Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 964 - 872: The Drastic Changes in Northern Italy

Adrian Casanova carries the blood of the Medici Family.

However, under the combined suppression of the Austrians and the Holy See, his father’s lineage was not recognized. Not even a single son from the Medici Family inheritance was obtained by his father.

And the Medici Family is the true master of Florence, the core region of Tuscany!

Half a century ago, Gian Gastone, the brother of Anna Maria, passed away, leading to the end of the Medici Family line.

Austria, relying on its powerful influence over Italy, forcibly vetoed Anna’s right to the Tuscan throne with the cooperation of the Holy See, handing Tuscany into the hands of the Habsburg family.

Now, Casanova and his grandson are the last remaining bloodline of the Medici Family in this world.

Mr. Haen is a captain in the French Intelligence Bureau, and his task is to bring Casanova back to Tuscany.

After Haen gave a brief explanation, Casanova was too shocked to speak.

After a long pause, he glanced at his frail grandson and finally nodded: "Alright, I am willing to go with you."

He remembered something and hesitantly said: "If you can bring the paintings from my room, I would be eternally grateful to you."

"Paintings?"

"They were birthday gifts from my grandmother when I was a child," the old man said, "works by masters like Botticelli, Canaletto, and Boucher, although not their famous pieces, they still have artistic value."

These names made Haen swallow hard—those paintings could easily fetch over a hundred thousand francs if taken to Paris.

Anna Maria was Europe’s most renowned art collector, and she invested half of the Medici Family’s wealth in purchasing artwork. However, her collection is mostly housed in the Florence Art Museum now.

In fact, the few paintings that Casanova has are precisely the reason he was framed.

"Alright, I will try my best to bring the paintings to you," Haen nodded.

Three days later.

Casanova sat in a "Gem VI" carriage en route to Florence. Behind the carriage were the four paintings by master artists.

On the same day, Treviso News reported the death of Albertsio, the local tyrant who had framed Casanova, in his own home.

The killer did a very clean job without leaving any clues.

This was a small gift Mr. Haen gave to Mr. Casanova by the way.

...

Northern Italy.

Parma Duchy, Piacenza.

Amidst the stirring and majestic military music, the Genoa Legion, dressed in white military uniforms and fully equipped, marched past the reviewing stand under the command of a lieutenant colonel.

Napoleon glanced over the not-so-neat formations and turned to Viscount Durand, the Crown Prince’s envoy beside him, and said in a low voice:

"You know, surrounding Mantua requires a lot of troops. This task can be handed over to the Sardinian Army, as they are idle in Brescia."

According to the resolution of the Mediterranean Security Organization, the armies of its member states have gathered in Piacenza.

Parma sent 4,000 soldiers, while Lucca sent only a force composed of 800 mercenaries.

The total strength is a little over 10,000 troops.

Viscount Durand brought the Crown Prince’s order to have Napoleon withdraw 5,000 troops to participate in the Security Organization’s action.

The target, of course, is Tuscany and the Pope State.

Viscount Durand shook his head and said: "You should have noticed, His Highness deliberately excluded Sardinia from this operation."

Napoleon asked puzzled: "Why is this? Sardinia’s army is the strongest in Northern Italy."

"Balance," Viscount Durand smiled, "Sardinia’s army could sweep across the Pope State, and by then they would form a power suppression against other countries. His Highness hopes for equality among nations.

"Of course, the official reason is that Sardinia once declared war on us, which is a punishment for this incident."

"Alright," Napoleon reluctantly said, "Then I’ll assign the Nemur Army to the Security Command.

"However, I suggest recruiting some mercenaries from Flanders. You know, as Protestants, they have an advantage when fighting against the Holy See."

"Alright, I will report your suggestion to His Highness, the Crown Prince."

Viscount Durand nodded and added, "By the way, General Bonaparte, Vienna has issued a mobilization order, and it’s estimated that reinforcements will soon arrive in Mantua. His Highness asks you to prepare in advance.

"After winning this battle, you should be promoted to Brigadier."

"Thank His Highness for his trust, I will not disappoint him!"

A week later, the Allied Forces of France, Parma, Modena, Genoa, Lucca, and Baden launched an attack on the northwest province of the Pope State, Ferrara.

At the same time, Adrian Casanova de Medici, the heir of the Medici Family, arrived in Modena—here being only 40 kilometers from Florence.

Tuscany and Modena are neighboring countries, often at war, so Modena seemed very welcoming to this original master of Florence.

Many of the Medici Family’s old followers came to join him upon hearing the news, and within a few days, over 700 soldiers gathered around Casanova.

Well, people did not care about whether Casanova was an illegitimate child.

As long as he carried the blood of the Medici Family, coupled with France backing him, he was the true heir of the Medici Family!

With this identity, there was no mistake in following him to pursue fortunes.

Immediately, Casanova publicly declared in the Modena Royal Palace that Ferdinand III, who was currently occupying Tuscany, was illegitimate.

The Medici Family will represent itself to drive away the Habsburg invaders!

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There’s still a little more to write, please refresh again in 20 minutes. I apologize.

Franz II initiated four Holy Alliances against Napoleon, all defeated by Napoleon, significantly weakening Austria’s national power, indirectly leading to Prussia’s rise later. In 1806, Napoleon forcibly dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, which had lasted for eight hundred years. The downfall of the Holy Roman Empire made Austria part of the Rhenish Confederation. Franz II was forced into a marital alliance, marrying his daughter Marie Louise to Napoleon. Hence, the power of the Habsburg Dynasty diminished significantly, unable to restore its influence over all of Europe. After Napoleon’s fall in 1814, Alexander I, Franz II, and Frederick William III immediately convened the Congress of Vienna, led by Prime Minister Metternich, establishing the Vienna System and the Holy Alliance, attempting to restore the old "order" in Europe to offset the influence of liberalism, but were later forced to enact a constitution and recognize some reforms. After the 1848 revolution, the Vienna System was overthrown, and the Austrian Empire, which Franz II spent his entire life maintaining, collapsed with nationalist movements emerging in Hungary, Bohemia, and the Balkans. Marie Antoinette, the queen who was guillotined during the French Revolution, was Franz II’s aunt.