"Union of Three Emperors": formality or foreign policy necessity?

The end of the nineteenth century in Europe was marked by large state-territorial and geopolitical changes, as a result of the defeat of Prussia, France emerged a vast and powerful German Empire, the Ottoman Empire, which still dominated significant land holdings, became more and more weak. All these factors prompted Russia to seek ways to strengthen its position in the international arena. One of the consequences of this search was the creation of the "Union of Three Emperors".

Europe by the end of the XIX century

The events of the last third of the nineteenth century brought to the foreign policy of the Russian Empire constant concern for its security and influence. After the defeat in the Crimean War, the country distanced itself from the big European policy and focused on solving internal problems. This gave its results - gradually building up its economic and military muscles. But the opponents did not doze. As a result of the impetuous Franco-Prussian war, France temporarily ceased to exist as a strong and influential state, and Russia received a powerful and aggressive education on its western borders - the German Empire. The real state of affairs testified to the possibility of forming an Austro-German alliance, which could further complicate the situation of our country. The government of Alexander II was well aware of this threat. Trying to avoid it, Russian diplomacy has developed booming activity. Active tripartite consultations between the heads of foreign affairs agencies and the monarchs themselves showed the world the "Union of Three Emperors" of 1873.

Terms of the contract and its essence

So, formally, Russia, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire concluded a coalition among themselves, but if one looks in detail at the points of the treaty, then it becomes mostly declarative in nature. Indeed, this alliance envisaged only the promises of the three sides to resolve differences with each other by means of consultations, and in the event of the threat of aggression by the fourth party, draw up a scheme of action. Apparently, neither side was bound by obligations. Nevertheless, each side, pursuing certain concessions, pursued its goals. Russia wanted to get a respite for its main ally in Europe - France, and not to be hostage to the German-Austrian union, Austria-Hungary hoped with the help of this agreement to strengthen its position on the Balkan Peninsula. Germany planned, with the help of this treaty, to secure itself a space of action with respect to France. The further course of history showed the ephemeral nature of all expectations. In 1875 there was an aggravation of Franco-German relations, Germany was already going to punish the uncompromising neighbor, but Russia said that it would not allow the re-defeat of France. This allowed Bismarck, in vexation, to call the "Union of Three Emperors" an empty and unnecessary piece of paper.

Disagreements between the parties to the agreement

Contrary to all expectations, this union existed for a long time, providing, though illusory, but still a world in Central Europe. In the late seventies of the nineteenth century, relations between Germany and Russia were becoming increasingly hostile. External assurances of friendship and sympathy for our country with the Germans disagreed with reality, this caused irritation and hostility in St. Petersburg against Berlin. Alexander III already experienced stable anti-German sentiments at the time of his accession to the throne. Despite these views, the new emperor went on the renewal of the treaty. In the paragraphs of the new treaty there was a reservation that, in the event of war with the Ottoman Empire, neutrality is determined by special arrangements, hypothetical changes of the boundaries of the Sublime Porte should occur only with the consent of all the sides of the coalition. The "Union of Three Emperors" of 1881-1894 had the basic idea of deterring Germans and Austrians, for at that time Russia had no other more effective ways to simply

Change in the geopolitical situation

Meanwhile, the alignment of forces underwent a change. In 1882, Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary concluded a military-political alliance, which went down in history as the "Triple Alliance". This coalition directly obliged the parties to conclude it with military support by all means and means. First of all, the alliance was directed against France, the second against Russia, the rivalry with Austria-Hungary became more acute in the Balkans. In Petersburg, they understood this perfectly, so in 1887 our country went to conclude a secret treaty with Germany. The so-called "Reinsurance Treaty" assumed neutrality in the event of war with a third country, but it was stipulated that this did not apply to the cases of the Franco-German or Russian-Austrian war. Thus, the Union of Three Emperors exhausted its positive resource.

On the eve of a big war

These arrangements were temporary for the Russian Empire. In the early 90-ies of the XIX century, an unthinkable event for Europe occurred - absolutist Russia went to an alliance with the Republican France. The diplomatic department continued to probe possible ways of rapprochement with the UK. In the very "mistress of the seas," they were well aware that the policy of brilliant isolation was coming to an end and that they had more interests with Russia than with the Austro-German bloc. Long diplomatic negotiations were crowned with success, as the second military-political bloc of the Entente, which included Russia, Britain and France, appeared. Nevertheless, the "Union of Three Emperors" played its historical role of preserving peace in Europe in the last third of the XIX century