Oh, boy, it is SO easy to start a war between America and Britain in the early years. But, I'll start the timeline. The 30 Years War is avoided, which means Germany (HRE at first)
1512- Reforms done by king.
1517- The crisis of the Reformation by Martin Luther. Riots. The HRE, seeing (unlike their OTL counterpart) the danger of this, officially declare the HREGN having religious freedom of Christianity, and thus, Protestants AND Catholics are allowed. Also, the HREGN proclaims that is now nowofficially the German Empire, to spark nationalism. Many see this as a wise path, as nationalism would rise over the next 200 years. Some of the southern-most Italian colonies secede. The German Empire views this as a good thing, as the Catholic-proud provinces would only cause trouble for the new order of Germany. Germany still keeps Northwestern Italy, however, and has a decent port there.
1518- Protestants flood the country. New rules are being made to ensure that the break doesn't happen. The new German Empire realises the solution to one of its worst problems (the Pope had control) was gone as the Pope finally cut his political ties with the HRE/GE when Protestants were allowed.
1519- The Emperor Charles V of the German Empire is assasinated, presumably by the Pope's agents. Germany goes into a small chaos, however, a Duke Hans of Brandenburg takes power by aiming the people against the Pope, which he claimed is trying to undermine the Empire. An army is raised and he goes to the provinces next to Italy. He attacks, most of the attacks being from the north and west of Italy. The divided states fell, and he got to the Papal states. When Europe heard of this they all threatened the German Empire of war. Hans quickly retreated, but German borders were still moved in the Germans favor. They moved a little south, and took most of northwestern Italy, including Genova.
1520-1791: The German Empire mostly stays the same, and soon has the Netherlands as a semi-autonomous kingdom. Hungary is being more and more Germanized, and is a very close ally. In other countries, things happen mostly as OTL. Including the American Revolution. The new German Empire also took in a province named Prussia, on accounts of the population being mostly German. The Emperor feared fragmentation, so they became isolationist and strove to perfect the country. During this time you also see the Genovan, Baltic, and North Sea fleets being enlargened.
1792- The French become a Respublic. The Empire of Germany joins the coalition. On the eastern borders of the Empire (which are alll with france) troops start coming in. Germany attacks France. The total war policy in France starts under Napoleon. Now having 1 strong empire to fight, the French are defeated, a lot. However, the total war policies start to kick in and France attacks the southern border. They rip through to weak Italy. However, soon Napoleon is harassed from the north by Germany. Napoleon is pressed to attack the Germans. Soon after he leaves, the Italians start to push north more or less successfully.
1793- Napoleon finds out of the Spanish offenssive, and the British attacks on north France. He soon sees that he is also blocked from France by a German force in the Lithurgian sea area. Soon, the small German Genovan starts bombarding him. He decides to pit his army north against the forces in Switzerland. He also sends a messenger to sneak through to France and tell them to invade Germany through Luxembourg and march on Berlin. And to try to hold the British and Spanish at bay. Large French forces soon march on Berlin, along with Napoleons. The two meet and march on Berlin together. They devastate the German army during this campaign, and the tiny navies can't help the army. Britain and Spain start pushing in on France, however, and Napoleon hasto divert men. Panicking, the German Empire under Frankell II proclaims a similar total war policy. This, along with the Italians, Spanish, and British marching on France, makes Napoleon slowly retreat until he's out of German territory by 1794.
1794- Germany signs peace treaty with France, being weak and tired. Napoleon then drives the British out, and invades Spain after destroying the army in France.. He takes Spain by 1795. He then has the French Fleets get his army to Italy without crossing German Genova. Germany, meanwhile, gets back on its feet and starts to change its army to a more modern style, like Napoleon's. Napoleon takes Piedmont, Sardinia, and attacks Naples.
1795- Papal State signs provisional peace treaty with the French. Naples signs armistice. Britain is the only Anti-French country fighting.
1796- Britain, Germany, Russia, Portugal, Naples, Ottoman Empire, and the Papal States enter the Coalition. France occupies the Italian Coalition members after a quick invasion. Portugal and Britain start liberating Spain. Russia starts Italian offensive. Britain announces naval siege of France. Spanish offensives liberate Spain and start piercing South France. Napoleon's campaign in Italy fails as the German army starts destroying his forces with his tactics, and the Russian force starts liberating the south. At this time, Germany also notes the U.S.-Anglo relations.
1797- March On Paris begins. Soon, Coalition troops hold Paris. Napoleon is dead because of the Battle For Paris. Germany takes minor territories in South France, and a little of North France.
1798- Germany, seeing the brilliance of Napoleon's tactics, starts completely overhauling the Army. They also start a small navy build-up, and the Genoan, Baltic, North, and even Adriatic fleets are made.
OK. Phew. We'll soon see America getting more involved in this TL as Germany makes an ally out of America...
