Chapter 71: Covert Reforms
Croatia. After Kossuth issued the Declaration of Independence for Hungary, many Croatian nobles were hesitant about whether to join the Hungarian Republic or remain in the Austrian Empire. However, soon reality forced them to make a decision. The interim government of Hungary excluded the Croats from their sphere of power, which sparked dissatisfaction among the local nobility. The vast majority of land in the region of Croatia was under the control of the Hungarian aristocracy, who looked down upon the Croatian "upstarts." This created a division between the local minor nobility and the Hungarian nobility. This situation provided an opportunity for the Vienna government. Franz immediately extended goodwill to the local minor nobility, promising them a place in the future Austrian government. Specifically, it involved the establishment of an Austrian National Union, which would exercise the rights of the parliament. Within this union, there would be 2 to 5 seats allocated for representatives of the Croatian people. The specific number will depend on their performance. In any case, this transitional institution of national integration will serve as one of the highest governing bodies of the Austrian Empire for the foreseeable future. To gain political influence, it is necessary to actively participate. In theory, each percentage point of the population would be allocated a representative seat. The Croatian population is less than three percent of the total population of Austria. If they can secure five representative seats, their political influence will significantly increase. After winning over the upper class of the Croatian people, Franz did not neglect to win the support of the lower-class masses. It was the ordinary people in the lower strata of society who were truly willing to sacrifice themselves for him. After the declaration of Hungarian independence, the Austrian government authorized Josip Jela?i?, the Ban of Croatia, to seize the lands of Hungarian nobility and abolish serfdom. TN: "Ban of Croatia" refers to a historical position in Croatia, which was part of the Habsburg Empire during that time. The Ban of Croatia was a high-ranking official appointed by the monarch to govern and administer the region. The support for the Austrian government quickly gained the upper hand. By May, Ban Josip Jela?i?, the appointed governor, already had 80,000 Croatian volunteer soldiers under his command. On May 1st, Franz issued the Military Merit Land Grant Decree. Since the common people helped the government suppress the rebellion, they were eligible to receive land. The loyal soldiers who were devoted to the Emperor were naturally included in this decree as well. Currently, the Austrian government has confiscated a significant amount of land, and there is still a vast amount of land in the Kingdom of Hungary awaiting confiscation. The Austrian Empire also possesses plenty of land available for development. Allocating a portion of it to the soldiers should not pose a major problem. Certainly, in order to curb land consolidation, there are restrictions on the land grants. The maximum land grant allowed is not to exceed fifty hectares. For the common people, fifty hectares is already a significant number. Especially for those who have just gained their freedom and have no land or serfdom, it is enough to make them willing to serve the emperor. After the issuance of the Military Merit Land Grant, there was a constant stream of people joining the military. For the majority of the population, the cost of purchasing land was too high, so they preferred to go to the battlefield instead. As the day began to break, the recruitment point in Morkes had already gathered a considerable number of people. "Madich, are you here to sign up as well?" "Yes, Gorrich. After careful consideration, I believe that men should indeed be on the battlefield!" Madich replied earnestly. "But Madich, didn't you say last time that you wanted to become a great blacksmith?" Gorrich asked, confused. In Croatia, where the Industrial Revolution has not yet taken hold, ordinary agricultural tools are still crafted by hand. For the common people, being a blacksmith is a lucrative job. "No, I've changed my mind now. Being a blacksmith can wait, but I want to join the battlefield and become a great knight!" Madich answered earnestly.
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No one doesn't want to become a noble, and being a knight is the lowest rank of nobility. For ordinary people, this is the highest pursuit in life. Before the Great Revolution of 1848, the entire European world operated on the principle that a nobleman's son would be a nobleman, a merchant's son would be a merchant, a doctor's son would be a doctor, and a serf's son would remain a serf. In a country as old as Austria, there are already many nobles. These people occupy the upper echelons of society, leaving limited opportunities for social advancement for the lower classes. For many ambitious people, the Hungarian uprising is seen as an opportunity, a chance to break through class barriers. Like most young people, Madic has ambition. He is not content to be a blacksmith like his father for his whole life. Before, there was no opportunity and he had to face reality. … … The wave of enlistment that occurred in Croatia was just a small episode. These troops were only local forces and were not part of the Austrian army’s organization. In other words, these troops do not require direct funding from the central government, and their primary role is not combat but rather logistical support and transportation. Governor Josip Jela?i? apparently did not explain clearly, or deliberately omitted the fact that the central government’s control of so much land in its hands does not conform to the development of the bourgeois economy. To cultivate the domestic market, it is natural to need the farmers, who make up the largest population, to have money in their hands. And land is their main source of income. Austria did not carry out a thorough land revolution, and the nobles still held a large amount of land in their hands. Therefore, Franz could not distribute the land for free. In that case, the land can only be distributed to subjects loyal to the emperor. The criterion for this judgment is very simple: those who are willing to fight for the emperor are naturally loyal subjects. As long as they step onto the battlefield, even without achievements, they will have made sacrifices. At that time, with the emperor's grace, the land they would have had to purchase can be turned into rewards directly bestowed upon them. The specific criteria are still being formulated. Once these individuals obtain land, they will quickly be able to escape extreme poverty and have money in their hands. With money in hand, they will naturally engage in consumption, and with consumption, a market will emerge. After the market prospers, it is certain that industrial development will follow. With industrial growth, the government can generate more tax revenue, and the initial investment costs will gradually be recovered. This forms a virtuous economic cycle. The war to suppress the rebellion has now become a tool for Franz to reform Austrian society. Under the guise of war, Austria's social system is being reshaped without people realizing it. Croatia is just a microcosm of the social changes occurring in other regions of Austria, such as Slovenia, Transylvania, Bohemia, and others. Similar scenes are unfolding there as well. It can be said that as soon as the Hungarian uprising began, the greatest losses were suffered by the Hungarian nobility. Franz sold them out without even thinking about it. A commoner is not guilty; he who carries the jade is guilty. Regardless of whether they were involved in the rebellion or not, having a large amount of land in their possession is considered a sin. The crucial point is that they were exploiting their positions in Austria and the Hungarian Republic for personal gain. Greed leads people into the abyss. They wanted to gain greater benefits, and now Franz has taken decisive action by seizing their lands. Even if it is proven afterwards that they have nothing to do with the rebellion, the land cannot be taken back. At most, the government will compensate them with a land redemption fee.
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