In almost every tl ever made, the Swiss are conquered or nuetral little guys. Is there any possible way for the Swiss to forge an empire, with or without a coastline?
WW3 breaks out, Switzerland is the only place in Europe not turned to glass. It then conquers most of Europe.
Challenge solved.
In almost every tl ever made, the Swiss are conquered or nuetral little guys. Is there any possible way for the Swiss to forge an empire, with or without a coastline?
The issue here is that the Swiss were originally a defensive alliance, and they were successful because their terrain (i.e. mountains everywhere, and pretty much no flat land at all) played entirely to their strengths. The day that the Swiss break out of the Alps and start occupying territory on flatter terrain is the day they will suddenly see their military fortune reversed.
Besides, what political will would there be for a Swiss superpower? The Swiss identity was basically built on the principle of "leave us alone and we leave you alone". That kind of falls apart when the isolationists decide to become big-time aggressors.