Building Bridges: Achieving Strong Relations With Austria As Teutonic Order

To get 148 relations with Austria as the Teutonic Order, you must first improve your relations with them. Send a diplomat to rival Austria's rivals, and if possible, gain a mutual rival with Austria, such as Poland. You can also hire a diplomat to improve relations and send gifts to Austria. If you have the Cossacks DLC, you can use money from merchant guilds to send gifts. You can also take out loans to build up your army and send mercenaries to Austria. Once your relations are high enough, you can join the HRE, which will provide protection from Poland.

Send a diplomat to improve relations

Improving relations with Austria as the Teutonic Order in Europa Universalis IV can be challenging, but it is a crucial step to joining the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) and securing protection from Poland. One effective strategy is to send a diplomat to improve relations with Austria actively. Here is a guide on how to do this:

• Check for Mutual Rivals: Start by checking Austria's rivals and see if there are any mutual rivals, especially Poland. Having a mutual rival, particularly one as significant as Poland, can provide a solid foundation for improving relations.
• Rival Austria's Rivals: If there are no mutual rivals, consider rivaling some of Austria's rivals. This will give you a "rival-of-rival" bonus in your relations with Austria. If possible, try to make Bohemia a mutual rival as well.
• Hire a Statesman: Consider hiring a statesman advisor, as they can provide a +1 diplomatic reputation bonus, making your diplomatic efforts more effective.
• Send Gifts: If you have the Cossacks DLC, use money from the merchant guilds to send gifts to Austria. You can also take out loans to fund these gifts if needed. Sending gifts can significantly improve relations and bring you closer to an alliance.
• Subsidize Austria: In addition to gifts, you can subsidize Austria to further improve relations. Subsidies provide a yearly improvement to relations, which can help you reach your goal of +148 relations.
• Avoid Alliances with Austrian Rivals: Be cautious not to ally with rivals of Austria, as this will negatively impact your relations. For example, if Austria rivals Bohemia, avoid allying with them. If you accidentally ally an Austrian rival, you can dissolve the alliance to remove the negative modifier.
• Monitor Austrian Opinion: Keep a close eye on Austria's opinion of you. As your relations improve, you may reach a point where you can add your provinces to the HRE, starting with those bordering Pomerania.
• Join the HRE: Once your relations are strong enough, and your capital is in the HRE, you will officially become a member of the empire. This provides protection from Poland and gives you powerful allies for future expansion.

By sending a diplomat to improve relations and following these steps, you can effectively raise your relations with Austria to +148 and secure your position in the HRE as the Teutonic Order.

Rival Austria's rivals

Austria and Prussia were the most powerful German states in the Holy Roman Empire by the 18th and 19th centuries and had engaged in a struggle for supremacy among smaller German states. The rivalry was characterized by major territorial conflicts and economic, cultural, and political aspects. Therefore, the rivalry was an important element of the German question in the 19th century. Both opponents first met in the Silesian Wars and Seven Years' War during the middle 18th century until the conflict's culmination in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.

The rivalry is largely held to have begun upon the death of the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI in 1740, when King Frederick the Great of Prussia launched an invasion of Austrian-controlled Silesia, starting the First Silesian War. Frederick had broken his promise to acknowledge the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 and the indivisibility of the Habsburg territories, sparking off the pan-European War of the Austrian Succession. Until 1745, Maria Theresa was able to regain the Imperial crown from her Wittelsbach rival Charles VII by occupying his Bavarian lands, but, despite her Quadruple Alliance with Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Saxony, she failed to recapture Silesia.

After 1866 (North German Confederation) and 1871, the new German nation state was dominated by Prussia. As Austria (or Austria-Hungary, since 1867) no longer struggled over the hegemony in Germany, the term Deutscher Dualismus became meaningless. Germany and Austria-Hungary soon became close allies, as proven by the Zweibund of 1879. Both countries were the main Central Powers during World War I (1914–1918). After that war, Austria-Hungary fell apart, and Germany became a republic.

France and Austria were also historical rivals, especially during the mid-to-late 1400s when the Austrians inherited the Franco-Burgundian rivalry through marriage. Emperor Maximilian married the daughter of the last Burgundian duke, and his son married into Spain and became Charles V. The Thirty Years' War became less about religion and more about the French hating the Habsburgs.

Send gifts and subsidies

Sending gifts and subsidies is a crucial part of improving relations with Austria as the Teutonic Order. To achieve the desired 148 relations, consider the following steps:

Firstly, focus on sending a generous gift to Austria. This can be done by taking out loans, as suggested by several players, to quickly accumulate a substantial sum. For example, one player recommends giving a gift of 125 ducats, which results in a +17 opinion boost. This initial gift is an important gesture and can set the tone for future relations.

After sending the gift, the next step is to provide subsidies. You can offer maximum subsidies to Austria, which will further improve their opinion of you by +1 per year. This gradual improvement in relations is an effective way to build a strong and positive relationship over time.

It is worth noting that some players suggest not worrying about going into debt when sending gifts and subsidies. This strategy may be beneficial in the long term, as the protection of the Austrian empire can offset the initial costs. Additionally, improving relations with Austria can provide a buffer against attacks from Poland, which is a common challenge faced by the Teutonic Order.

While sending gifts and subsidies is a crucial aspect of improving relations, it is not the only factor. It is important to also focus on other strategies, such as improving relations from the beginning of the game, rivalling Austria's rivals, and having a strong navy to compensate for Austria's small fleet. Combining these strategies with sending gifts and subsidies will give you the best chance of achieving 148 relations with Austria.

Don't ally with Austria's rivals

Improving relations with Austria as Teutonic Order is a challenging task. One of the key strategies is to focus on not allying with Austria's rivals. Austria's rivals can vary, but often include nations like Bohemia, Venice, the Ottomans, and Hungary. It is important to check who Austria is rivaling and avoid forming alliances with them. For example, if Austria rivals Bohemia, avoid allying with them as it will negatively impact Austria's opinion of you.

Forming an alliance with Austria's rivals will give Austria a negative opinion modifier towards you. This can hinder your efforts to improve relations and potentially lead to conflicts. It is advisable to dissolve any existing alliances with Austria's rivals and focus on improving relations with nations that Austria is not rivaling. This will help remove the negative modifier and allow you to build a stronger relationship with Austria.

Additionally, you can work on improving relations with other nations that Austria may favor. For example, if Austria and Poland have a mutual rivalry with each other, allying with Poland can be beneficial. This can provide a bonus to your relations with Austria, as you share a common rival.

Another strategy is to focus on improving your diplomatic reputation. Hiring a diplomat or a +1 Diplo rep advisor can help in this regard. This will make it easier to improve relations and may offset some of the negative impacts of allying with Austria's rivals.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that forming alliances with nations that are rivals of Austria's allies can also be beneficial. This can help balance the power dynamics and potentially lead to future opportunities. However, it is a delicate strategy that requires careful consideration.

Lastly, remember that improving relations with Austria takes time and effort. Sending gifts, improving relations through diplomats, and utilizing subsidies can all contribute to increasing Austria's opinion of you. Combining these strategies with a careful approach to alliances can help you achieve your goal of improving relations with Austria as Teutonic Order.

Hire a +1 Diplo Rep advisor

Improving relations with Austria as the Teutonic Order is a challenging but rewarding endeavour. One key strategy is to hire a +1 Diplo Rep advisor, which can provide a significant boost to your diplomatic efforts. Here's a guide on how to make the most of this approach:

Hiring a +1 Diplo Rep Advisor:

• Understanding the Benefits: Hiring a +1 Diplo Rep advisor offers a 20% improvement to your diplomatic relations. This bonus is always active and can be particularly useful when trying to improve relations with a nation like Austria. It helps to increase your chances of forming alliances, improving relations, and reducing the negative impact of Aggressive Expansion.
• Cost Considerations: Hiring a +1 Diplo Rep advisor may come with a cost, depending on your circumstances and the advisor's expertise. It is important to weigh the benefits against the cost to ensure it aligns with your strategy and budget.
• Timing is Key: The impact of hiring a +1 Diplo Rep advisor can be maximized by timing it with other diplomatic efforts. For example, if you are close to forming an alliance or improving relations with Austria, the advisor's bonus can help seal the deal.
• Long-Term Strategy: Consider retaining the advisor for an extended period to maintain the diplomatic bonus. This can be especially beneficial if you plan to focus on diplomacy and building relations with multiple nations over time.
• Alternative Options: While the +1 Diplo Rep advisor provides a general boost, you can also consider hiring a diplomat advisor. A diplomat increases the rate of improving relations and slows down decay. This option may be more suitable if your primary focus is rapidly improving relations with Austria.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively utilize the +1 Diplo Rep advisor to improve your relations with Austria as the Teutonic Order. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the evolving circumstances and consider combining it with other diplomatic efforts for maximum effect.

Frequently asked questions