Rise of Empires: Spain.

Chapter 16 Inspection
We have to admit that throughout the history of Italy's unification, apart from the unexpected factor of Garibaldi, the rest can be said to be entirely based on luck and without any strength.

The Austro-Prussian War allowed Italy to easily gain the Venetian region and the southern part of South Tyrol. The Franco-Prussian War triggered by the Spanish throne also gave the Italians an opportunity to regain Rome.

At this time, the Catholic Church, also known as the Papal States, was entrenched in Rome. The Papal States was supported by the European hegemon, France, which was why Italy, although it had been unified, had been unable to regain the core Roman region.

But after the outbreak of the war, the French troops stationed in Rome began to gradually withdraw.

Italy is waiting for the time when all French troops will be withdrawn. The army of the Holy See will not be able to stop the pace of Italian unification, and Rome will soon become the official capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Just as Vittorio Emanuele II was anxiously waiting for the French army to completely withdraw from Rome, the Spanish government also requested a diplomatic visit to the Italian government.

The delegation sent by Spain this time was very luxurious, led by Prime Minister Primo, accompanied by several government ministers and several senior generals of the Spanish military.

Combined with the recent Spanish king election, Vittorio Emanuele II seemed to have some understanding of the purpose of this diplomatic visit to Spain.

However, there was one thing that Vittorio Emanuele II did not quite understand, that is, when the Spanish government examined candidates from other countries, it only conducted investigations in secret.

How come when it comes to Italy, it becomes a diplomatic mission to visit? And the leader of the mission is the new Spanish Prime Minister Primo, who is a man who is in charge of both military and political affairs. It is absolutely no exaggeration to call him the most powerful person in Spain today.

Although Italy did not quite understand Primo's intention, Spain was, after all, a big country on the Mediterranean coast, so it was natural that Italy would not reject the Spanish government's proactive visit.

Carlo, who was always paying attention to news from Spain, naturally learned about the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit to Italy.

Carlo couldn't help but have more guesses about this matter that had never happened in history.

If Amadeo's name was the only one on the Spanish list of candidates for the throne, they would most likely not come to Italy.

After all, three of the four major competitors in history have withdrawn. If there were no other competitors, Amadeo should have won.

Combined with the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit, Carlo can basically conclude that he should also be on the candidate list for the Spanish throne and has reached the final round of competition with his brother Amadeo.

This also means that the candidate for the Spanish throne will be revealed with Primo's diplomatic visit. If Carlo wants to become the King of Spain, he must seize all opportunities during this diplomatic visit and show his strengths to Primo.

The good news is that historically Amadeo became King of Spain not because of how outstanding he was.

In fact, compared with the other three candidates, Amadeo was only barely qualified. It was precisely because of the Portuguese Regent Fernando's voluntary withdrawal and the French's strong opposition to Prince Leopold becoming the King of Spain that Amadeo took advantage and won in the end.

However, compared with Carlo, Amadeo also has advantages. First of all, he is six years older. At 25, he looks more mature and stable, which is quite important for Spain.

But Carlo is not without merits. Carlo is definitely more familiar with the two current rulers of Spain than Amadeo.

Compared to Primo's pursuit of Spain, Amadeo's age advantage of only six years is actually nothing. Moreover, for Primo, who holds military and political power, he may not be willing to see a more mature and stable king compete for power.

Although being young means being immature and instable, it also means being easier to control than being older.

At least for Primo, who is now determined to promote reforms in Spain, Amadeo may not necessarily have an advantage.

After silently calculating the respective advantages of himself and his brother Amadeo, Carlo began to think about how to show his advantages in this diplomatic visit and make Primo choose him.

The first thing to do is to recognize your own identity.

In fact, no matter whether Amadeo or Carlo became the king of Spain, it was impossible for them to hold too much real power in the early stages.

It would be good if he had the support of Primo and Serrano, as these two people hold military and political power and will be a great help to the king.

Without the support of the two, the King of Spain would be completely alone without a single reliable subordinate.

Under such circumstances, Carlo's initial plan after becoming King of Spain was never to seize power, but to help Primo and Serrano carry out reforms in Spain on the basis of stabilizing his own throne.

Although Spain is still a second-rate country in Europe, it has already opened up a huge gap with the great powers such as Britain, France, Prussia, Russia and Austria.

Even Italy, which was just unified not long ago, has surpassed Spain in terms of comprehensive strength. If Spain does not reform and continues to waste time like this, it will even become a third-rate country in Europe.

Both Primo and Serrano have great reputation. If they take the initiative to carry out reforms in Spain, it will be smoother than if Carlo pushes for reforms himself, and the Spaniards will be more receptive.

More importantly, both Primo and Serrano were willing to see a monarch who supported reform emerge in Spain.

Especially Primo, as the most powerful man in Spain, he is a thorough reformer.

Although Primo was assassinated before Amadeo arrived in Spain in history, he promoted the promulgation of many decrees in the short time he became Prime Minister of Spain and was also a representative figure of the Spanish reformers.

If Carlo can show his support for reform during Primo's visit to Italy, I believe he will win Primo's favor.

As long as either Primo or Serrano supported him, Carlo did not think that he would lose to his brother Amadeo in the competition for the throne.

After all, Amadeo did not show any talent during the three years he was King of Spain, and he did not even have much ambition or aspirations.

First update, please support!


(End of this chapter)