Recently I got this idea for a timeline, based on the idea that if France and the Netherlands would form an alliance they would give Britain a run for its money. Basicly the idea would be this:
During the last years of the Dutch revolt France and the Dutch Republic were allied against Spain. In my timeline proposal this alliance would continue (which possibly means that the end of of the Dutch revolt would be postponed). So during the late 17th century and the early 18th century the Netherlands and France remain allies. This means that France will not be able to go for their desired Rhine border. Since the Netherlands is allied to France, France does not need a Rhine border as its northern border is secured. Since its eastern border consists of a divided German/HRE, Switserland and a divided Italy, its eastern border is also secure. The only European threat for France is its Southern Border with Spain, but as Spain effectively collapsed during the late 17th/early 18th century (several times actualy), it is not terribly dangerous. Anyway France's borders are secure, so it can focus (at least partly) on its colonial empire. It will not solely focus on its colonial empire and will try to expand somewhat in Europe, but less than OTL.
One result of the Franco-Dutch alliance will be that the Netherlands and France divide the Southern Netherlands among themselves. I am not entirely certain exactly how. I would realy like a nice division in which France gains Wallonia and Luxemburg, while the Netherlands gain the Dutch speaking parts, but I consider this completely unrealistic and an anachronistic way of thinking, so France will probably get a decent part of the Flemish coast, although the big Flemish cities (Bruges, Ostend, Ghent, Antwerp) will be Dutch. Dunkirk, Kortrijk, Ypres will probably be French. Nieuwpoort, no idea. I would like to see it Dutch, if only because of 1600.
Since a Franco Dutch alliances would have a stronger navy than England (actualy the Dutch republic alone was stronger, but if you combine it with the French navy, the English are in real trouble), they manage throughout the 17th and 18th century to remove the English out of India (I realy like a French India, it is such a nice butterfly) and Indonesia/Malaysia (the English only had 2 major colonies there anyway).
The French and the Dutch also would be able to kick the English out of New England. Roughly the Dutch gain Conecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusets, while France gains Maine, new Hampshire and Vermont. My idea is that, although the English settlers are unhappy at forst, they are in the end generaly satisfied that they are relatively left alone by the Dutch and don't mind being ruled by another Calvinist country, as long as they can keep their distinct culture. So they will not assimilate into Dutchmen, but they will keep a new English identity, but they are ruled by the Netherlands. I realise I probably need some changes in North American colonisation by France and the Netherlands for this to happen. So I am open to ideas to make this happen.
During the late 18th/19th century France starts to colonise Northern Africa and will try to turn Egypt into either a colony or a vasal state, so it can create the suez canal to gain easy access to its major colony in India.
England keeps its southern North-American colonies and gains some major western African colonies (it needs some slaves for all those plantations after all) and in the 19th century it will start to colonise indo-China (not unlike France did OTL).
So, what do you think of this? Any ideas? What will be the problems of this timeline I need to solve? Which parts are completely unrealistic and need to change? What interesting addition could I add? Should I turn this into an actual timeline? Would you read it if I did? Would you want to help? Should I forget the entire idea and focus on something more important, like solving world hunger? Do you have any ideas to solve world hunger?
During the last years of the Dutch revolt France and the Dutch Republic were allied against Spain. In my timeline proposal this alliance would continue (which possibly means that the end of of the Dutch revolt would be postponed). So during the late 17th century and the early 18th century the Netherlands and France remain allies. This means that France will not be able to go for their desired Rhine border. Since the Netherlands is allied to France, France does not need a Rhine border as its northern border is secured. Since its eastern border consists of a divided German/HRE, Switserland and a divided Italy, its eastern border is also secure. The only European threat for France is its Southern Border with Spain, but as Spain effectively collapsed during the late 17th/early 18th century (several times actualy), it is not terribly dangerous. Anyway France's borders are secure, so it can focus (at least partly) on its colonial empire. It will not solely focus on its colonial empire and will try to expand somewhat in Europe, but less than OTL.
One result of the Franco-Dutch alliance will be that the Netherlands and France divide the Southern Netherlands among themselves. I am not entirely certain exactly how. I would realy like a nice division in which France gains Wallonia and Luxemburg, while the Netherlands gain the Dutch speaking parts, but I consider this completely unrealistic and an anachronistic way of thinking, so France will probably get a decent part of the Flemish coast, although the big Flemish cities (Bruges, Ostend, Ghent, Antwerp) will be Dutch. Dunkirk, Kortrijk, Ypres will probably be French. Nieuwpoort, no idea. I would like to see it Dutch, if only because of 1600.
Since a Franco Dutch alliances would have a stronger navy than England (actualy the Dutch republic alone was stronger, but if you combine it with the French navy, the English are in real trouble), they manage throughout the 17th and 18th century to remove the English out of India (I realy like a French India, it is such a nice butterfly) and Indonesia/Malaysia (the English only had 2 major colonies there anyway).
The French and the Dutch also would be able to kick the English out of New England. Roughly the Dutch gain Conecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusets, while France gains Maine, new Hampshire and Vermont. My idea is that, although the English settlers are unhappy at forst, they are in the end generaly satisfied that they are relatively left alone by the Dutch and don't mind being ruled by another Calvinist country, as long as they can keep their distinct culture. So they will not assimilate into Dutchmen, but they will keep a new English identity, but they are ruled by the Netherlands. I realise I probably need some changes in North American colonisation by France and the Netherlands for this to happen. So I am open to ideas to make this happen.
During the late 18th/19th century France starts to colonise Northern Africa and will try to turn Egypt into either a colony or a vasal state, so it can create the suez canal to gain easy access to its major colony in India.
England keeps its southern North-American colonies and gains some major western African colonies (it needs some slaves for all those plantations after all) and in the 19th century it will start to colonise indo-China (not unlike France did OTL).
So, what do you think of this? Any ideas? What will be the problems of this timeline I need to solve? Which parts are completely unrealistic and need to change? What interesting addition could I add? Should I turn this into an actual timeline? Would you read it if I did? Would you want to help? Should I forget the entire idea and focus on something more important, like solving world hunger? Do you have any ideas to solve world hunger?