Otl, Germany, is one of the oldest powers in europe, holding the low countries down to the alps, as well as denmark for basically all of her history, and frequently having power in the Baltic, though it never lasted for more than a few years. They colonized neurort, tainolund, and most of central africa and indonesia. Truly if anyone challenged France and Britain's dominance, it was the Köing in Aachen.
But that didn't have to happen. Germany is massive, but had less population than france for centuries. They have always had to be careful lest they fall into over expansion and chaos. Otto the First had a claim to italy, though he decided to give it to one of his children who wouldn't gain much in germany. But what if he decided to march for himself, and overextended his empire? Hell, especially that early on they could screw up almost anything and watch it all come down.
Ooc: canada and the Caribbean, respectively
But that didn't have to happen. Germany is massive, but had less population than france for centuries. They have always had to be careful lest they fall into over expansion and chaos. Otto the First had a claim to italy, though he decided to give it to one of his children who wouldn't gain much in germany. But what if he decided to march for himself, and overextended his empire? Hell, especially that early on they could screw up almost anything and watch it all come down.
Ooc: canada and the Caribbean, respectively