Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 770 Montenegro Kingdom
At the end of the 19th century, the political situation in the Balkans was turbulent. The major European countries competed for influence there, and it became a colosseum-like existence. Anyone who thought they were a big country wanted a piece of the pie there.

Following the assassination of Alexander II, the situation in Tsarist Russia was in chaos, causing Poland and Lithuanians to take the opportunity to revolt. As the situation stabilized, Alexander II worked hard to control the situation. In order to deal with the negative influence of Tsarist Russia, he launched a military campaign in early January 1880. The government of the Principality of Finland overthrew the liberal government, abolished the human rights and freedoms recognized by the Tvernovo Constitution of the Russian Empire in 1 and dissolved the National Assembly based on the parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Will realize the dictatorial rule of the Russian Empire.

However, this also led to intensified conflicts between him and liberals. At the same time, after Alexander II was assassinated in 1881, his successor Alexander III began to seek support from the United Kingdom and welcomed the strength of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Enter the country.

In 1883, Alexander III also signed an agreement with the opposition liberals, deciding to restore the "Tverno Constitution" that was abolished in 1880 and establish a coalition government. These later led to the cold relationship between the Russian Empire and Ferdinand I of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. In 1885, when the Russian Empire merged with the Bulgarian Rumea Autonomous Province, the relationship between the two countries became further complicated.

Of course, William IV would not tell Prime Minister Lyndon, Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd, and National Security Council Director Cantur about these future matters next to him.

Kantur: "The Finns, Lithuanians and Poles gave Alexander II problems, but they gave them opportunities"

William IV nodded and said: "Yes, Gorchakov has matured in his old age. He was promoted by Alexander II. This old partner will not miss any opportunity."

Lyndon: "Where does your Majesty think Alexander II's goal is?"

Mark Rudd and Cantur looked at William IV after hearing this.

"Why do you think it will be Bulgaria?" William IV asked with a smile: "Why don't you think Alexander II and Milan I will not set their goals over Montenegro?"

Several people were shocked when they heard this, and looked at William IV in disbelief.

They didn't understand why William IV thought it was Montenegro.

Suddenly, Cantur said: "Montenegro is located in the north of the Kingdom of Albania, with the Aegean Sea in the west, Serbia in the east, the Principality of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the north, and the Kingdom of Croatia further north. Croatia is now under the jurisdiction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is also there. Within the scope of Austro-Hungarian influence, there is only the Kingdom of Montenegro and the coast of Montenegro.”

Cantur exclaimed in admiration: "Does your Majesty doubt that Alexander II and Gorchakov's goal is to open up the Mediterranean outlet of the Russian Empire and Serbia?"

The outlet to the sea?
Linden and Mark Rudd were suddenly shocked.

Lyndon couldn't wait to say: "Not to mention, if we capture Montenegro, the Tsarist Empire can break the British blockade, and the Tsarist Russian Empire can connect the north and the south."

Mark Rudd also praised: "In this way, the sphere of influence of the Russian Empire in the Mediterranean will expand dramatically, and the Mediterranean will also welcome a heavyweight player."

"Yes." William IV nodded first, and then said: "Montenegro will be the top priority target of Alexander II and Gorchakov."

Mark Rudd asked worriedly: "Since we have determined that the target of the Russian Empire and Serbia is Montenegro, how should we respond?"

William IV asked: "Why do you ask us to respond?"

Mark Rudd first looked at William IV in surprise, but he was not stupid. Then he reacted and smiled: "Leave the problem to the UK?"

William IV: "Of course we leave it to London. The Queen and others are good at troublesome matters." Mark Rudd: "But if the UK intervenes, how will we safeguard our interests?"

William IV: "Sometimes it is more efficient to do nothing"

Mark Rudd: "?"

Cantur: "What your Majesty means is that if the Netherlands does not do it, it will sometimes put more pressure on the UK. Also, doesn't the Chief of General Staff think it's time for us to put some pressure on our ally, the Kingdom of Greece?"

Lyndon: "It's time. Athens has been really restless recently."

Mark Rudd was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a wry smile, "I agree too."

William IV naturally understood what these people were thinking.

Although the king of the Kingdom of Greece is his father William III, there are several political forces within the Kingdom of Greece. After all, William III is an outsider and must occasionally bow to local forces.

In recent years, Greece has relied on its relations with various countries, especially its relationship with the Netherlands, to establish a stable position in the eastern Mediterranean.

Many people even developed wild ambitions, and this ambition even dragged William III into trouble.

William III became King of Greece in 1864, and was later encouraged to conquer Crete, a Greek-inhabited island occupied by the Ottoman Turks.
Most of the people in Crete are Greeks, but they have always been ruled by the Ottoman Empire. In 1866, a rebellion broke out on the island. The Greeks in Crete demanded that Crete be annexed to Greece, and they requested the protectorate Britain, France, Russia, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands and other countries. After complaining, the powerful British did not unify Crete and annex it to Greece. Finally, an agreement was reached in 1868, and a representative government was established in Crete.

This tarnished the image of William III.

Fortunately, the Netherlands supported Greece at the time, and Greece relied on Dutch capital for vigorous economic development, which saved a lot of points.

Throughout the 1870s, Greece continued to exert pressure on the Ottoman Empire, demanding Epirus and Thessaly, but to no avail.

Since 1875, there have been many rebellions against the Ottoman Empire in the Bayerban Peninsula, with Greece fueling the rebellion. As all these countries know, the Ottoman Empire has naturally protested countless times, but due to the support of various countries, there has been no war between the Ottomans and Greece. .However, diplomatic relations between the two countries have deteriorated.

In 1877, the Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire for Romania and Bulgaria, and the Rogue War broke out. Finally, Romania declared war on the Ottoman Empire.

During this period, William III was asked by members of the Greek cabinet and government to declare war on the Ottoman Empire, but was stopped by the Netherlands, Britain, and France, and remained neutral. Although everyone later knew that this was the best, it was for this reason that William III become the object of criticism.

After the war ended in 1878, at a conference of various countries hosted by The Hague, representatives of Greek immigrants participated in the conference. Taking advantage of the Dutch home court, they used the opportunity to put pressure on the Ottoman Empire. Finally, the latter agreed to expand Greece's northern border and the island of Crete. Manage negotiations with Greece.

(End of this chapter)