AH Challenge: The Sun Never Sets on the German Empire

[Tony Jones]

Just a random thought, but how might we get a German Empire as large and far-flung as the British Empire by, say, the end of the nineteenth century? It shouldn't control all of Europe, but have major colonies all around the world. How far back does the PoD have to be for this to be remotely plausible?

 

[Thande]

How about if the Netherlands stays in the HRE and becomes the core of the eventual "German state", thus being more of an outward-looking, trading and colonising power than OTL's one dominated by primarily continental powers (Prussia and Austria) ?

 

[Grey Wolf]

Just a random thought, but how might we get a German Empire as large and far-flung as the British Empire by, say, the end of the nineteenth century? It shouldn't control all of Europe, but have major colonies all around the world. How far back does the PoD have to be for this to be remotely plausible?

I always like a surviving Stuart monarchy in Britain and the Hannoverians uniting Germany instead. If they can get their hands on the Hanseatic ports around Hannover's borders they control a huge amount of Germany's maritime trade and this would provide a good stimulus for later colonisation

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

 

[Thande]

I always like a surviving Stuart monarchy in Britain and the Hannoverians uniting Germany instead. If they can get their hands on the Hanseatic ports around Hannover's borders they control a huge amount of Germany's maritime trade and this would provide a good stimulus for later colonisation

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

That might also do it, but we're looking at a second wave of colonisation there rather than an early one (16/17th century). The earliest Hanover can unite Germany is what, the start of the 19th century?

 

[Grey Wolf]

That might also do it, but we're looking at a second wave of colonisation there rather than an early one (16/17th century). The earliest Hanover can unite Germany is what, the start of the 19th century?

I would imagine so, yes

Of course, the French and to an extent the Dutch completely rebuilt their colonial empires in the 19th century after losing the vast extent of their pre-existing one by 1815, so I don't think its out of the question for Germany to use that century alone to do so in

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

 

[Grand Prince Paul II.]

Just a random thought, but how might we get a German Empire as large and far-flung as the British Empire by, say, the end of the nineteenth century? It shouldn't control all of Europe, but have major colonies all around the world.

For example, Jared's famous Decades of Darkness Timeline or Max Sinister's Chaos TL.

 

[Faeelin]

The Habsburgs unite Germany should do it, I'd think.

Beyond that? I don't think it's plausible with POD after 1450 or so.

 

[Advernt]

If you wish to continue the rather improbable string of fourtune that led to the rise of the Habsburg , you could have the Hapsburg somehow go on an Inheriting spree in Germany . Oh , and ensure that the Hapsburg emperor remains the King of Spain simultaneously . That will do the trick , although some might brand this ASB .

( IMO , the rise of the Hapsburg bordered on the verge of ASB rather often , especially in regard to the endless inheritance spree it achieved . )

 

[Faeelin]

I'd say inheriting Spain is a bit much, if anything.

But in the late 15th, early 16th century, there was quite a bit of talk about centralizing the HRE; it's not hard to see that developing, and then you have a pretty good base for a colonial empire.