Chapter 41

Following the assassination of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1831, nominally under Ottoman rule but effectively self-governing, Greece plunged into chaos. The Ottoman Empire, poised to reclaim its former dominion in this cradle of Eastern Roman civilization, was thwarted by the intervention of major European powers. Ultimately, the Ottomans conceded to the combined pressure of Britain, France, and Russia, accepting a resolution imposed by these formidable forces. In 1832, leveraging his prestige from the Belgian independence settlement, British Foreign Secretary Palmerston spearheaded a tripartite agreement among Britain, France, and Russia. This accord guaranteed Greece's complete liberation from Ottoman sovereignty, establishing it as an independent kingdom. After protracted negotiations, the seventeen-year-old Prince Otto, second son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, was selected as the inaugural monarch of this newly formed nation. The succession was meticulously defined: Otto's lineage would inherit the throne, failing which, his younger brother and his heirs would succeed, with a strict prohibition against any union with the Bavarian crown. Otto formally ascended the throne in 1833, his coronation secured by a formidable display of British, French, and Russian military might, a stark warning against Ottoman interference. However, his minority necessitated a regency council, composed entirely of Bavarians, whose authoritarian governance sparked widespread discontent. The Greeks soon found themselves burdened by exorbitant taxes – surpassing even those levied during Ottoman occupation – and reliant on loans from the protecting powers, a financial yoke that further exacerbated their suffering. This oppressive taxation, coupled with inept administration, ignited deep-seated resentment among the Greek populace.The Bavarian regency, a consequence of the Ottoman Empire's waning influence, engendered deep resentment among the Greeks. The imposition of Bavarian administrators – a hated, foreign bureaucracy – fueled widespread disillusionment. Their voicelessness intensified their animosity toward King Otto, the foreign powers' puppet monarch. Otto's Catholic faith, a stark contrast to the Greek Orthodox populace's deeply held beliefs, further alienated him. This religious divergence solidified his image as an unwelcome outsider, exacerbating popular discontent.

Despite the arduous relocation of the capital to Athens in the second year of his reign – a monumental undertaking involving over ten thousand people – initial forbearance gave way to escalating frustration. The dream of a prosperous and powerful Greece under Otto's rule remained elusive. The stark reality was a government dominated by Bavarians. Over two-thirds of the cabinet, including key defense positions, were filled with them, sparking outrage. This blatant disregard for Greek sovereignty ignited a furious rebellion. Last week's demonstrations in Athens revealed a fractured populace. Pro-Russian factions clamored for an Orthodox prince to replace Otto, while Anglophiles demanded the immediate expulsion of all Bavarian officials. Faced with this pressure, the Great Powers urged Otto to prioritize a constitutional monarchy. Yet, even this concession proved insufficient. The September 3rd, 1843, uprising in Athens, a forceful demand for Greek self-governance, though ultimately quelled, irrevocably cemented Otto's status as a pariah. Only after years of unrest and mounting pressure did Otto finally accede to the people's will. In 1859, he dismissed his Bavarian advisors and agreed to convene a parliament to enact a new constitution – a belated attempt to salvage his reign and appease the seething discontent of the Greek nation.The Austro-Sardinian War of 1859 exposed a critical fault line in Otto I's reign. His allegiance to his Austrian cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph I, directly contradicted the Greek populace's support for Sardinia. Sardinia's victory, orchestrated with French backing, utterly decimated Otto's credibility. Desperate to regain popular favor, he contemplated a war against the Ottoman Empire, hoping to ignite patriotic fervor amongst his disillusioned subjects.

However, the disastrous Ossa War's legacy rendered this gambit futile; the Greeks, wary of their Bavarian-born monarch, saw him as an outsider, a foreign interloper. Consequently, widespread student protests erupted, demanding Otto's abdication, and the clamor for a new king intensified. Simultaneously, in a clandestine disclosure to select members of the Russian court, William IV revealed his long-standing plan to install William III on the Greek throne. His decision stemmed from a vivid memory of his past life; he recalled Otto's deposition before year's end and the subsequent ascension of Christian IX of Denmark in 1863. Christian IX, soon to inherit the Danish crown, held a remarkable familial connection to future royalty. His eldest daughter, Alexandra, would marry Edward, Prince of Wales, that very year. This extraordinary familial constellation—father, daughter, and son-in-law all ascending to kingship—struck William IV as profoundly strategic. He muttered, "The British, masters of geopolitical chess, are unparalleled in their cunning. They seize every opportunity, securing maximum advantage. The Dutch, in comparison, are woefully outmaneuvered." The implications of this dynastic maneuvering were far-reaching and deeply impactful on the political landscape of Europe

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February 19, 1862, exactly 10 a.m.A procession of elegant carriages, drawn by magnificent steeds, emerged from the opulent British Embassy in the Netherlands. The embassy, a breathtaking display of British opulence, stood in stark contrast to the relatively modest escort. Ten armed guards marched ahead, their footsteps measured and purposeful, followed by four ornate carriages and a rearguard of ten mounted soldiers. The horses, undeniably English thoroughbreds, possessed a regal bearing. Spectators along the route craned their necks, their gazes drawn to the spectacle. Keen observers recognized the carriage of a high-ranking official, while the remaining three bespoke the presence of royalty. The scene, a microcosm of shifting European power dynamics, sparked fervent conversation among onlookers. "This vibrant Amsterdam," one citizen declared, "is teeming with dignitaries. Unmarried members of European royal families, once a rare sight, are ubiquitous these days. The Netherlands' remarkable resurgence is evident. This display alone surpasses anything I, a lifelong Amsterdammer, have ever witnessed. News reports suggest a rapid ascent, perhaps foreshadowing a return to the glorious 17th and 18th centuries." Another chimed in, "Undeniably! Especially in the last five years, Crown Prince William IV's collaboration with King III has propelled the nation forward. Industrial expansion alone has generated employment for over half a million. We boast cutting-edge factories producing plastics, hardware, and more – the finest in Europe." "Indeed," a third added. "Consider the surge of innovative companies: Heineken, Shell, Meisujiaer Dairy, Nuouneng Foods, Amsterdam Bearings, the Netherlands Advanced Industrial Equipment Manufacturer, KPMG, and the Dutch Shipbuilding Company – all flourishing." A fourth voice, brimming with pride, announced, "I'm a workshop supervisor at Philips, overseeing production of our revolutionary bicycle." "The Philips bicycle," another exclaimed, "the marvel that's captivated Europe!"A Rotterdam dealer eagerly proposed a partnership, expressing keen interest in distributing Philips bicycles. His ambition extended beyond the Netherlands; he envisioned expanding sales into Belgium, leveraging the brand's surging popularity.

The Philips representative readily agreed, promising to present the proposal to company leadership. Meanwhile, Princess Louise, a multilingual prodigy fluent in ten major European languages, overheard the conversation from her carriage. The mention of Philips sparked her curiosity. She recognized the brand from London streets, its distinctive phoenix logo immediately catching her attention. The connection between the bicycle manufacturer and the mythical bird ignited a cascade of questions in her mind. Intrigued, she learned of William IV, the young and dynamic entrepreneur behind Philips and several other burgeoning Dutch enterprises. His meteoric rise, commanding a substantial portion of the nation's manufacturing capacity, painted him as a formidable and enigmatic figure—a compelling individual who captured her interest. His ambition and influence were reminiscent of the phoenix's legendary resurgence, a parallel not lost on Viscount Palmerston, who mused on the Netherlands' potential for a powerful rebirth under William IV's leadership. The Princess's carriage, fourth in the procession—a reflection of her position in the line of succession— underscored the rigid hierarchy of European royalty. Palmerston, astutely observing the situation, considered William IV a potent force, a man who, even before ascending the throne, displayed unyielding ambition. Queen Victoria's stabilizing reign had fostered a period of relative peace in Europe, but the emergence of this dynamic leader suggested a new era, brimming with both opportunity and potential conflict.Bismarck's ascendance, coupled with Napoleon III's comparatively modest aspirations, set a volatile stage.

The towering ambitions of Alexander II were further complicated by the enigmatic presence of William IV of the Netherlands. This astute monarch, adept at cultivating advantageous alliances while maintaining a deceptively unassuming demeanor, possessed a shrewd understanding of Dutch potential for both diplomacy and conflict. These four figures alone—each a potent force—threatened to plunge Europe into a maelstrom of bloodshed. Indeed, if prominence and conflict were inextricably linked, a tumultuous era for Europe had irrevocably begun.