I recently got a vague idea for a timeline, maybe I am willing to expand on this idea when I finished my New Netherlands timeline (which i am still planning on doing). I would to see some comments from other people about this idea.
The idea is that during the Dutch revolt Maurice of (Orange-)Nassau creates an alliance with the French king. This happens around 1600, OTL a 12 year truce was made between the Netherlands and Spain, which was going backrupt (at least i think it was) . The idea is that Maurice and the king of France decide to split the Spanish southern Netherlands, France gains Artois, Hainaut, Namur, Luxembourg and the Franche-Comte, while the Netherlands gains Flanders, Brabant and Limbourg (basicly the language borders). Both manage to get the Spanish out, who recognise Dutch independence.
Meanwhile next to the Netherlands another war occurs, the thirty year war (which will probably not take thirty years). The Netherlands, who also wishes to become independant from the HRE, becomes involved in this war. They invade bordering principalities, officialy to help the protestants living there. The war basicly ends in the disolution of the HRE and the Netherlands creates a couple of vasal countries at its western border (the county of east Frisia, Munster, Lingen, Liege, Bentheim, Julich-Mark-Cleve-Berg*).
When the Netherlands has secured its eastern border, there will be a struggle for power between the house of Orange and the rich Dutch merchants. This ends in a civil war. With the support of France (and maybe England) the house of Orange prevails and they become kings of the Netherlands.
Because the POD is before the founding of most Dutch colonies I am thinking to give them some they originally didn't got. I am not sure which ones, but I was thinking about Dutch Brasil, Taiwan, Jamaica, Southern India and a lot less of Indonesia (maybe only the Maluku Islands).
* to make it easier, i'll butterfly a son for the last ruler of Julich-Mark-Cleve-Berg so there won't be a war of succession.
So any remarks about this?
The idea is that during the Dutch revolt Maurice of (Orange-)Nassau creates an alliance with the French king. This happens around 1600, OTL a 12 year truce was made between the Netherlands and Spain, which was going backrupt (at least i think it was) . The idea is that Maurice and the king of France decide to split the Spanish southern Netherlands, France gains Artois, Hainaut, Namur, Luxembourg and the Franche-Comte, while the Netherlands gains Flanders, Brabant and Limbourg (basicly the language borders). Both manage to get the Spanish out, who recognise Dutch independence.
Meanwhile next to the Netherlands another war occurs, the thirty year war (which will probably not take thirty years). The Netherlands, who also wishes to become independant from the HRE, becomes involved in this war. They invade bordering principalities, officialy to help the protestants living there. The war basicly ends in the disolution of the HRE and the Netherlands creates a couple of vasal countries at its western border (the county of east Frisia, Munster, Lingen, Liege, Bentheim, Julich-Mark-Cleve-Berg*).
When the Netherlands has secured its eastern border, there will be a struggle for power between the house of Orange and the rich Dutch merchants. This ends in a civil war. With the support of France (and maybe England) the house of Orange prevails and they become kings of the Netherlands.
Because the POD is before the founding of most Dutch colonies I am thinking to give them some they originally didn't got. I am not sure which ones, but I was thinking about Dutch Brasil, Taiwan, Jamaica, Southern India and a lot less of Indonesia (maybe only the Maluku Islands).
* to make it easier, i'll butterfly a son for the last ruler of Julich-Mark-Cleve-Berg so there won't be a war of succession.
So any remarks about this?