Cosmedian
Banned
Leopold II of Tuscany was very popular, in fact he was the most popular Italian ruler when he was in power. I plan to use this in a TL - having him, instead of Victor Emmanuel, lead unification of Italy (probably without the Two Sicilies).
However, there are many challenges involved with this. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany cannot by itself unite Italy. My first idea is that Corsica is given to Tuscany during the Treaty of Paris in 1814, which, since in the past has been a Kingdom, would give the Grand Duke a royal title, as King of Corsica. Similar to how the Savoyards were Kings of Sardinia even though their main powerbase was Piedmont.
I'm going to unite the Habsburg domains of Parma, Modena and Lombardy-Venetia with Tuscany, but i'm not sure how to go about that... maybe Lombardy-Venetia are given during worse revolutions of 1848, as a compromise with Austria instead of warring against them, and in return, Tuscany declares helps the Austrians against the Piedmontese? Then the Archduke gifts Modena and Parma (both of which are directly owned by the Archduke at this point, IIRC) to Leopold, and this state (which is now all of Northern Italy except Sardinia-Piedmont) is ripe to take on the Savoyards.
Is this possible/plausible? If not, how could I improve the idea/what needs to be changed?
However, there are many challenges involved with this. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany cannot by itself unite Italy. My first idea is that Corsica is given to Tuscany during the Treaty of Paris in 1814, which, since in the past has been a Kingdom, would give the Grand Duke a royal title, as King of Corsica. Similar to how the Savoyards were Kings of Sardinia even though their main powerbase was Piedmont.
I'm going to unite the Habsburg domains of Parma, Modena and Lombardy-Venetia with Tuscany, but i'm not sure how to go about that... maybe Lombardy-Venetia are given during worse revolutions of 1848, as a compromise with Austria instead of warring against them, and in return, Tuscany declares helps the Austrians against the Piedmontese? Then the Archduke gifts Modena and Parma (both of which are directly owned by the Archduke at this point, IIRC) to Leopold, and this state (which is now all of Northern Italy except Sardinia-Piedmont) is ripe to take on the Savoyards.
Is this possible/plausible? If not, how could I improve the idea/what needs to be changed?