AHC/WI: Prussian-Hanoverian (but not Anglo) union

Eurofed

Banned
Let's assume that by whatever odd mix of dynastic events, 18th century Prussia and Hanover get merged in one state, but the personal union of Britain and Hanover is averted.

Let's also assume that if the scenario is feasible at all, OTL Prussian annexations of Silesia, Pomerania, and western Poland are somehow not butterflied away.

Which sequence of dynastic PoDs would make this possible, and how would this influence the course of 18th and 19th century events (apart from the caveat above) ?

I do not propose a detailed poD because, well, dynastic issues befuddle me. But my reading of threads concerning the Anglo-Prussian Union PoD made me vaguely aware that right sequence of dynastic events might make this double PoD possible.
 
IIRC, both countries followed Salic Law, so a straight union of the two lines wouldn't work. You'd need some sort of pragmatic sanction.

E.g. Sophia of Hanover has no surviving sons, but multiple surviving daughters; one marries a Hohenzollern and inherits Hanover, while another accedes in Britain.
 
If Prussia expands as per OTL while Hanover does not than you don't have a Prussian-Hanoverian union; at best you'll have Hanover as a province of Prussia with special rights and status - perhaps something akin to Bohemia within Austria. For an equal union between the two you'll either need to restrict Prussian expansion or parallel to the Prussians have the Hanoverians expand as well. Hanoverian Mecklenburg-Schwerin?

A Hanover-Hohenzollern union certainly could complicate the German Question and the Schleswig-Holstein Question.
 
Frederick the Great marries Princess Amelia of Great Britain and they produce an heir. George's daughter Anne has only female offspring. None of George II's sons except for Frederick, Prince of Wales, have male heirs. George III is Prince Fredrick's only son and he only has daughters. I believe this would make a son of Frederick the great the closest male relative.
 

Eurofed

Banned
If Prussia expands as per OTL while Hanover does not than you don't have a Prussian-Hanoverian union; at best you'll have Hanover as a province of Prussia with special rights and status - perhaps something akin to Bohemia within Austria. For an equal union between the two you'll either need to restrict Prussian expansion or parallel to the Prussians have the Hanoverians expand as well. Hanoverian Mecklenburg-Schwerin?

Well, to restrict Prussian expansion goes against the conditions of the scenario, but there is no obstacle to include a fair bit of parallel Hanoverian expansion. Hanoverian Mecklenburg-Schwerin certainly has a nice vibe.

A Hanover-Hohenzollern union certainly could complicate the German Question and the Schleswig-Holstein Question.

How so ?
 
Well, to restrict Prussian expansion goes against the conditions of the scenario, but there is no obstacle to include a fair bit of parallel Hanoverian expansion. Hanoverian Mecklenburg-Schwerin certainly has a nice vibe.

How so ?

While we're at it we might as well also toss Oldenburg, Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Brunswick, Schaumburg-Lippe, Lippe, and the portions of Hesse and Waldeck within her reach into our ATL über-Hanover.

As to the second Question, which I shall answer first for a more complete response, because now we have two large German states who are aligned by a personal union bordering Holstein. This is going to affect the ATL German unification process re: German Holstein, and the potential Schleswig War, if such a conflict were to occur. Regardless if there's a war or not the question becomes to whom does Holstein fall? Giving it to one or the other will be unfair within the union as it would show the receiver as the senior member of the union. Partitioning Holstein would go against the grain of the nationalist German unification movement. Likewise a condominium would be seen as merely a precursor to full Prussian-Hanoverian union. This will have a major impact on German unification, our first Question.

The issue at hand there is that a large Prussian-Hanoverian union would seem to be a powerful northern bloc to counter the Hapsburgs in the south within the Großdeutsche Lösung. Alternatively within the Kleindeutsche Lösung would states joining into such a union be joining 'Germany' or merely being folded into an even larger Prussia-Hanover? Also, what are the affects of a personal union between the Hanoverians and the Hohenzollerns? Do the Hapsburgs feel threatened by such a union, and if not, why not? If so, what steps do they take to counter such a union? Perhaps strengthning ties within the smaller 'Third German States,' especially among the southern kingdoms traditionally tied to Vienna such as Bavaria and Württemberg. Likewise how will the middle german states feel about such a union - Saxony, caught between two giants, will obviously be looking for a way out; especially as Saxony herself was once a great German power in her own right before being eclipsed by Prussia. And what of the smaller principalities, landgraviates, duchies, and free cities? All of this is going to be affected. The political landscape of the German states is going to have untold butterflies unleashed upon it by a Prussian-Hanoverian union, and its going to figure in a large way into the thought of full German unification.
 
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Heck, this could even lead to Three Germanies, Prussia-Hannover (probably including Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Lippe, Oldenburg and Anhalt), South German Confederation (Austria-Bavaria-Wurttemburg and possibly Baden), and a Mid-German Confederation of Saxony, Thuringia, the Hesses and possibly Baden.

As to how to get this to be more than just Prussian Hannover, perhaps if Hannover expands to include her traditionally influenced areas (Brunsiwck comes to mind, as do the Bishoprics of Munster and Padnerborn). Breaking up the Rhineland would also help, particularly if Bavaria keeps Julich-Berg
 
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