future."
"Although Karina. His father is the emperor of Mexico, but his position is just for Mexicans to enjoy themselves! What is really valuable to him is his status as a member of the Habsburg family. As a result, he has to give up his inheritance rights. Now the situation in Mexico is becoming increasingly difficult to control. Everyone understands that there is no place for an emperor in Mexico. "
Please understand that this is a novel. Princess Karina is a fictional character, made up by me just like Ernst. Some people should not be too outrageous.
(End of this chapter)