AH Challenge: Uber-Switzerland!

Well, let's give it a try...

OTL, in the late 15th century, the rural cantons were opposed to admitting a lot of new city states in to the confederation, and thus, the admission of some was delayed, and others where alright turned down (like Constance).

So we need a big push to get rid of that - so PoD - let's suppose Mary of Burgundy dies within days of her father, Charles the Bold (who lost his live in the battle of Nancy, against Swiss troops..). So there is no Habsburg marriage, France and the Habsburgs don't fight it out over the Burgundian inheritance - France reclaims all areas within it's traditional borders, while the parts within the HRE are up for grabs. With the Swiss troops already in the area, Franche Comte is made a Condominium of several cantons, and the City of Besançon is admitted to the confederation, together with Basel and Bernes OTL's allies, Solothurn and Fribourg. So, a majority of city states is established until 1481.

A few years later, France and Aragon/Spain still try to fight it out over southern Italy, and France intervenes in the struggles around Milan. So do the Swiss, and Venice (both like OTL). Without Burgundy, the Habsburgs don't have quarrels with France, don't get a Spanish bride, and so it's basically France , Venice and the Swiss who fight it out over Milan. Without the Habsburgs in play, France doesn't care that much, and thus, Milan is admitted as a city Republic to the Swiss confederation. A strong alliance between the Swiss and Venice is formed.

Again, a few years later, relations between the Swiss and Savoy explode. Differently to OTL, there is not only a push in to the areas north of lake Geneva, but also west from Milan. The Duchy of Savoy is reduced to western Savoy proper. Geneva, several smaller Piemontesian cities, and Nice, are admitted to the confederacy, and the areas in between are split between old and new members - or established as condominiums.

The big sucess of the Confederacy in Italy makes it more attractive to South German cities - Mühlhausen, Rottweil and Strassburg (and Constance) are admitted to the Confederation as well. The Confederation plays a big role in supressing the peasant war in South Germany during the 1520's - and many more city states join up - Colmar, Metz, Toul, Verdun, Kempten, Ulm, Augsburg - and finally - Frankfurt, Nürnberg. The lands of the bancrupted princes in between are often split among the city republics, and the autonomous knights are made subjects (or member of the council) of the cities closest to them.

During further troubles in Italy, Florence and further Tuscan cities, remaining republics, join up as well. With Trans-atlantic trade largely replacing the business of both Genoa and Venice, there is no further obstacle to have both (old rivals) as allies of the Swiss.

So, around 1560, the Swiss Confederacy includes the following (leading) city states: Siena, Florence, Lucca, Milan, Nice, Novarra, Parma, Geneva, Berne, Fribourg, Solothurn, Besancon, Basel, Lucerne, Zürich, Constance, Strassburg, Mühlhouse, Colmar, Metz, Toul, Verdun, Frankfurt, Augsburg, Nürnberg, Kempten, Ulm and Worms,(+ many other minor cities); several rural leagues, and, as associated members, many ecclesiastical states, including the bishops/archbishops of Mainz, Trier, Speyer, Constance, Basel, Besancon, Chur, Sion, etc...and Venice and Genoa are close allies.

So, the Swiss Confederation and allies mostly control northern Italy including Tuscany and Nice, France Comte, Alsace, Lorraine, and OTL's present day regions of Baden-Würtemberg, Pfalz, southern Hesse, and the Bavarian regions of Franconia and Svabia (North and West), plus, of course, OTL's Switzerland.

Don't expect me to continue beyond that date - much of European history will, by know, be already very different from OTL, and so would global history shortly thereafter...
 
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