AHC/WI: German Raj (German India) in 18th Century

[EmperorBuaya]

Rather than the British ruling whole of India, what if Germany or predecessor German state have managed to conquer and rule India instead? However, was it really plausible and can be done?

 

[pompejus]

However, was it really plausible and can be done?

No. Germany was too divided and did not have any good acces to the sea.

You need a POD somewhere in the high middle ages to change it. And even than I would say it is pretty hard. It is more likely that Germany would focus more on European expansion instead of overseas expansion, like Austria, Prussia and even France did.

 

[Analytical Engine]

Rather than the British ruling whole of India, what if Germany or predecessor German state have managed to conquer and rule India instead? However, was it really plausible and can be done?

If the Habsburgs manage to keep the Netherlands (maybe not inheriting Spain), that's a whole lot of coastline and economic base to at least start them off.

 

[Ivan Lupo]

If the Habsburgs manage to keep the Netherlands (maybe not inheriting Spain), that's a whole lot of coastline and economic base to at least start them off.

This could work, especially if they were able to better incorporate the Netherlands into their holdings. They would have to beat out the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and slowly establish trading posts and small holdings in India. They may also need to do their best to keep the Netherlands from going Protestant, which would be pretty difficult but not fully impossible.

 

[FillyofDelphi]

If the Habsburgs manage to keep the Netherlands (maybe not inheriting Spain), that's a whole lot of coastline and economic base to at least start them off.

... and another large region of Continental concerns and animosity/rivalry from other European powers to suck up their resources and attention. A Habsburg Empire of that size would have everybody in Europe trying to snatch off fringe peices andprices and undermine that stiffling hegemony. Geography is against anything in the center of Europe from being free enough from other problems and the eyes of competition to take on giant colonial ventures

 

[Ivan Lupo]

... and another large region of Continental concerns and animosity/rivalry from other European powers to suck up their resources and attention. A Habsburg Empire of that size would have everybody in Europe trying to snatch off fringe peices andprices and undermine that stiffling hegemony. Geography is against anything in the center of Europe from being free enough from other problems and the eyes of competition to take on giant colonial ventures

This is a good point. When you don't have to worry about defending all your borders against a first rate power, it's easier to consider options on overseas expansions. While England would still worry about a cross-channel invasion and did all they could to make sure that wasn't as easy for their rivals as it looked, England's greatest advantage is that they really only had significant rivals to their east, towards the continent. To the west, they had the Irish and then the open expanse of the Atlantic. So if you really want to hamstring English, then British development, see what happens if another European power managed to seize Ireland and maintain a powerful presence there. Russia benefited from their geography in a similar manner, by having significantly weaker polities and tribal peoples in their rear that they could easily subjugate when they she expanded all the way to the Pacific. That doesn't happen if there was an equally strong realm there with their own formidable presence.

 

[yoyo]

The occupation would collapse due to a a massive proctological crisis stemmed from extensive consumption of spicy indian food.