None, although I would like Italy to unify around the same time as our world (obviously with some leeway)
The only way I could see it getting the Balearics is in the Spanish Civil War, but only if the Republicans win - Otherwise I feel they would definitely try to take them back.
Fair point, Corfu is a bit of a reach. If the challenge is biggest possible post unification Italy, then the POD should presumably post date that, so I still think Malta is out. More Greek islands is definitely doable though.
Why not something like Ostrogothic Italy?
they almost attained dominion over the Visigoths. Had they been successful this would have created a Romano-Gothic Western Empire. You could also have a successful Lombard Kingdom expand into North Africa as well. Another scenario I can think of is an Italian centered HRE. You could have the Canossa landsand dynasty stay intact where the control most of Italy and marry into the Dalian Imperial Dynasty. Or you could have Otto the Great not take over Italy which means the Imperial title stays as part of Italy rather than Germany. For a 15the century pod you could have the Visconti survive. They only failed because the plague killed Gian Galeazzo. He was an administrative genius and talented militum commander who had many scientific treatises compiled in his library and created the first proto-bureaucracy in Europe.
You could also have the war if Sicilian Vespers not take place and Charles d’Anjou is more successful. He could win the 8th crusade against Tunis and take the title of King of Arles like he almost did in otl. This means that Naples can exert its influence and weight to slowly unify Italy.
As for colonies:
Malta was discussed as a possible concession to the Italians in 1940 OTL.
An Italian Napoleon, at least as a very capable general, would only require the Republic of Genoa to keep her finances in check throughout the XVIII century.
The only Italian state that had a respectable Army in that period was Sardinia.
What about Naples? Napoli was the third largest city in Europe, and it was the largest state in Italy. If it had some Prussian style reformer Kings, Naples could easily expand and quietly build its own Mediterranean Empire. Plus with this Italy they're likely to be more conciliatory to the Pope meaning that they're likely to keep the Pope ruling Rome. This shouldn't be that difficult, as Prussia started with worse odds as it was a fringe backwater on the outskirts of Germany. No one expected its massive rise within a generation. Naples though has to work on reforming its administration, navy, and re-integrating Sicily back into the fold into a unitary state.
The Republic of Genoa would need to remain financially solvent just to avoid pawning off Corsica to France, I never said Napoleon would end up serving in the Genoan army.
Prussia didn’t rise in a generation. It rose as a result of the policies of Hohenzollerns that preceded Frederick the Great, starting in the mid 17th Century. Napoleon felt that a single Sardinian regiment would be enough to topple the Kingdom of Italy that he had created. Granted, his opinion changed after a few years and they did go on to perform well in Spain, Russia and against the Austrians. I’d still say that the Sardinian Army would be his best bet and it’s the most similar of the Italian states to Prussia.
