Challenge: A buffer state in Calais?

Suppose the Benelux countries had a fourth neighbor- a buffer state beyond the Channel, between the British and the French, based around Calais. Could such a country exist? What culture would it have?
 
You mean a British Calais that becomes (and remains) independent at a later stage? Could be possible in a Europe with a weakened France, I guess. And you need a weakened France for Calais to remain outside France.

As for the culture, probably some combination of English and French, or even possibly English, French and Dutch/Flemish. Calais spoke a Dutch/Flemish dialect in the past and I am uncertain when it switched to French. If Calais was still Flemish, I could see the English promoting the Non-French culture to make Calais more distinct from the rest of France (but this would only work if there was still a significant Flemish culture left in Calais and I am uncertain if it still was)
 
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You mean a British Calias that becomes (and remains) independent at a later stage? Could be possible in a Europe with a weakened France, I guess. And you need a weakened France for Calais to remain outside France.

As for the culture, probably some combination of English and French, or even possibly English, French and Dutch/Flemish. Calais spoke a Dutch/Flemish dialect in the past and I am uncertain when it switched to French. If Calais was still Flemish, I could see the English promoting the Non-French culture to make Calais more distinct from the rest of France (but this would only work if there was still a significant Flemish culture left in Calais and I am uncertain if it still was)

What if they Calais stay in English hands until the English revolution, and the Tudors keep it in their two exiles. The French could have interest in upkeep its independence as a way to strengthen the claimant to the British claim, it will of course be occupied in the French Revolution, but after the Napoleonic Wars, it could be reestablished and could be expanded east to have a land border with the United Kingdom of Belgium.
 
I could see something like that developing from the Dutch barrier treaties combined with English interests. The region would speak Picard, a French dialect, with a Flemish minority. Culturally it would be close to Flanders.
Dunno what else can be said, except for it being a fourth nation in the Benelux region, following a Belgium-like existence
 
When looking around the internet, although not entirely clear, it looks like there was still a Flemish speaking majority (or at least a very large minority) in Calais in the late middleages, thus the period of the English occupation.
 
Kinda less interesting if it’s just part of a Greater Belgium. Though I suppose having to deal with Flemish, Walloons, and Picardmen would be funny.

How does Burgundy fit in with this? Could there be a rump Burgundy that included Calais but not Benelux?
 
Kinda less interesting if it’s just part of a Greater Belgium. Though I suppose having to deal with Flemish, Walloons, and Picardmen would be funny.

If I can believe the maps on wikipedia the western part of Wallonia already speaks/spoke a Picardien dialect, instead of a Walloon dialect.
How does Burgundy fit in with this? Could there be a rump Burgundy that included Calais but not Benelux?

The county of Artois used to be part of the Burgundian and Spanish Netherlands, but was lost to France. I beilieve it bordered Calais, so it could be possible somehow, I guess.
 
Then have said nation pull a Prussia and devour northern and rhineish France and join germany :)

You will need a weekend France, Belgium and Austria, depending on when
 

Kaze

Banned
I would probably go with the idea that after the 100-years war / during it. Negations create it - as a way to end the war without much killing - where in Calais would be called "Normandy" . There would be a lot of French Culture, Belgium / Holland Culture, and the remains of the Norman culture.
 
Perhaps if there was someone powerful enough to rule the counties of Flanders, Artois, and Boulogne in personal union, they would control the easiest access to and from the English Channel and be able to play both sides against each other. Especially if it's a Flemish count who comes to inherit the other two counties and subsequently sees Flemish/Dutch culture flourish there.
 
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