Alternate Modernizing autocrats

There are a few men in history who are perceived, rightly or wrongly, as leading their states into the "modern era", centralizing power in themselves and the officials of state, and undertaking thorough reforms. The most obvious is Peter the Great; Mindaugus of Lithuania is considered another example. The Khedives of the 19th century would probably fall into this role as well, although their success was much more ambiguous.

So, who in history did not rise to the occassion, but might have? An alternate Vercengetorix, who united the Gallic tribes? A more successful Tipu Sultan?
 
A whole bunch of Chinese Emperors, for sure, but fighting the system there was really dangerous even if you were the Son of Heaven.
 

Thande

Donor
How about Ludwig II of Bavaria, if his mania had been directed at building things like railways instead of fairytale castles?
 
How about Ludwig II of Bavaria, if his mania had been directed at building things like railways instead of fairytale castles?

But then he wouldn't be Ludwig and we'd have no Wagnerian Opera! I must protest!
 
Possibly a mite early for you in era but Henry VII's reforms were hugely influential and yet totally overlooked by many.
 
Someone like this around 1150 for the Byzantines or 1800 for the Ottomans would be quite interesting.
 
I actually really like the idea of a more successful Tipu Sultan. Sounds great.
That would be a very interesting development. If Tipu's fleet hadn't been destroyed in 1783, he would have at least a small force to resist the British with. If he had exploited the rivalry between the Marathas, Hyderabad, and British more effectively, perhaps the disasters of the Third and Fourth Anglo-Mysore wars could have been avoided.

Another idea that occurred to me- what if Prince Canh (Nguyen Phuc Cahn) had been inoculated against smallpox while in France ~1787? Then he would survive beyond 1801, and go on to rule a French-aligned, but still independent Vietnam. If things go well enough for the Nguyen family, could Vietnam modernize independent of French colonization?
 
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