AHC: Save the German Confederation.

It may reform though.

Bonus points if no single state dominates it and Austrians and Prussians find an equilibrium.

PoD from 1815 on.
 
It may reform though.

Bonus points if no single state dominates it and Austrians and Prussians find an equilibrium.

PoD from 1815 on.


Bismarck drowns in Biarritz in August 1862.

As Wilhelm I's disagreement with parliament gets worse, he talks about abdicating, but as OTL Crown Prince Friedrich refuses the offer. Things drag on through the first half of 1863, until Wilhelm gets visited by the King of Saxony with an invitation to a Congress of German Princes to discuss reform.

Seeing himself faced with the inevitable loss of some of his power, Wilhelm decides he'd rather lose it to his traditional "Senior Partner", the Austrian Emperor, than to a bunch of nobodies in frock coats. He reaches a deal with Franz Joseph for the creation of a "Security Council" for the Confederation, with Austria and Prussia as permanent members, and three others chosen for three years at a time from the lesser states. Two of the three will be drawn from the Kings of Hanover, Saxony, Bavaria and Wurttemberg serving in rotation. If a minor or mentally incapable when his turn comes up, a king may be represented by a Regent.

The Armies of the smaller states are consolidated into a "Federal" army, whose CinC is appointed by the Council. Prussia and Austria retain their own armies, but one third of each will be "seconded" to the Federal force at any given moment. Each state will pay a contribution for the upkeep of this force. This amount will be determined by a Chamber of Deputies, elected on a propertied franchise.

The reformed Confederation gets an early test when the Schleswig-Holtein dispute boils over into war, but its victory gives a big boost to its prestige, and despite occasional rumours of Prussia wanting to secede, this never happens
 
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