A Split France?

Hey Guys,

In numerous TL maps I've seen a France that's been divided up into lots of different little nations or city states, but how likely is this? At what point in history was it most likely that France was going to split up and create many different individual kingdoms? Also was it at all likely during the French Revolution? And when was the latest it could split (other than during the Second World War).
 
Anytime before modern mass-communications is actually possible. Most of Southern France spoke the Language D'Oil(or something like that), which is basically Occitanian, a mutually understandable language with Catalan. If Catalonia still existed at that time and the Napoleonic Wars went extremely differently, you could see a united Greater Catalonia. Although even an independent Catalonia would skew the Napoleonic wars from happening IMO.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
I know that the Congress of Vienna was all about restoring the balance of power in Europe (or at least setting up a new, conservative order), but what if they opted to divide France into basically France and Occitania in order to ensure France could never threaten the BOP again, sort of like was done with Germany post-WWII.

Or would the Spanish most likely veto this since they may be afraid of what it could do to Catalonian nationalism (fears of a union state with Occitania, etc.)?
 
The most likely opportunity to split France I see in the height of the Angevin Empire in the 12th century.
If the Plantagenets had managed to define a clear line of succession and to avoid fighting against each other, they might have revoked fealty to the French king. Then the Western part of France would have split off; the personal union with England might have been undone by distribution of heritage (seems to be advisable).
Moreover, Toulouse had gained some independence for being cut off from royal France and might fall from the crown as well; especially if Simon de Montfort would succeed in reigning it longer.
 

Zioneer

Banned
Actually, *shameless plug* I'm working towards a divided France in my TL, Kingmaker.

"France" will likely only constitute the middle part, while Normandy/Brittany and the Occitan realms shall form new countries. I am toying with breaking off more pieces of France as well.

Does that count as splitting France, in your idea of it?
 
Anytime before modern mass-communications is actually possible. Most of Southern France spoke the Language D'Oil(or something like that), which is basically Occitanian, a mutually understandable language with Catalan. If Catalonia still existed at that time and the Napoleonic Wars went extremely differently, you could see a united Greater Catalonia. Although even an independent Catalonia would skew the Napoleonic wars from happening IMO.
Langue d'oc actually, Occitan being the Southern French brother of Catalan.
The Langues d'oïl are the Northern French languages of which the ancestor of standard French was one. Other examples being Walon, Picard, Champenois, ...
 
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