Historically, the dutch culture was heavily associated with Germany. At least a bit more than the Prussians. So your goal is for the netherlands/the kingdom in the low countries, to be the military power that unites Germany. Austria, prussia (the stuff past brandenburg) and colonies all optional.
AHC: Netherlands Uniting Germany
- Thread starter KingOnTheEdge
- Start date
It is hard. Personaly i would disagree with the statement "the dutch culture was heavily associated with Germany". At least from the late middleages you saw already a distinct Dutch culture from the German culture, including a seperate language. The Netherlands was on the perifery of the HRE, often more influenced by France than it was by Germany. The moment the Dutch republic formed it was impossible, but before I would say it already was unlikely. there was not enough connection between the Netherlands and the Germany.
Just have the rulers of the Netherlands become HRE, and retain it through the centuries.
Then the emperors centralize the HRE.
Then there you have it! A Dutch united Germany.
And it's doable if the Habsburgs transfer their seat from Austria to the Netherlands, and kept their Austrian lands still and then continue to be HRE emperors.
Then the emperors centralize the HRE.
Then there you have it! A Dutch united Germany.
And it's doable if the Habsburgs transfer their seat from Austria to the Netherlands, and kept their Austrian lands still and then continue to be HRE emperors.
All I know is that people, including my grandfather, in northern Germany until the mid-20th century spoke Plattdeutsch, which is incredibly similar to Dutch. German dialects are very different. I can hardly understand the German spoken out in Switzerland.
As I said, it is impossible for the Dutch republic to unite Germany. i think the Netherlands was already too distict in the period before. I think you need a Pre-Burgundian POD*. Basicly before anything resembling the Netherlands is actualy formed. Some noble who happens to come from what is now the Netherlands (lets say Gelre) inheriting parts of Germany and finaly uniting it is possible, but unlikely (to be fair Brandenburg uniting Germany was unlikely too), but I would not say it actualy is the Netherlands uniting Germany.
*the Burgundians itself were more interested in creating its own country between the HRE and France than anything else
that's fair, and part of why i said a kingdom based in the low countries, i kinda figured pre-burgundy would be a good bet
Madeleine Birchfield
Banned
the Germanic speaking regions of the HRE have always had multiple Germanic languages. You had Old and Middle variants of Saxon, Frisian, Dutch, Franconian, Bavarian, and Swabian, all of which were mostly derived from different West Germanic branches, the Saxons and the Frisians from Ingvaeonic, Dutch and Franconian from Istvaeonic, and Bavarian and Swabian from Irminonic. It was mostly the same situation culturally, as the Franks, Saxons, Frisians, and Bavarians were all distinct Germanic tribes. It wasn't really until the 19th century with German nationalism and universal education that there developed a sense of a unified German identity, language, and culture.
Last edited:
Not sure how relevant the Ingvaeonic, Istvaeonic and Irminonic division was during the early middle ages, considering how Dutch is arguably closer to Low Saxon rather than Middle or Upper Franconian.
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...cceeds-in-becoming-holy-roman-emperor.476492/
William II of Holland pulls a Habsburg upon becoming Holy Roman Emperor?
William II of Holland pulls a Habsburg upon becoming Holy Roman Emperor?
Madeleine Birchfield
Banned
My point is that the only reason why that the Netherlands thought of themselves as different is because the 80 Years' War lead to Dutch independence from the rest of the HRE and thereafter charted a path independent of the rest of the German lands 300 years before German nationalism. If the Netherlands remained in the HRE or if the northern half of the HRE broke away, then the differences that are so pronounced OTL between the Netherlands and the rest wouldn't be there today come the 19th century.