[England AH] - England remains Anglo-Saxon, wades into the Low Countries?

See above. Suppose that the Normans are smashed at Hastings or lost at sea or something, and House Godwin remains supreme in England. Their ATL version of the Hundred Years War is in the Low Countries against the Holy Roman Empire, with Harold Godwinson's heirs marrying into the Flemish nobility among others to set in motion the problems and eventually war. Could this conflict include English designs on the Emperorship or successful and long term control of the Low Countries?
 
Were the anglo-saxons unified enough to pull off a major war with the Holy Roman Empire? It's a tougher target than France at this point, the rewards are far fewer and there aren't any continental footholds for the anglo-saxons.

But assuming they pull it off somehow they still need to keep it. And the low countries aren't exactly the easiest place to defend, especially from angry, revanchist Germans, as seen IOTL.

If they keep it, they'll probably shift their focus to the continent over time as opposed to the more Scandinavian based economy and culture they previously had. More German influence means that middle English will evolve a lot differently. I doubt there would be much Flemish influence on England though. IOTL there were a lot of Fleishman immigrants to England in this time period, but they left very little impact and weren't exactly viewed favorably by the locals.
 
Pre Norman Conquest England was one of the most centralised and strongest states in Europe which is why it was so vulnerable to bring decapitated at Hastings, so if marriage and inheritance had brought it into Netherlandish politics it certainly could have projected power. As to who would win that's impossible to know.
 
But france at that moment wasnt really centralised, so a good victory over the french in artois (alt-bouvines) could smash the french monarchy forever.
I think the anglo-saxon crown would expand into scotland and ireland first before they make a gamble on the continent.
 
But france at that moment wasnt really centralised, so a good victory over the french in artois (alt-bouvines) could smash the french monarchy forever.
I think the anglo-saxon crown would expand into scotland and ireland first before they make a gamble on the continent.
I was thinking more about nobles such as the Duke of Normandy rather than the crown per se.
I agree that a continuing AS England is not likely to adventure on the continent so soon.
 
I was thinking more about nobles such as the Duke of Normandy rather than the crown per se.
I agree that a continuing AS England is not likely to adventure on the continent so soon.

It depends. If a marriage causes the inheritance Flanders for the House of Godwin then they will be dragged in regardless of any strategic goal of unifying the British Isles.
 
It's possible. But is it significantly likely though?
What I'm trying to figure out, really. Flanders and Brittany were both opposed to Normandy, so a Flemish marriage to the Godwins post-Hastings seems reasonable. Step from there into the other Low Country lordships and families, and then take a look at it all. Anglo-Saxon England firmly held means Scotland and Wales are possibilities, but Frisian relations with England had me wondering about this being an alt for Normandy, Anjou and Aquitaine.
 
Could it happen the other way round?

Istr that there was an invasion from Flanders in Henry II's time. Absent WtC, could this happen earlier, so that we get a Flemish conquest instead of a Norman one?
 
Could it happen the other way round?

Istr that there was an invasion from Flanders in Henry II's time. Absent WtC, could this happen earlier, so that we get a Flemish conquest instead of a Norman one?
I don't know anything about this, so I can't really say.

What I do know is that Count Baldwin of Flanders was a powerful man in France and the HRE at the time of the Norman Conquest, and furnished men for Tostig Godwinson's alliance with the Norse. His daughter was also wed to William of Normandy. So perhaps the Godwinsons marry into the House of Flanders, and the Flemish in turn gradually become the ruling family like how the Plantagenet succeeded the Normans?

http://www.persee.fr/doc/rbph_0035-0818_1926_num_5_1_6418
 
The House of Godwin inheriting a claim to Flanders is more likely and fits the OP better and is perfectly plausible.


Esp as an England ruled by An Anglo-Saxon or Danish monarch may well be on better terms with the King of France than one run by a Duke of Normandy or Count of Anjou.
 
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