[insane_dreamer]

This was back in the day when alliances, particularly European ones, meant something.

[nine_k]

Also, family ties. European monarchs were a really tight bunch. For instance, the tzar of Russia and the king of the British Empire at the time of WWI were brothers.

[sofixa]

> For instance, the tzar of Russia and the king of the British Empire at the time of WWI were brothers.

They were first cousins, along with the German Kaiser they went to war with.