AHC: Hohenzollern Mexico

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Okay, let's throw down an interesting challenge here. With a PoD from 1850 (the annexation of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern-Hechingen to Prussia) onwards, have a member of the Catholic Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern House (Sigmaringen or Hechngen) become Emperor of Mexico. Bonus points if said Empire lasts to the 1950's.
 
Not really an exact POD but if France under Napoleon III persues a different foreign policy in Italy, namely by trying more aggressivly to win dominance over the region, he might clash too much with Vienna so that an alliance with Prussia seems sensible.

Prussia gets dominance over most of the Confederation with French blessing while France becomes overlord over northern Italy (and the Papal State). Then when the same Mexican debt crisis rolls around that brought OTL the Second Mexican Empire under Maximilian Napoleon III suggests a Hohenzollern candidate to the Mexican Congress.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Same issues as reality:

Mexican conservatives can not succeed when the Republicans are supported by the US; US is no more going to accept a Hohenzollern proxy in charge in Mexico than they would a French proxy.

Give the disaster the French intervention in Mexico turned into, at a time when the French had much more significant places to spend their capital (and blood), hardly seems likely the Swabians would be any more sucessful.


Best,
 
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Mexican conservatives can not succeed when the Republicans are supported by the US; US is no more going to accept a Hohenzollern proxy in charge in Mexico than they would a French proxy.

Give the disaster the French intervention in Mexico turned into, at a time when the French had much more significant places to spend their capital (and blood), hardly seems likely the Swabians would be any more sucessful.


Best,

Except that a Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen prince would be closer related to Napoleon III (his mother was Princess of Baden - daughter of Stephanie de Beauharnais, and while not related, reeked of French empire blood since his grandma was Antoinette Murat). This was, after all, the reason Napoleon proposed Karl of Sigmaringen for Romania's throne. So, maybe with someone who is less likely to see the Bonapartes as usurpers, Napoleon is more supportive of Mexico.

Also, Prince Leopold of Sigmaringen, married Antonia of Portugal (daughter of D. Maria II and her Coburg consort). And it was said Antonia was "dying to be queen, it didn't matter to her too much which crown she picked up". So, that allows Mexico to be better connected with the "liberal" monarchies - Britain, Belgium, Portugal etc.
 
Franz Joseph assassinated 1853. Pro-French policies in Austria under Maximilian. Cooperation between the two on the Eastern Question, in Italy and Germany. Isolation of Prussia.

As stated in a post above, Napoleon III was fond of the Sigmaringens. Leopold goes to Mexico. With the threat from Prussia lessened (no Austro-Prussian War), French armies remain and the regime has more of a chance of success. Maybe it somehow makes its peace with the US.
 
Except that a Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen prince would be closer related to Napoleon III (his mother was Princess of Baden - daughter of Stephanie de Beauharnais, and while not related, reeked of French empire blood since his grandma was Antoinette Murat). This was, after all, the reason Napoleon proposed Karl of Sigmaringen for Romania's throne. So, maybe with someone who is less likely to see the Bonapartes as usurpers, Napoleon is more supportive of Mexico.

Also, Prince Leopold of Sigmaringen, married Antonia of Portugal (daughter of D. Maria II and her Coburg consort). And it was said Antonia was "dying to be queen, it didn't matter to her too much which crown she picked up". So, that allows Mexico to be better connected with the "liberal" monarchies - Britain, Belgium, Portugal etc.

But this is still the same prince which France opposed taking the Spanish throne.
 
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