
In the game Europa Universalis IV, Austria is in a prime position to form the Holy Roman Empire as it starts off as the HRE Emperor and has several diplomatic national ideas. Austria has five diplomacy slots available at the start of the game, and players often choose to ally and royal marry Bohemia, Castille, Hungary, and Poland. Players can also obtain a casus belli for forming a personal union (PU) with Bohemia and Hungary. One of Austria's missions is to annex or vassalize two of four neighboring one-province minor powers (OPMs), which can help the player lock down the elector of the Empire.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austria's position in the game | Austria starts as the Holy Roman Emperor |
| Austria's diplomatic slots | Austria has five diplomacy slots at the start of the game |
| Austria's alliances | Hungary, Bohemia, Trier, Pfalz, Wurzburg, Burgundy, Poland, Castille |
| Austria's unique situation | Austria is in a unique position to form personal unions |
| Austria's mission tree | Austria can obtain a force PU CB on Milan and Naples/Two Sicilies |
| Austria's electors | Bohemia, Burgundy, Cologne, Mainz, Saxony, Trier, Palatinate |
| Austria's strategy | To get alliances with Hungary, Bohemia, and three of the electors |
| Austria's economy | Austria is economically weak in trade |
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What You'll Learn

Austria is well-positioned to form the Holy Roman Empire
Additionally, Austria has several diplomatic-oriented national ideas, which further enhance their ability to form alliances and exert influence within the empire. Austria's unique position also allows them to form personal unions more easily. For example, Austrian missions provide 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.
Austria's relative strength and position within the empire also give them an advantage in enforcing their will on the other princes. They can utilize their power to influence the election of new electors, especially when smaller member states gain elector status. Furthermore, their economic strength, including their gold mine in Tirol, provides them with additional resources to exert influence and secure alliances.
To maintain their position and work towards forming the Holy Roman Empire, Austria should focus on active participation in internal empire politics, especially during the reformation, to secure the necessary IA for passing reforms. Diplomacy ideas are generally a good choice when playing as Austria, and it is important to maintain good relations with the electors, especially through royal marriages and alliances. However, it is worth noting that large electors will often vote for themselves, so Austria should focus on swaying the smaller electors through diplomacy.
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Austria can obtain a PU over an elector and integrate
Austria is in a prime position to become an elector in EU4. Firstly, Austria has five diplomacy slots available at the start of the game, which can be used to form alliances with Hungary, Bohemia, and three of the electors, making re-election almost certain. Austria can also obtain a personal union (PU) over Bohemia, which is one of Austria's early missions. This mission grants a Force PU CB upon Bohemia once Austria has 5 Electors that have +100 opinion of Austria and support them for Emperor. This can be achieved within the first few years of the game without allying all 5 electors. However, having a PU over Bohemia results in terrible relations with all other electors, making re-election less likely.
Austria can also obtain a PU over Milan, but this mission is locked behind directly owning most of Croatia and annexing Venice's non-Milanese Cores in Northern Italy. Additionally, Milan does not start as an Elector, so Northern Italy must be reigned in and an elector eliminated for Milan to become one. Austria can also obtain a PU over Bavaria, a smaller country than Bohemia, by annexing or vassalizing 2 of 4 neighboring OPMs. Bavaria can be made an elector before forcing a PU, helping to lock down the elector of the Empire.
Austria can also obtain a PU over Naples/Two Sicilies, which starts the game under an Aragon PU. However, this PU CB is only available if Naples is independent, as the death of their old starting king will often lead to Naples going free. Lastly, a PU can be obtained over Hungary, either by getting a von Habsburg on their throne through marriage and then claiming their throne or by increasing development.
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Austria has more diplomatic slots and relationship slots
In Europa Universalis IV, Austria is well-positioned to form the Holy Roman Empire, starting as the Emperor and having several diplomacy-oriented national ideas. Notably, Austria has five diplomacy slots available at the start of the game, which can be used to form strategic alliances and royal marriages. For example, one player suggests allying and marrying Bohemia, Castille, Hungary, and Poland, leaving one slot for a Prince-Elector.
Austria's unique situation for forming personal unions is enhanced by its mission tree, which provides a casus belli for forming a personal union with Bohemia and Hungary. This is achieved by achieving sufficiently high relations with HRE electors and increasing development, respectively. Additionally, Austria can obtain a forced personal union casus belli on Milan and Naples/Two Sicilies by completing specific missions.
Austria's high starting prestige also makes each marriage more likely to result in dynasties, personal unions, or even outright inheritance. This makes forming alliances with Archbishopries advantageous, as they are more likely to remain Catholic during the reformation.
Overall, Austria's diplomatic advantages, including its additional diplomatic and relationship slots, provide a strong foundation for players seeking to form the Holy Roman Empire and navigate the complex web of imperial politics.
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Austria's high prestige makes marriages more likely to result in dynasties
Austria is in a prime position to form the Holy Roman Empire, starting as the Emperor and having several diplomatic national ideas, as well as the power to enforce its will on the other princes. Austria has five diplomacy slots available at the start of the game, and players often consider allying and royal marrying Bohemia, Castille, Hungary, and Poland.
Austria is also well-situated for forming personal unions. Austrian missions give a casus belli for forming a PU with Bohemia on achieving sufficiently high relations with HRE electors, and another for Hungary after increasing development, regardless of dynasty or royal marriage. As Emperor, Austria gets more diplomats and more relationship slots, thus allowing more marriages.
Austria's high prestige makes each marriage more likely to result in dynasties, personal unions, or even outright inheritance. Hungary will very quickly be of the same dynasty by event, regardless of the player's choices, but a marriage makes for an easier claim as well as a great ally.
Austria can also obtain a forced PU CB on Milan through its mission tree, though this is delayed by the need to first own most of Croatia and annex Venice's non-Milanese cores in Northern Italy. Milan is not an Elector to the HRE at the start of the game, but if an elector is eliminated and Northern Italy is reined in, Milan can be made an elector.
Austria can also gain a PU CB on Bavaria by annexing or vassalizing two of four potential neighboring OPMs. Bavaria is a smaller country than Bohemia, so it is easier to inherit Bavaria and thus their elector status.
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Austria can ally with Hungary, Bohemia and three electors
Playing as Austria in Europa Universalis IV offers a unique experience, as it starts off as the Holy Roman Emperor. Austria has five diplomacy slots available at the start of the game, and it is advisable to ally with Hungary, Bohemia, and three electors to make re-election certain.
Hungary starts off in an interregnum and will soon get the same heir as Austria. Hungary also has a truce with Bohemia, which is a similarly-sized nation to Austria and has two small vassals in the Silesia area. Bohemia usually keeps its starting army on both its forts, so a good strategy is to start the war by rushing either of the forts with your army and stack wiping the divided stack. Once Bohemia is defeated, improve relations with them to positive.
Austria's national ideas form one of the best sets of diplomatic ideas in the game. Maintaining strong allies as well as a fluent diplomacy is essential as all of Austria's major opponents (particularly France and the Ottomans) have superior military-oriented ideas. Austria is also uniquely situated for forming personal unions. Austrian missions give a casus belli for forming a PU with Bohemia on achieving sufficiently high relations with HRE electors, and another for Hungary after increasing development, regardless of dynasty or royal marriage.
To keep the electors pleased, it is important to raise their opinion, make alliances, and form royal marriages. It is also important to protect the empire when its member states are attacked and not to vassalize the electors, as this incurs a massive penalty with all other electors and costs IA every month. Forming a personal union is fine. It is also a good idea to ally the Archbishoprics, as they are the most likely to stay Catholic during the reformation.
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