AH Challenge: The Mighty Herring Salad

Your mission is, with a POD after the Congress of Vienna, to make Norway-Sweden a Great Power in the world. Bonus points if they conquer Denmark; points off if they intermarry with Denmark.

The thread title taken from the traditional epiphet for the Swedo-Norwegian Union Badge, if you're wondering.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
I am thinking they might side with Denmark during the Scleswig- Holstein wars 1848-51 and 1864. If the Swedes and Norwegians help Denmark keep the duchies (or perhaps just Schleswig would be enough) there could be some butterfly effects creating a Scandinavian Union centered around Sweden. Best case scenario the wars goes even better and the Danes keep Holstein and Sweden reconquer their Pommeranian provinces. I'd say a kingdom consisting of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein, Vorpommern and the Scandinavian Atlantic Islands would be a good beginning for a power in the European Concert.

Let's say Sweden has been even more involved in the conflict, not just fought the Prussians, but also participated in the Crimean War 1853-56. Let's say that Finland was reconquered with Brittish and French help. If you then add finland to the equation earlier you have a great power. Then again this Scandinavian nation would have created dangerous enemies in both Prussia and Russia. Perhaps it would not last too long, unledd it's allied with the UK of course. Then the Scandinavian Union could even be a Entente Power in WW1 (if Germany is unified, might not be).
 
Last edited:
By the time of the Crimean War 1853 Denmarks succession question hasn't been solved and Denmark reluctantly obey Russian demands of closing the Sound and Baelts to British war ships.
The British entice Sweden-Norway as allies against Russia with the prize of Denmark. A Swedish army lands on Sjaelland taking Copenhagen with British Naval support.

Following the end of war by 1857 an agreement is made with the German league whereby Holstein enters German League but Slesvig remains with Denmark (Sweden-Norway). Sweden also gains Aaland Isles. As the Tsar still has a claim to part of Holstein Sweden-Norway-Denmark have gotten rid of one adversary - Germany.
In the years to follow a pan-Scandinavian movement is encouraged by the Swedish King to unite his Kingdoms.

Come 1863 and the Polish uprising Sweden-Norway-Denmark backed by Britain, France and Austria declare war on Russia to support the Poles and get Finland. Prussia is less interested in supporting the Tsar because of Holstein and under pressure of following the Swedish-Norwegian-Danish example. Under these circumstances Sweden-Norway-Denmark does become Sweden-Norway-Denmark-Finland.

And now butterflies become big, but Bismarck still gets his war on Austria if not on Russia! :D
 
Top