AHC: Medieval Nationalism and Centralization

With a Point of Divergence between 1000 and 1200, create a hypothetical rise of nationalism in medieval times, culminating in a centralized nation state of the style that didn't rise until the late 1600s and 1700s in our timeline in the 1200s. At the very least, a national army has to be established.

Bonus points if feudalism is ended or if a national language is enforced.
 
With a Point of Divergence between 1000 and 1200, create a hypothetical rise of nationalism in medieval times, culminating in a centralized nation state of the style that didn't rise until the late 1600s and 1700s in our timeline in the 1200s. At the very least, a national army has to be established.

Bonus points if feudalism is ended or if a national language is enforced.

Commune of Rome is successful etsblishes a Roman Republic in Italy. Inspires other City-States.
 

Marc

Donor
Nationalism, as generally understood, is more or less formally established by 1645 as part of the West's political landscape. There are some states that would easily fall into a proto-nationalist identification. Some would point to the union of Swiss cantons, others might note that Venice is in fact a nation-state, etc.
Centralization isn't the defining characteristic of a nation-state, that is just a political vector that may or may not apply.
 
Oh of course. But, consider what happened in France with the de-emphasis on regional languages and the introduction of French as the language of instruction in schools.
 
As been hinted, you really are going to need an earlier development of the printing press and the rise of the middle or merchant class along with greater education. Although group identities certainly existed prior to the rise of Nationalism, Nationalism itself is a product of the later 18th and early 19th century. With the printing press and greater access to education and literacy, you see the Middle Class demanding a greater say in the government of the nation at the expense of the old ruling elite. As a result, you needed a new 'idea' to tie the nations together, rather than loyalty to the Monarch. There were, of course, economic impacts as well (the creation of larger economic zones by pulling the different statelets together into a centralized government)
 
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