Damon Mcknight
Playing Austria in Europa Universalis IV is a unique experience, offering a different style of gameplay that focuses on diplomacy and imperial authority within the Holy Roman Empire (HRE). To maintain their might as a continental power, Austria should aim to retain the title of Holy Roman Emperor, leveraging their strong diplomatic position and relative strength within the empire to enforce their will on the other princes. This involves managing complex relationships with neighbours and potential rivals, such as France, the Ottomans, and Italy, as well as navigating the challenges of the reformation and maintaining high imperial authority. With weaker military ideas compared to its rivals, Austria must utilise its distinct advantages, such as its ability to form personal unions, to stay competitive.
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What You'll Learn
Austria's unique advantages
Austria has several unique advantages that can give it a major advantage over its competitors. Firstly, Austria has a unique position to form the Holy Roman Empire, starting as the Emperor, with several diplomatic-oriented national ideas, and a strong position within the empire to enforce its will on the other princes.
Secondly, Austria's national ideas form one of the best sets of diplomatic ideas in the game. This is crucial as Austria has weaker military ideas than its major neighbours and potential rivals, such as France, Poland, and the Ottomans. Therefore, Austria must utilise its strong diplomatic position to navigate the dangers of a fully packed Europe and prevent its enemies from taking its rich lands.
Thirdly, Austria is in a good position to form personal unions. Austrian missions give a casus belli for forming a personal union with Bohemia by achieving high relations with HRE electors, and another for Hungary, regardless of dynasty or royal marriage. Additionally, Austria gets a personal union CB on Bavaria through their mission tree.
Finally, Italy is an important region for Austria to focus on. Italian states can be kept in the HRE, and Italian allies can be useful for expanding into lands Italy could otherwise expand into.
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Dealing with Italy
Secondly, the "Rein in Northern Italy" decision is a key mechanic. This decision, along with the Shadow Kingdom Event, represents the historical context of the Italian states' relationship with the Holy Roman Empire. To keep Italian states in the HRE, you can use this decision or ensure they were reined in by January 1490. Alternatively, you can go to war with Italian princes, and a victory will permanently keep them in the HRE. Being the Emperor grants bonuses to manpower and force limits, giving you an advantage over most Italian princes.
Additionally, focus on building alliances. Ally with Aragon, Burgundy, and/or the Papal State, and gain favors with them to secure their support in potential wars with Italian states. You can also try to ally small Italian princes like Saluzzo and Siena by improving relations and granting privileges to your Clergy estate.
Lastly, consider going to war with Venice to add their provinces to the Empire. Brescia, a Venetian province, can be returned to Milan if Austria goes to war with Venice. However, keep in mind that fabricating claims within the HRE requires more spy networks and takes longer.
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The importance of diplomacy
Playing Austria in Europa Universalis IV (EUIV) is a unique experience, offering a different style of gameplay that focuses on diplomacy and imperial authority within the Holy Roman Empire (HRE). Diplomacy is key to success when playing as Austria in EUIV, as it has weaker military ideas compared to its major neighbours and potential rivals, such as France, Poland, and the Ottomans. However, Austria has distinct advantages that can give it a competitive edge, and its national ideas form one of the best sets of diplomatic ideas in the game.
To maintain their might as a continental power, Austria should aim to retain the title of Holy Roman Emperor. This requires fluent diplomacy and maintaining strong allies, as well as keeping a high number of princes within the HRE. Constant warfare is necessary to break up large HRE states and release nations, as well as to prevent northern Italy from leaving the HRE. This can be achieved through alliances, wars, and elevating certain states to Free Cities.
Diplomacy is particularly important when dealing with Italian states. It is crucial to get talking to Italian players early on, as a unified Italy can be a threat to Austria's expansion. Using the Rein in Northern Italy decision or ensuring the status of having been reined in by January 1490 can help keep Italian states in the HRE. Acquiring personal unions (PUs) over Bohemia and Hungary is also a key diplomatic strategy, as it grants access to valuable resources and territories.
Additionally, diplomacy is essential when navigating the complex web of alliances within the HRE. Attacking allies of the target nation or making them co-belligerents can help acquire casus belli when demanding imperial land. Maintaining good relations with electors is vital to getting re-elected as Holy Roman Emperor, and forming alliances with them can be beneficial. Overall, diplomacy is a critical aspect of playing Austria in EUIV, requiring players to adapt their playstyle and make strategic decisions to navigate the challenges posed by rival nations and maintain their position within the HRE.
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Gaining and maintaining imperial authority
- Maximize your monthly tick: This is your main source of imperial authority. Keep the number of princes high, as you gain +0.004 per prince over 25. Break up large HRE states and release nations to maintain a high number of princes.
- Maintain a high number of Free Cities: Aim for 12 Free Cities at all times. Northern Italy's republics can help with this.
- Ensure you are elected Emperor: Being elected Emperor grants a bonus of 10 IA, which is significant.
- Prevent Northern Italy from leaving the HRE: This is worth a big chunk of Imperial Authority. Use the "Rein in Northern Italy" decision or ensure the status of being reined in by the desired Italian states in January 1490.
- Expand into key areas: Follow the mission tree to form personal unions with Bohemia, Hungary, and Milan. Eat Venice (move your trade hub to that node) and expand into the Balkans.
- Destroy centers of reformation: As soon as they appear, destroy important centers of reformation. Ignore those that pop up in areas like Portugal, Brittany, or the Balkans.
- Manage your relations: Maintain strong allies and practice fluent diplomacy. Austria's major opponents, such as France and the Ottomans, have superior military ideas, so diplomacy is key.
- Be mindful of your position: Austria is uniquely positioned to form the Holy Roman Empire due to its starting position as Emperor and its diplomatic-oriented national ideas. Use your relative strength and position to enforce your will on the other Princes.
- Keep up with reforms: Pass HRE reforms to strengthen your position. However, note that it may be challenging to pass all reforms, especially in multiplayer with other players inside the HRE.
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The role of the Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is the ruler and head of state of the Holy Roman Empire. The title was held in conjunction with the title of King of Italy from the 8th to the 16th century and, almost without interruption, with the title of King of Germany throughout the 12th to 18th centuries. The Holy Roman Emperor is widely perceived to rule by divine right, and until 1508, the Emperor-elect was required to be crowned by the Pope before assuming the imperial title.
The Holy Roman Emperor has various powers and a great deal of responsibility in maintaining and protecting the Empire's territorial, religious, and cultural status quo. The Emperor can appoint up to twelve Free Imperial Cities, which give the Emperor more authority in exchange for trading bonuses. The Holy Roman Emperor is also responsible for leading the Catholic League within the Empire.
As the player, you should aim to retain the title of Holy Roman Emperor as Austria to maintain your might as a continental power. This means playing the diplomacy and imperial authority game within the HRE. Austria's national ideas form one of the best sets of diplomatic ideas in the game, and you should use this to your advantage. Make sure you are elected Emperor every time for the bonus 10 IA that you get.
To increase your Imperial Authority, you can:
- Keep the number of princes as high as possible.
- Constantly war to break up large HRE states and release nations.
- Do not let Northern Italy leave the HRE.
- Conquer every province that belongs to the Empire but is controlled by someone outside the Empire.
- Maintain 12 Free Cities at all times.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some general tips for playing as Austria:
- Your main source of imperial authority is the monthly tick. Maximize it by keeping the number of princes as high as possible.
- Constantly go to war to break up large HRE states and release nations.
- Do not let Northern Italy leave the HRE.
- Conquer every province that belongs to the Empire but is controlled by someone outside the Empire.
- Austria is uniquely situated for forming personal unions. Austrian missions give a casus belli for forming a personal union with Bohemia and Hungary.
- Austria should retain the title of Holy Roman Emperor to maintain their might as a continental power.
If you want to keep Italian states in the HRE, you can either use the “Rein in Northern Italy” decision or ensure the status of having been reined in among the desired Italian states in January 1490. You don't have to conquer them, just win a war against each of them. You can also elevate them to a Free City.
To increase your IA gain, you should constantly attack princes who have annexed another and force them to release it. You also want to deal with the provinces held by an outside power. If you manage to go down the reform path, you can ultimately vassalize all HRE princes.
