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 routes will become increasingly stable.
It will bring huge profits to Ernst. The purpose of forming a fleet is not just a question of whether it can make a profit or not, but a question of whether it can be independent.
As the saying goes, if you rely on a mountain, the mountain will fall; if you rely on people, they will fall. If you rely on the Dutch, you will suffer a great loss one day, and this loss will be either today or tomorrow.
Having a fleet in hand means that one can personally participate in world trade, and overseas colonization relies on strong ships and powerful guns.
Ships are the hub connecting the world and 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 ocean.
Today, the Hechingen Consortium established its first fleet of its own. This is 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 fleets, especially some items that were once more troublesome and the Dutch would not transport them. There are also some materials that require high confidentiality. Ernst himself would not feel at ease if the Dutch took over.
Ernst, who had just returned from Venice, was reading a newspaper at home when the old Prince Constantine walked in from outside the door.
"Ernst, you are already 16 years old in the blink of an eye!" Prince Constantine exclaimed.
"What's wrong, father?" Ernst asked puzzledly.
"It's nothing. I just feel a little emotional when I see that you have grown up and have your own career." Prince Constantine replied.
"Ernst, you are not a child anymore, it's time to think about your lifelong affairs!"
Hearing this, how could Ernst not know what the master was thinking? In his reincarnation, Ernst had been waiting for this day to come.
Having lived two lives, Ernst is not a person who speaks with emotion. The hardships of his previous life have long smoothed out his edges.
As a noble in this life, Ernst himself feels that free love is nonsense, and now Ernst also puts interests first.
Marriage, especially the marriages among contemporary European aristocrats, is all about the output of interests. Normally, Ernst himself was too busy with work 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, you are worthy of being my son. You know all this." Constantine smiled and took out a piece of information from behind him.
"I'm old now, and I still want to personally take care of your marriage. Your mother left early, and I raised you, so naturally I have to arrange your marriage."
Constantine spread out the information in his hand and said, "This time, there are three candidates. One is Princess Heidi of Sweden who was introduced by your aunt, one is Princess Martha of the Russian Empire, and the other is Princess Karina of Austria."
Ernst looked at the information and asked in surprise, "Why are they so young? The oldest is only twelve, and the youngest is only ten!"
Prince Constantine tapped 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 already an adult! I got married when I was twenty-six. You will have to wait a few years."
"These princesses are very young, but they will be grown-up girls in a few years. Of course I have to act first now and find a good marriage for you while I still have some face in my old age," Constantine said.
"Don't be so anxious!" Ernst asked puzzledly.
"What do you know? In recent years, there have been more and more crooked nobles in Europe, especially the royal families of various countries. I don't know what's going on, but they always have problems. It's just that others don't dare to talk about it. I know it very well. We didn't have so many problems back then. I'm just telling you this, but you mustn't mention it to others."
"So, I'm looking for healthy daughters-in-law. I even checked the medical history of their parents, and finally found these three who are absolutely healthy and whose status is worthy of our Hohenzollern family."
When Ernst heard what his father said, he understood what he was talking about. His poor nephew William II was a victim. Although he escaped hemophilia, he was still born with a type of paralysis that caused his left arm to atrophy.
Thinking of this, Ernst shuddered instantly. If he remembered correctly, due to the marriages of the British royal family, hemophilia, a hereditary disease, was brought to many European royal families along with the descendants of Queen Victoria, including Germany, Romania (the Hohenzollern family was suspected to be the biggest victim), Greece, Croatia, Russia and Denmark...
Ernst didn't know how many children Queen Victoria had. After all, he had never looked it up carefully, and it was not something a nobody like him could get involved in.
However, I still feel worried about the royal families of the above-mentioned countries. Looking at the two candidates listed in the information, Sweden and Russia, well, it should be fine!
The information above clearly describes their parents' situation and relationship. After all, it was normal for close relatives to marry in that era.
None of the three candidates this time had anything to do with Britain, so Ernst continued reading.
Suddenly, Ernst discovered something incredible. To be honest, Ernst had never heard of any of these three princesses.
Among them, the Swedish princess and the Russian princess are related to their mother's side, so they are the ones who act as matchmakers. For example, the former Queen Josephine of Sweden is Ernst's aunt, and the first candidate was chosen by her. The second Russian princess is also related to her mother's sister through marriage to a Russian noble family.
But the third one was not within Ernst's knowledge. Princess Karina, the daughter of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, was 10 years old. She had lived in the Habsburg family since she was a child and was raised by her grandmother, Princess Sophie...
?????……
Ernst's mind was full of question marks. This Princess Karina was too outrageous!
If I remember correctly? This Maximilian I is the younger brother of Franz, the current Emperor of Austria-Hungary in the Habsburg family.
I have heard of the name of this Mexican emperor, but I don’t remember having any descendants in history?
If I remember correctly, Maximilian I adopted the descendants of the former emperor of Mexico as his adopted sons because he had no descendants of his own.
"Father, what's going on with this Princess Karina?" Ernst asked puzzledly.
"This Princess Karina is the daughter of Maximilian I. She was born when Maximilian I and Queen Charlotte were still in Europe."
That's not right? Ernst doubted himself. Even if the butterfly effect of his birth caused a change in history, it would be impossible for his family to be connected to the Habsburgs, right?
"Father, I don't understand. Princess Karina has a high status in the Habsburg family. She is Franz's niece and was raised by Queen Mother Sophie. Her father is now the Emperor of Mexico. Her status and identity are more prominent than ours. How could she be interested in contacting us?"
Constantine laughed and said, "This is not Maximilian I's own fault. The entire Habsburg Empire opposed him going to Mexico to take the blame for Napoleon III. As a result, this fool ignored his family's opposition and would rather give up his inheritance rights in the Habsburg Empire and go to Mexico to turn over a new leaf."
"It's good now. France has withdrawn its troops from Mexico. I heard that Maximilian I's situation is getting worse and worse. Some time ago, he and Queen Carlota were lobbying various European countries to interfere in Mexican politics."
Ernst nodded: "But what does this have to do with marriage?"
"That's right. Queen Sophie herself took notice of it. When Maximilian I went to Mexico, Queen Sophie was furious. She has loved Maximilian I the most since she was a child."
"Before King Maximilian I and Queen Carlotta went to Mexico, the situation in Mexico was turbulent, and Princess Karina was still young, so she was taken care of by Queen Mother Sophie."
"After having two troublesome sons, Franz and Maximilian I, Queen Mother Sophie is now afraid that her offspring will be as unhappy as her two sons. So she is even stricter in education."
"For example, Maximilian I was over-spending and was originally a parasite. He was then instigated by Queen Carlotta to want to become emperor, but ended up falling flat on his face."
"Princess Sophie feels that it is the daughter-in-law's fault that her two sons have become like this, so she now pays more attention to the status and ability of her grandson-in-law."
Ernst nodded immediately when he heard this, ability is indeed very important.
"It's not easy to find such a person in Europe. The Habsburgs have no shortage of marriage partners, but Queen Mother Sophie placed a stronger emphasis on ability and character this time, and she chose you in the end."
!!!
Ernst felt a little embarrassed. He thought he was not as good as what he said.
"I know my son well. His ability is beyond doubt, and his achievements are among the best in Europe."
"It's easier to say about his character. He has never done anything foolish. You should know that many nobles lead immoral lives. Ernst, it's rare for people of your age to have no scandals."
"In terms of status, our family is not bad either. The Hohenzollern family is at its peak. Now Prussia and Romania belong to our Hohenzollern family, which is also the top tier in Europe. You will inherit my position as prince in the future."
"Although Karina's father is the Emperor of Mexico, his position is just for the Mexicans to enjoy themselves! His real value lies in his identity as a member of the Habsburg family, but he had to give up his inheritance rights. Now the situation in Mexico is becoming more and more difficult to control. Everyone knows that there is no position for an emperor in Mexico."
Please understand that this is a novel. Princess Karina is a fictional character. Like Ernst, she was created by me. Some people should not be too outrageous.
(End of this chapter)
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