Besides the Prussian Dudes,Who can Unify the Lands Of Germany? Your challenge here,is to Unite Germany under a Different House.
AHC:Alternate Unifier of Germany
- Thread starter AudieonAHCom
- Start date
The most obvious possibility would be the Hapsburgs and Ausrtria. The best path is to slowly alter he nature of the Holy Roman Empire from a collection of independent states, to members of a federated empire who acknowledged the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor. This would also require you to make the title hereditary.
Uniting all the members into a genuine state under Austrian leadership would need to be the overriding goal of the Hapsburgs and furthered from generation to generation; much like the efforts of Prussia to rise from a poor duchy to a great power. German nationalism and fear of foreign powers (mainly France) could be used to help further the process. A trade union and a united military could be preliminary steps along the way.
Martin Luther being killed and no Protestant Reformation would also make the process more likely.
Uniting all the members into a genuine state under Austrian leadership would need to be the overriding goal of the Hapsburgs and furthered from generation to generation; much like the efforts of Prussia to rise from a poor duchy to a great power. German nationalism and fear of foreign powers (mainly France) could be used to help further the process. A trade union and a united military could be preliminary steps along the way.
Martin Luther being killed and no Protestant Reformation would also make the process more likely.
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Hmm perhaps if we butterfly the Habsburgs and have the Wittelbachs inherit the Luxembourg domains. They'd have power bases in the east west and centre of the Empire to maintain their authority
Baphomet
Banned
A bonapartist Westphalia in a Napoleon victory pod. Essentially under a Westphalian Kaiser of the House of Bonaparte.
Saxony seems to be a popular choice among alternate history writers. While it's undoubtedly one of the larger of the German states, I'm unaware whether it has something extra going for it besides that.
wolf_brother
Banned
Well, a Wittelsbach wears the German crown (for now) in TSPD, but the unifying agent was a populist revolution.
The Hohenstaufen are probably most often brought up as alternate unifiers. You could probably go on full on wank mode, and have it lead to an earlier importation of Arabic learning into Europe, and have space travel by 1899.
Besides them a often time forgotten royal house could be the house of Luxembourg. They were for a time kings of Bohemia and Hungary as well as Brandenburg and Brabant.
Besides them a often time forgotten royal house could be the house of Luxembourg. They were for a time kings of Bohemia and Hungary as well as Brandenburg and Brabant.
~ Ottonian dynasty: As an analogue to the Capetians, they might establich a strong monarchy even before the local counts and princes really establish their power bases.
~ Staufen dynasty: often discussed. Power bases in southern Germany and Italy
~ Luxembourg dynasty: Power bases in the west and the east, especially Brabant-Lux. and Bohemia. The German capital would be probably be Prague.
~ Habsburg dynasty: More possibilities over the century than I could list here.
~ Wittelsbach dynasty: Power bases in Bavaria and along the Rhine, often bishops in Westphalia. Imperial vicars for the south and west. Largish PoDs in early 18th century.
~ Wettin dynasty: often overlooked, but with a good potential. Electors, with lots of wealth from cities and the Ore Mountains. Imperial vicars for the north and east. Might have expanded into Silesia or down the Elbe.
~Guelph dynasty: Very ancient and once powerful, reduced in power in 1180. A hypothetical son of Otto IV might lead the family resurgence. At many other times the Guelph lands were unified and might have grown stronger ealier. Latest chance in the 19th century as a Mega-Hanover, esp if there is no powerful Brandenburg-Prussia.
~ Oldenburg dynasty: The other northern German house. In Oldenburg, Schleswig, Holstein, Denmark et al. Might expand into Frisia and Westphalia. Would probably need a role as "Protector of the Hansa" or as ruler of an Über-Denmark to establish a unified Germany.
~ Obotrite dynasty: The rulers of Mecklenburg, of old Slav stock. With enough PoDs, they might inherit Pomerania and be granted Brandenburg (esp. pre 1415). Possibly a replacement for the Berliner Hohenzollern.
~ Ascanian dynasty: Once the rulers of Saxony and Brandenburg. Might have stayed big with less bad luck. A possibly replacement for the Hohenzollern, as well.
~ Mark dynasty: Rulers of the United Duchies of Julich-Cleves-Berg, died out in 1614. If they survived, with competent rulers, their territories might have grown bigger, absorbed the Rhenish and Westphalian bishoprics and even see an earlier industrialisation in the 18th century (watermills, mines and foundries along the Ruhr.) Germany unification by a strong economic, technological and military power from the Rhine is always interesting.
Main problems: The Habsburg-Dutch conflict until ~1650, the French aggression ~1660-1815
~ Brabant Dynasty: The rulers of Hesse. If Philip the Magnanimous does not divide the territory in 1567, the Landgraviate from Kassel to Darmstadt might have remained much more powerful. Probably never unifiers by might, but they *might* become primus inter pares in a federated Germany, due to their possion of Frankfurt.
~ Staufen dynasty: often discussed. Power bases in southern Germany and Italy
~ Luxembourg dynasty: Power bases in the west and the east, especially Brabant-Lux. and Bohemia. The German capital would be probably be Prague.
~ Habsburg dynasty: More possibilities over the century than I could list here.
~ Wittelsbach dynasty: Power bases in Bavaria and along the Rhine, often bishops in Westphalia. Imperial vicars for the south and west. Largish PoDs in early 18th century.
~ Wettin dynasty: often overlooked, but with a good potential. Electors, with lots of wealth from cities and the Ore Mountains. Imperial vicars for the north and east. Might have expanded into Silesia or down the Elbe.
~Guelph dynasty: Very ancient and once powerful, reduced in power in 1180. A hypothetical son of Otto IV might lead the family resurgence. At many other times the Guelph lands were unified and might have grown stronger ealier. Latest chance in the 19th century as a Mega-Hanover, esp if there is no powerful Brandenburg-Prussia.
~ Oldenburg dynasty: The other northern German house. In Oldenburg, Schleswig, Holstein, Denmark et al. Might expand into Frisia and Westphalia. Would probably need a role as "Protector of the Hansa" or as ruler of an Über-Denmark to establish a unified Germany.
~ Obotrite dynasty: The rulers of Mecklenburg, of old Slav stock. With enough PoDs, they might inherit Pomerania and be granted Brandenburg (esp. pre 1415). Possibly a replacement for the Berliner Hohenzollern.
~ Ascanian dynasty: Once the rulers of Saxony and Brandenburg. Might have stayed big with less bad luck. A possibly replacement for the Hohenzollern, as well.
~ Mark dynasty: Rulers of the United Duchies of Julich-Cleves-Berg, died out in 1614. If they survived, with competent rulers, their territories might have grown bigger, absorbed the Rhenish and Westphalian bishoprics and even see an earlier industrialisation in the 18th century (watermills, mines and foundries along the Ruhr.) Germany unification by a strong economic, technological and military power from the Rhine is always interesting.
Main problems: The Habsburg-Dutch conflict until ~1650, the French aggression ~1660-1815
~ Brabant Dynasty: The rulers of Hesse. If Philip the Magnanimous does not divide the territory in 1567, the Landgraviate from Kassel to Darmstadt might have remained much more powerful. Probably never unifiers by might, but they *might* become primus inter pares in a federated Germany, due to their possion of Frankfurt.
MarshalBraginsky
Banned
I was thinking of Westphalia too as a potential unifier of Germany, although to a lesser extent if Denmark can become the protector of the German states.
The Luxembourg and the Habsburgs are interested in integrating Poland to the Holy Roman Empire, had they succeeded in gaining Poland they would have most likely unite Germany and form a German-Polish Commonwealth as well.
The Luxembourg and the Habsburgs are interested in integrating Poland to the Holy Roman Empire, had they succeeded in gaining Poland they would have most likely unite Germany and form a German-Polish Commonwealth as well.
As awesome as that sounds. They couldn't unite the Holy Roman empire as it was adding more territory wouldn't help in that endeavor.
I've always found the idea of a Hanoverian-led Germany very appealing.
Not sure exactly why.
Not sure exactly why.
Lost the game
Banned
Mongolia.
Ogedei Khan survives longer, allowing Batu Khan to conquer Central Europe and trash France, then an ambitious general breaks Germany off from the Golden Horde? Germany is a loooooooooong way off from Sarai Batu after all...